A five-bay Intel NAS with built-in UPS. The market for network-attached storage has grown considerably in recent years, but in order to keep ahead of the game in this space, vendors are required to make each new box fresh and exciting with added features that help one NAS stand out from another.

Many manufacturers have focussed their efforts on software, creating ultra-sleek operating systems that elevate the entire NAS experience. Thecus, one of the biggest names in the network-storage segment, has struggled to keep pace with its rivals in this regard, and is instead attempting to add value through hardware additions such as an integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS).