You've likely come across network-attached storage (NAS), which essentially covers a device with drives and a network connection. These devices can be as simple as a one-bay ARM-powered enclosure ...

but adds two hard drive bays for additional storage, redundant backup, and a bit more speed when serving files. Network-attached storage (NAS) is a shared computer that backs up the data from and ...

There are three types of storage you can use with your Mac. External storage devices like SSDs and hard drives can plug into your Mac and be used to back up your data or to extend your storage.

Building your own Network-Attached Storage can be a fun experience ... that lets you utilize the same disk as the system and data drive, its a good idea to keep them separate.

Most NAS drives have one or two USB ports that you can use to connect a printer or external storage drive, letting you add those to your network via the NAS itself.