Overview of the global consumer and SMB NAS market

Network-attached storage (NAS) is a low-maintenance, remotely manageable, server-based storage system that facilitates files sharing, multimedia streaming, storing and sharing of photos, music, movies, and more among users. In a small office/home office (SOHO) environment, NAS appliances can share data among 2-19 users and can be connected to printers and other mobile devices. NAS devices provide fast access to stored data and have a high data storage capability. As a result, NAS devices are increasingly used for video surveillance at home. Many consumers install surveillance cameras both inside and outside their residences and use NAS devices for storing and processing video surveillance camera feeds. This is because 24/7 feeds are difficult to store and process through a DAS appliance. Moreover, storing videos require ample storage space and fast data transmission. Also, NAS appliances allow remote access to the stored data, and many have built-in features for automatic data backup. With the increasing adoption of NAS storage for home use, the consumer and SMB NAS market is likely to have a positive outlook in the coming years. According to the market research analysts at Technavio, the global consumer and SMB NAS market will witness tremendous growth at an impressive CAGR of more than 11% during the forecast period.

In this industry research report, the analysts have deduced factors such as the emergence of hybrid storage arrays like flash drives and HDDs to fuel this market’s growth prospects during the predicted period. They are best suited for organizations that require exceptional performance for some applications and additional capacity for less critical applications at reduced cost. The adoption of these NAS units is very less compared to HDD-based units. However, new systems are being designed with support for both HDDs and SSDs. For instance, in 8-bay NAS systems, SMBs can use two SSDs and six HDDs. These arrays cost less compared to all-flash NAS units, making them both performance and capacity optimized drives.

Competitive landscape and key vendors

The global consumer and SMB NAS market is anticipated to witness steady growth in the forecast period due to the dominance of international vendors and the increasing revenue contribution by the local vendors. Consumer NAS appliances have features and benefits that enhance consumer experience at homes. Therefore, technological advancements are likely to result in the integration of NAS appliances with home entertainment systems. 

The leading vendors in the market are -

• Apple
• Buffalo Technology
• NETGEAR
• QNAP
• Seagate
• Synology
• Western Digital

Other prominent vendors in the market include Asustor, Dell, D-Link, Drobo, HP, LeCie (Seagate), Thecus, Transporter, and Zyxel.

Segmentation by end user and analysis of the consumer and SMB NAS market

• Individual consumers and SOHOs
• SMB

During 2015, the small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) segment dominated the market and is likely to reach more than USD 1 billion by 2020. These organizations include SOHO businesses established one or two years ago. These enterprises also include the ones that require NAS to store and process surveillance videos, small big data analytics firms, and multimedia organizations. Several SMBs operate with a large amount of data, which is shared among users for collaborative working purposes. With technological advancements and increased business demands, the need for NAS storage for small businesses has significantly increased among these companies.

Geographical segmentation and analysis of the consumer and SMB NAS market

• Americas
• APAC
• EMEA

In terms of geography, the Americas led the global consumer and SMB NAS market and accounted for more than 41% of the market share in terms of revenue. NAS systems are essential for small organizations that work on data intensive applications. The adoption of NAS systems by small businesses will be higher during the forecast period along with high-end NAS systems, especially 12-bay systems with extension units.

Key questions answered in the report include

• What will the market size and the growth rate be in 2020?
• What are the key factors driving the global consumer and SMB NAS market?
• What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the global consumer and SMB NAS market?
• What are the challenges to market growth?
• Who are the key vendors in this market space?
• What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global consumer and SMB NAS market?
• What are the trending factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA?
• What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the global consumer and SMB NAS market?

Technavio also offers customization on reports based on specific client requirement.

Related reports:

• Global Consumer NAS Market 2016-2020
• Global Enterprise Storage Market 2016-2020
• Global SMB and SME NAS Market 2016-2020
• Global Data Center Design Market 2016-2020

Network-attached storage (NAS) appliances enable easy sharing of files, online streaming, and storing and sharing photos and media among the users. It also allows the user to stream video content on smart TVs seamlessly. Also, NAB appliances facilitate access to files via smart devices and offer high-performance storage compared to external storage devices and DAS. Moreover, NAS appliances can share data among 2 to 19 users and can be connected to printers and other mobile devices. NAS devices are being widely adopted as they provide faster access to the stored data and have a high data storage capability. 

The report, global consumer and SMB NAS market, is part of Technavio’s ICT research portfolio. This portfolio provides a comprehensive market analysis along with the market share, market sizing, and market segmentations covering areas such as automatic identification system, cloud computing, data center, enterprise application, IT security, ITO and BPO, and product lifecycle management. These market research reports provide a perspective on the various market opportunities and market threats along with the key trends that would influence the market growth during the forecast period. It presents insights into the changing competitive landscape and a detailed profiling and market analysis of the vendors. Also covered in the research are the key regions or countries that would have an impact on the market during the assessment years.