Network based storage fulfils two basic requirements:
 

• Keep individual computer disk space free
• Share files and information
   

Network based storage is essential if you need to share files and doubly so if you need to share large files. Although it is possible to E-Mail files to other colleagues this is by far not the simplest or user friendly way to work. Every company usually has at least a “Sales” network directory; a “Marketing” network directory and user directories. This is definitely a must have for any company to work efficiently.

The main user requirement for network storage is to make it easy to use. It should be as easy for the user to save data on the network as it is on their local dick. This means, technical, it should have the following protocol characteristics so as to make it usable from a variety of operating systems:
 

• CIFS (Common Internet File System),
• SMB (Server Message Block),
• AFP (Apple Filing Protocol),
• NFS (Net File System),
• FTP (File Transfer Protocol),
• SCP (Secure CoPy).
   

After the ability to use network storage effortlessly the next requirement is to have configurable access rights to the folders on this storage, when necessary. This means some kind of Access Control List (ACL) support.
Remember Network storage is a vital usability and productivity feature.