We installed a Ubiquiti UNAS Pro last week in a Kansas City office that already had a Dream Machine and a 48-port Ubiquiti switch. Before we got there, they’d been using a mix of external hard drives and a consumer NAS that had started acting up. The owner wanted something that would actually last, integrate cleanly with what they had, and not require a dedicated IT babysitter.
Spoiler: the UNAS Pro handled all of that. Here’s what stood out.
Setup took about 20 minutes
If you’re already running Ubiquiti gear, the UNAS Pro folds right into UniFi Network without any integration headaches. We had the device recognized, drives configured, and shares set up in under half an hour. That’s not a marketing claim — that’s just how long it took. For an NAS setup, that’s fast.
Nightly backups to Google Drive — configured in minutes
The client was already using Google Workspace, so connecting Google Drive for offsite backups was the obvious move. The UNAS Pro has native cloud backup support built into the interface — no third-party software, no workarounds. We set up nightly backups of their critical folders and weekly full backups. The whole configuration took maybe ten minutes to set up and test.
This is the kind of thing that used to require a dedicated backup solution and sometimes a separate subscription. Now it’s just… there.
UniFi Identity made shared access actually easy
This is where the Ubiquiti ecosystem really earns its keep. With UniFi Identity enabled, employees can access shared folders directly from Windows File Explorer using their existing company credentials — no separate login, no VPN required for in-office access. For a small team, this is huge. It removes the friction that usually causes people to resort to USB drives or sending files to themselves via email.
What’s actually inside the box
- Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A55 processor at 1.8 GHz — handles multiple simultaneous users without breaking a sweat
- 4 GB DDR4 RAM — plenty for a small business environment
- Supports up to four 3.5″ or 2.5″ SATA drives (drives sold separately)
- Dual 2.5 Gbps Ethernet — fast enough that network speeds won’t be your bottleneck
- Native Google Drive, Dropbox, and other cloud backup support
The bottom line
If you’re already in the Ubiquiti ecosystem, the UNAS Pro is an easy call. It’s not the cheapest NAS on the market, but the integration quality and the time it saves on setup and ongoing management make it worth it for a busy KC office.
CyteWorks installs and configures Ubiquiti gear across the Kansas City metro. If you’re thinking about upgrading your file storage or want to know whether this setup makes sense for your office, give us a call — we’re happy to take a look at what you’ve got and give you a straight answer.