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Is is possible to manage QNAP NAS access from the cloud? As QNAP (Quality Network Appliance Provider) network attached storage (NAS) appliances grow in popularity as on-prem storage solutions, having the ability to manage NAS access remotely would be convenient. Fortunately, it is possible to manage QNAP NAS access from the cloud with a next generation cloud directory. But, how have admins managed access in the past?
Overview of QNAP NAS
QNAP is a corporation focused on providing network attached storage solutions for file sharing, virtualization, and storage management. QNAP NAS appliances are a popular option for organizations looking for on-prem storage solutions.
Since NAS is often used to securely store an organization’s critical files and data, it makes sense that IT admins would want to have control over user access to NAS appliances. The challenge for IT has historically been finding a solution for managing QNAP devices from one centralized location.
Managing QNAP NAS Access
Historically, one option has been to leverage a legacy identity provider (IdP) platform such as Microsoft® Active Directory® (AD) or OpenLDAP™ to manage QNAP devices. Traditional IdPs such as these are also on-prem implementations that are highly tuned for managing on-prem IT resources.
The catch is that traditional directory services platforms require heavy investment into on-prem identity management infrastructure. That means dedicated servers, numerous integrations, and ongoing maintenance—all of which doesn’t come cheap and must be managed in house.
Fortunately, another option is to manage QNAP NAS access from the cloud. With a modern cloud directory, IT admins can basically leverage all of the advantages of traditional IdPs and more, albeit without anything on-prem and at a fraction of the cost of traditional implementations.
Why Not Leverage Cloud Storage?
The benefits of cloud storage include being able to access the data from any location and any device, and there is no infrastructure for the IT organization to manage. On the other hand, on-prem storage can be more cost-effective compared to moving large file sizes back and forth from to the cloud.
QNAP NAS devices in particular can be just as reliable as cloud-based storage, and can be easily integrated into the IT infrastructure just the same. So, it really depends on the needs of your environment, but solutions such as QNAP, Synology, and FreeNAS as well as open source Samba-based platforms are all popular options for these on-prem storage solutions.
Why Leverage a Cloud Directory?
Regardless of how an organization approaches data storage, a key step in any storage solution is the ability to integrate it into your directory services. For older organizations with a traditional Windows-based network, for example, a traditional IdP could make sense. However, if your organization is heterogeneous—leveraging a variety of disparate IT resources both on-prem and in the cloud—then a modern cloud IdP would likely be ideal.
JumpCloud® Directory-as-a-Service® is a cross-platform, vendor-neutral, protocol-driven directory service that securely manages and connects users to virtually any IT resource from the cloud. With respect to QNAP, you simply point your NAS authentication to our cloud-hosted LDAP server, and JumpCloud takes care of the rest to ensure that users will be authenticated. The big picture is that JumpCloud can centralize IAM throughout your entire network from the cloud.
Learn More About JumpCloud
Sign up for a free account to manage QNAP NAS access from the cloud today. Your first 10 users are free forever, and there is no limit to how long you can explore the platform. You can also contact JumpCloud to answer any questions about the Directory-as-a-Service platform and how it can benefit your organization.
