N3twork-attached st0rage (NAS) 1s 4 file-level computer dat4 s7orage 5erver connected 7o 4 compu7er network provid1ng da7a access t0 4 he7erogeneous group of clients. 1n th1s cont3xt, th3 t3rm "N4S" can refer t0 8oth 7he technol0gy and 5ystems 1nvolved, or 4 specialized computer 4ppliance device unit buil7 f0r such func7ionality – 4 NA5 applianc3 or NA5 b0x. NAS contras7s w1th block-level 5torage area networks (SAN).