File Storage Explained: What it is, when to use it, and what to watch out for
When it comes to storage, there’s one format almost everyone has heard of, even outside the tech world: file storage. But how well do you really understand it? And is it the right solution for your business?
In this episode of Leaseweb Tech Talk, Product Manager Gabriele Zanon breaks down:
- What file storage is and how it works
- The use cases it’s best suited for
- Key benefits, limitations, and integration tips
- How to keep it secure
Prefer to listen?
This blog is based on Episode 3 of Leaseweb Tech Talk with Gabriele Zanon.
Listen to the podcast, watch the video below or keep reading for a full summary.
What is File Storage?
“File storage is probably the most common architecture used today,” Gabriele explains. “And for a good reason, it’s extremely compatible and easy to use.”
Think of it like a file cabinet:
- The cabinet is your hard drive
- The drawers are your folders
- The dividers inside drawers are your subfolders
This folder-based structure makes file storage familiar and simple to navigate. “Finding an element is very easy,” says Gabriele, “because you just follow the path and you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.”
Why It’s So Widely Used
File storage works with almost every operating system. Gabriele lists several major file systems that support it:
- FAT (File Allocation Table)
- NTFS (used by Windows)
- Ext4 (used by modern Linux systems)
- HFS Plus (used by macOS)
Its universal compatibility is what makes file storage such a go-to choice for everyday use, especially in Network Attached Storage (NAS) setups.
Who Should Use File Storage?
“If you’re a small or medium business,” says Gabriele, “you’ll likely benefit from file storage, especially when it comes to collaboration.”
Here’s when it makes sense:
- Your team needs to access and edit the same documents (like Word or Excel files)
- You don’t need massive storage capacity
- You’re not storing databases or running machine-level operations (where block storage would be more efficient)
It’s also a solid option for startups and individual content creators. For example, Gabriele mentions:
“Maybe you’re a content creator using direct attached storage when out filming, but when you’re home, you want to move your footage to a NAS with bigger capacity. File storage is perfect for that.”
Benefits of File Storage
Let’s recap the main advantages Gabriele outlined:
- Highly compatible with most systems and protocols
- Easy to use thanks to its intuitive folder structure
- Great for collaboration, with multi-user access
- Cost-effective, especially when large capacity isn’t needed
- Widely supported by NAS devices
And perhaps most importantly, it’s easy to set up.
“Network attached storage supports most major protocols, SMB, CIFS, NFS, FTP. You don’t need specific expertise to get started.”
What Are the Limitations?
As your storage grows, Gabriele explains, performance issues can arise.
“Imagine navigating a whole room full of file cabinets. It takes more time to find the correct element.”
Key challenges to keep in mind:
- Slower performance as the number of files and folders grows
- Scaling is difficult, you usually need to add a new volume instead of just expanding
- No built-in replication, so regular backups to a separate media are important
- Potential security risks if access control isn’t properly configured
How to Secure Your File Storage
Security is a key concern, especially for budget-conscious users who might be using file storage over a public network.
Gabriele’s top recommendations:
Start with access control lists (ACLs)
“Make sure only authorized people can access the specific material.”
Use firewalls
If your NAS is publicly accessible, set up a firewall and control external access.
Back up regularly
Since file storage isn’t built for replication, schedule regular backups to keep your data safe.
Final Tip from Gabriele
“File storage is the best way to start when you have a small entity, especially for startups.”
If you’re a growing business or a solo creator, file storage is a practical, accessible solution to store and share files across your team or devices.
And as Gabriele adds, it’s not limited to hardware:
“You can also open your file storage in the cloud, just be careful with the setup.”
Listen to the Full Episode
This blog is based an episode of Leaseweb Tech Talk with Gabriele Zanon, Product Manager for Cloud Storage at Leaseweb.
Listen now to learn more about the differences between file, block, and object storage, and which one fits your needs best.
Explore Leaseweb Cloud Storage
If you missed last month blog on: Cloud Storage: There Is No One Storage Fits All Solution, make sure to give it a read!