The Evaluator Group has compared on-premises NAS filers with a cloud component to global file systems utilizing edge caching devices.
Both, it says, are capable of providing a similar result – on-premises file access, performance, and familiarity with an attached cloud component – but they utilize a fundamentally different design and have different trade-offs.
Global file system products support remote worker data access and collaboration, which is helpful when working from a home office is becoming more prevalent. The cloud, which can host global file systems services, offers low-cost storage tiers for infrequently accessed data, off-site storage for data protection and disaster recovery plans, and on-demand scalability.