We now store more content at home than ever before. And even though streaming services like Netflix, Stan, Apple Music and Spotify are changing the way we access media, we still need to ensure data is reliably backed up. Many of us - me included - have large libraries of digital content we've already paid for and want to be able to access at home or work. So, what makes a good NAS and what's available on the market?

Synology's new DiskStation the DS218+ is 2-bay storage solution that's ideal for home offices and small businesses. It boasts a dual-core processor with AES-NI encryption acceleration and a transcoding engine, providing high-speed file transfers and supporting real-time 4K transcoding.

While there's a lot to be said for the convenience of Google Docs or Office 365, there are times when you might prefer to DIY. That might be so you can be assured that you know precisely where your data is, or because you just prefer doing things yourself. A number of Synology NAS devices, like the DS1517+ I looked at a few weeks ago, let you do just that. You can run a mail server, productivity applications and other web services from a box that fits on a book case in your office. I decided to take Synology's productivity apps out for a run to see how they stack up.

Back in April, I reviewed the Synology DS916+ NAS and was quite impressed. Since then, Synology has released a new NAS, the DS1517+, a five-bay NAS that continues to build upon storage as the cornerstone of the modern network. When I received my review unit from Synology, the packing slip described the DS1517+ as a "barebones server", rather than a NAS. And that's a more accurate description of the device.

The first router I saw was in the mid 1990s. The company I worked for was a very early adopter of the Internet, at least in the commercial world. After spending a couple of nights with the network manager and his technical support guy dragging Ethernet and coaxial cables through the office roof space we hooked everything up through a router that cost more than most of us earned that year. Today, more than 20 years later, a faster and more capable device costs less than a day's pay for some of us.

Synology's RT2600ac router, at a touch under $400 (if you pay full retail) lets you connect printers and external storage using USB, four devices over gigabit Ethernet, and wireless devices using 802.11 b/g/n/a/ac.

Synology keeps adding more to the capability of the NAS line-up. They have launched a new version of the Virtual Machine Manager into beta this week. This lets you run Windows and Linux VMs directly on many models in their range.

What would appeal to you more: redundant storage controllers or replicated storage?