Question D-Link Alternative for a NAS Drive

[hooby1]

Can anyone recommend or help me what I can do with the following I have been asked to look into:

I am new to NAS drive technology (Thought I have been using an outdated D-Link NAS Drive (but only as backup storage and not on a network when it's not used) so probably looking into the wrong thing altogether - unless someone can put me in the right direction or guide me what I have to do?

I am wanting to send some files to someone using a shared folder (NAS drive??) (It can't be email / Google Drive / WeTransfer / Dropbox etc due to limitations on security policies. I have been told I can give a website address to whitelist which is why I am looking into NAS drive as an alternative.

The NAS drive will have a dedicated external IP address so that the device is visible to the outside world.

I have been looking into various NAS drives and noticed that various ones have a web interface that is ideal what I require - (i.e I set up a user with a username and password, a shared folder and they only see their own folder)

I have been watching various YouTube videos on this but this all covers when the device is on the internal network so a secure page warning shown in the address bar can be ignored at this stage.

I am wanting to know if it's possible to have a NAS drive with a log in screen and it use the https connection?

I don't have a domain name and wondered if a SSL certificate can be obtained another way (free or is there a charge or does it come with the NAS drive software?)

End of the day I want to share a folder with someone (say 10 different users with their own folders) on a NAS drive, they log in via a web page to the device (which has to be https) and they download the required files from their own folder I will setup etc) and then log out?

Can this be achieved or possible?

 

[Ralston18]

I am not sure about the overall NAS requirements.

There are any number of ways to share folders/files either via a networked device and/or cloud device.

You should be able to configure a NAS to allow both internal and external (internet) access to those users with the proper credentials and who have been granted access.

My suggestion would be to set up a desktop with FreeNAS/TrueNAS installed.

https://www.truenas.com/freenas/

= = = =

That said: from your post -

"(NAS drive??) (It can't be email / Google Drive / WeTransfer / Dropbox etc due to limitations on security policies."

What specific "limitations on security"?

Are you able to provide a "step by step" outline of how data will be made available on the NAS and how end users will be expected to updoad and download the shared folders and included data files?

As I understand your post, it appears that you will need to host a website/webpage on the NAS.

I.e., when a user logs in with the proper credentials, the webpage opens and presents the necessary screens etc. to upload and download files. You may need to use some file transfer protocols - those may or may not be directly available.

More information needed.

 

[hooby1]

What specific "limitations on security"? - I used to be able to send some files to some people that work at companies but their IT have removed access to those sites.

Are you able to provide a "step by step" outline of how data will be made available on the NAS and how end users will be expected to upload and download the shared folders and included data files? - This I assumed would be able to be done via the web interface of the NAS drive? An interface showing a folder I have created and the end user selects the folder/file and selects download.

As I understand your post, it appears that you will need to host a website/webpage on the NAS. - Nope no website or webpage hosting on this NAS just storage to upload/download files. (or in this case the end user is only downloading)

 

[kanewolf]

What specific "limitations on security"? - I used to be able to send some files to some people that work at companies but their IT have removed access to those sites.

Are you able to provide a "step by step" outline of how data will be made available on the NAS and how end users will be expected to upload and download the shared folders and included data files? - This I assumed would be able to be done via the web interface of the NAS drive? An interface showing a folder I have created and the end user selects the folder/file and selects download.

As I understand your post, it appears that you will need to host a website/webpage on the NAS. - Nope no website or webpage hosting on this NAS just storage to upload/download files. (or in this case the end user is only downloading)

I think you need to start by asking the people you want to exchange files, what are the IT APPROVED methods? Until you know that you can't do anything. If standard cloud file hosting (Google drive) for example is not possible, then it should be up to the receiver to provide the method.

 

[USAFRet]

I am wanting to send some files to someone using a shared folder (NAS drive??) (It can't be email / Google Drive / WeTransfer / Dropbox etc due to limitations on security policies. I have been told I can give a website address to whitelist which is why I am looking into NAS drive as an alternative.

I would trust a password protected GoogleDrive/OneDrive/AmazonDrive more than a user built and hosted externally accessible NAS.
(and yes, I sort of do this for a living)