What is SAN/NAS storage?

SAN (Storage Area Network) and NAS (Network Attached Storage) are both network-based storage architectures used to provide centralized, shared storage for multiple servers and clients. A SAN uses a dedicated high-speed network (typically Fibre Channel or iSCSI) to connect servers to block-level storage devices, offering high performance and scalability for applications requiring fast data access. A NAS device, on the other hand, is a file-level storage server that connects to a standard IP network, making it easier to integrate into existing network infrastructure. NAS is commonly used for file sharing, data backup, and media streaming, providing convenient access to files over the network.