Storage solution vendor WD, a division of Western Digital, has launched four new network attached storage (NAS) solutions that allow creative professionals, prosumers and small business users to access their files anywhere, through the cloud.
WD has expanded its My Cloud Expert Series of NAS systems with two new models designed for creative professionals and prosumers that need the ability to save, share, back up, stream and manage large amounts of data. The My Cloud EX2100 and MyCloud EX4100 are two and four-bay systems respectively and are powered by the dual-core Marvell Armada processor. They offer high read/write speeds for simultaneous, high-performance HD media streaming and up to 24 TB of storage capacity
For small businesses, the My Cloud Business Series now includes the My Cloud DL2100 and My Cloud DL4100 as two and four-bay high-performance NAS systems. They’re powered by Intel Atom dual-core processors, feature up to 24TB of storage capacity, and run the Linux-based WD My Cloud operating software.
“As the market leader in the single-bay personal cloud category with our award winning My Cloud platform, as well as in the NAS hard disk drive category with our WD Red line, WD understands that customers need more power and more choice in NAS systems,” said Jim Welsh, executive vice-president, WD content solutions business and worldwide sales, in a statement. “We are very excited about our new My Cloud Expert Series and My Cloud Business Series NAS products that offer the performance, ease of use, reliability and My Cloud OS that customers want from WD.”
In the prosumer space, WD says the two new models will help creative professionals such as videographers, photographers and graphic designers that are being deluged with data, with technology like RAW images and 4K video leading to ever larger file sizes. Users can set preferred methods for managing, sharing and protecting files, and can also use the NAS to automatically back up their computers. It can also be used as a digital entertainment hub, streaming movies and music to compatible devices such as smart TVs and gaming consoles.
The two new business models are designed to allow small businesses to centralize and protect their data and give employees secure access to it wherever they are. Security capabilities include AES 256-bit volume encryption and multiple RAID options, and its compatible with WD SwartWare Pro for PC backup and Apple Time Machine for Mac users. The NAS solutions can also back up themselves to another location or to cloud services such as Amazon S3.
Anywhere access for both the prosumer and business models is enabled through the WD My Cloud mobile app, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Files can be shared with a tap either as an attachment or a download link, printed or opened in third-party apps, and transferred easily to major cloud providers such as Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive.
All the models will begin shipping in early March.