Switching from Windows to Linux (2) - Data Storage
By Raymond Girbes -
Jun 29, 2025
- 8 minutes read
Secure Data Storage
Last week and in the upcoming weeks, I mapped out exactly what the average user needs to safely store their documents.
At HRC DIGITAL, we use a NAS-01 server to centrally store data within our network. A second NAS functions purely as a backup and thus contains the same data as the NAS-01 server. Then, an offline backup is made from the NAS-02 server following the 1-2-3 principle.
We have encountered an increasing number of issues with Windows 10 computers that cause our NAS servers to become unreachable by name on the network. It started with one PC and now affects three. There were periods when one PC could find the NAS server by name on the network, but this ability disappeared. This all happened after Windows updates. I've seen this before, as Microsoft "nudges" us to upgrade to a newer version. I call it Microsoft's way of hinting that it's time to switch. Over the years, I've seen this not only with us, but also with dozens of clients. It's no coincidence—it's a policy issue, in my view.
We resolved the issue by mounting the NAS via its IP address function in the network and assigning it a disk name. Upgrading to Windows 11 is not an option, so we are searching for good solutions that don't require Windows.
Online drives
Many people are familiar with OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. While it sounds great, entrusting your data to advertising companies doesn't seem wise to me. There's a lot of playing with the word "encryption." Is the data I send encrypted, or only when it's stored on the disk? Is your data stored both encrypted and unencrypted? Free services have to make money somehow, right? The bottom line is that they might view and use your data in any form. I don't know because none of these companies explain exactly what they do with your data. Of course, this could change with simple but effective legislation.
What does it boil down to?
Your data must be encrypted with end-to-end encryption, also known as E2E. OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive do not offer this feature. While the connection to the online drive is encrypted, your files are not encrypted with your own key. Even if encryption is involved, these companies hold the keys. They can read everything because they are technically the key owners who can decrypt your files.
Secure and Encrypted Drives
My research and tests are currently focused on encrypted drives. My goal is to develop a comprehensive plan that provides a cheaper, safer system with minimal network management while offering as many usable Windows alternatives as possible.
What are the Costs of a NAS?
Minimal Requirements
Offline backup
4TB HDD with USB connection: €150.00
NAS with hard drives (HDD Seagate IronWolf):
A 4 TB online drive costs €23.99 per month.
At HRC DIGITAL, we use a NAS-01 server to centrally store data within our network. A second NAS functions purely as a backup and thus contains the same data as the NAS-01 server. Then, an offline backup is made from the NAS-02 server following the 1-2-3 principle.
We have encountered an increasing number of issues with Windows 10 computers that cause our NAS servers to become unreachable by name on the network. It started with one PC and now affects three. There were periods when one PC could find the NAS server by name on the network, but this ability disappeared. This all happened after Windows updates. I've seen this before, as Microsoft "nudges" us to upgrade to a newer version. I call it Microsoft's way of hinting that it's time to switch. Over the years, I've seen this not only with us, but also with dozens of clients. It's no coincidence—it's a policy issue, in my view.
We resolved the issue by mounting the NAS via its IP address function in the network and assigning it a disk name. Upgrading to Windows 11 is not an option, so we are searching for good solutions that don't require Windows.
Online drives
Many people are familiar with OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive. While it sounds great, entrusting your data to advertising companies doesn't seem wise to me. There's a lot of playing with the word "encryption." Is the data I send encrypted, or only when it's stored on the disk? Is your data stored both encrypted and unencrypted? Free services have to make money somehow, right? The bottom line is that they might view and use your data in any form. I don't know because none of these companies explain exactly what they do with your data. Of course, this could change with simple but effective legislation.
What does it boil down to?
Your data must be encrypted with end-to-end encryption, also known as E2E. OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive do not offer this feature. While the connection to the online drive is encrypted, your files are not encrypted with your own key. Even if encryption is involved, these companies hold the keys. They can read everything because they are technically the key owners who can decrypt your files.
Secure and Encrypted Drives
My research and tests are currently focused on encrypted drives. My goal is to develop a comprehensive plan that provides a cheaper, safer system with minimal network management while offering as many usable Windows alternatives as possible.
What are the Costs of a NAS?
Minimal Requirements
- AS suitable for two drives
- RAID 1 configuration (the same data on both drives)
- Minimum of 4 GB RAM
- Network connection of at least 1 Gbps
- Easy to update
Offline backup
4TB HDD with USB connection: €150.00
NAS with hard drives (HDD Seagate IronWolf):
- NAS: €280.00
- HDD drives: 2 x 4TB @ €120.00 = €240.00
- Total cost with drives: €520.00 per NAS
- 2 x €520.00 + 1 x €150.00 = €1,190.00
- Depreciation (four years, no residual value): €1,190.00 ÷ 4 = €297.50 per year
- Per month: €24.97
- NAS: €280.00
- HD drives: 2 x 4 TB SSD @ €284.00 = €568.00
- Total cost with drives: €280.00 + €568.00 = €848.00 per NAS.
- 2 x €848.00 + 1 x €150.00 = €1,846.00
- Depreciation (four years, no residual value): €1,846.00 ÷ 4 = €461.50 per year
- Per month: €38.46
- Electricity costs
- Installation and configuration costs (if applicable)
A 4 TB online drive costs €23.99 per month.
- Cheaper than a NAS with an HDD (€24.79 per month)
- Much cheaper than a NAS with an SSD (€38.46 per month)
- It includes maintenance, electricity, and remote backup
- What are the actual costs and capabilities of an online drive?
- How do user permissions work, and do you need them?
- What storage and sharing capabilities are necessary for daily use?
- How do backup and version management work with secure cloud storage?
- How can you keep costs predictable if your storage needs grow?
- Can you really go without Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive?
- What are the pros and cons?
- How reliable is the provider?
For reference, here's what pCloud Drive looks like on Zorin OS: I added the "Captures" and "Data" folders myself.
For reference, here's what Tresorit Drive looks like on Zorin OS: I added the "finance" and "data" folders myself.
Online Drives
The online storage services I am currently investigating are:
Unfortunately, I cannot test ProtonDrive because they do not have a real drive for Linux. It's quite a shame, as Proton is known for its robust security.
Over the past 10 days, I have asked pCloud and Tresorit questions.
pCloud questions
My first question to pCloud was about the Crypto folder, which allows you to use your own encryption. I find it inconvenient to have to re-enter the password every time the computer starts up. I'd prefer to control whether that's necessary via a setting. The system already has configurations, so adding a checkbox should suffice.
I received a prompt response within two days.
----------------------------------------------------------
Good afternoon Raymond,
Thank you for your message and detailed explanation of your situation and why you are considering pCloud. We appreciate your focus on privacy and E2E encryption and are pleased to hear that you find the Crypto folder appealing.
You are correct that we secure the Crypto folder with a password that must be re-entered after each restart. This is a conscious choice to maximize the protection of your data. However, we understand your frustration and the desire to adjust this.
We will certainly consider your suggestion to add a setting where you can decide whether the Crypto folder should be automatically unlocked in our future updates.
Best regards,
The pCloud Support Team.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My second question was about a package better suited to the hospitality sector and SMEs. After all, 1 TB is a substantial amount of storage unless you're uploading video files.
I received a response from pCloud within a few hours.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you very much for your comprehensive email and valuable insights into the needs of the hospitality sector. We appreciate the time you took to share your vision with us and how pCloud can play a role in a safer and more efficient workflow for small businesses.
We understand your point that the current business plans do not optimally fit the scale and methods of many hospitality businesses. Your suggestion for a plan with 1 TB of storage, 2 users, and a price of €9.99 per month is very valuable.
Although we currently do not offer a plan that precisely meets these specifications, we take your feedback seriously and will certainly consider it in our future plans and pricing models. We are continually working to improve our services to better meet the needs of different audiences.
Thank you again for your constructive feedback.
Best regards,
The pCloud Team
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tresorit Questions
Since Tresorit provides individual encryption keys for each folder, I didn't need to ask about that. Instead, I focused directly on a package for the hospitality sector and SMEs.
My first question to Tresorit was whether it was possible to use a business package with 1 TB of storage and two users. In the hospitality sector, personnel typically use most files within one folder with subfolders. There is also a separate folder for management that is not intended for staff where confidential matters can be stored.
Since Tresorit offers a 1 TB package for personal use, I thought it was a policy matter. Within a few days, I received a polite response that was slightly more general than pCloud's.
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for contacting us.
We kindly inform you that we have forwarded your request to our product development team for review and future consideration.
Your thoughts and ideas are highly valued as we strive to make Tresorit the best possible.
Should you have further comments or questions, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Best regards,
The Tresorit Team
----------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, I asked Tresorit if they were interested in adding or adapting a package. Within an hour, I received the following response:
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for your update.
We would like to inform you that your suggestions and insights have been forwarded. It will take time for the product team to review them, and they will need to coordinate with other partner teams, so unfortunately, we cannot provide an ETA for this at the moment.
Thank you very much for your patience.
Best regards,
The Tresorit Team
----------------------------------------------------------
Both companies responded promptly and correctly, which I consider a very positive sign. PCloud and Tresorit both deserve praise for their customer service.
Part 3: Switching from Windows to Linux (3) - Testing
Unfortunately, I cannot test ProtonDrive because they do not have a real drive for Linux. It's quite a shame, as Proton is known for its robust security.
Over the past 10 days, I have asked pCloud and Tresorit questions.
pCloud questions
My first question to pCloud was about the Crypto folder, which allows you to use your own encryption. I find it inconvenient to have to re-enter the password every time the computer starts up. I'd prefer to control whether that's necessary via a setting. The system already has configurations, so adding a checkbox should suffice.
I received a prompt response within two days.
----------------------------------------------------------
Good afternoon Raymond,
Thank you for your message and detailed explanation of your situation and why you are considering pCloud. We appreciate your focus on privacy and E2E encryption and are pleased to hear that you find the Crypto folder appealing.
You are correct that we secure the Crypto folder with a password that must be re-entered after each restart. This is a conscious choice to maximize the protection of your data. However, we understand your frustration and the desire to adjust this.
We will certainly consider your suggestion to add a setting where you can decide whether the Crypto folder should be automatically unlocked in our future updates.
Best regards,
The pCloud Support Team.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
My second question was about a package better suited to the hospitality sector and SMEs. After all, 1 TB is a substantial amount of storage unless you're uploading video files.
I received a response from pCloud within a few hours.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you very much for your comprehensive email and valuable insights into the needs of the hospitality sector. We appreciate the time you took to share your vision with us and how pCloud can play a role in a safer and more efficient workflow for small businesses.
We understand your point that the current business plans do not optimally fit the scale and methods of many hospitality businesses. Your suggestion for a plan with 1 TB of storage, 2 users, and a price of €9.99 per month is very valuable.
Although we currently do not offer a plan that precisely meets these specifications, we take your feedback seriously and will certainly consider it in our future plans and pricing models. We are continually working to improve our services to better meet the needs of different audiences.
Thank you again for your constructive feedback.
Best regards,
The pCloud Team
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tresorit Questions
Since Tresorit provides individual encryption keys for each folder, I didn't need to ask about that. Instead, I focused directly on a package for the hospitality sector and SMEs.
My first question to Tresorit was whether it was possible to use a business package with 1 TB of storage and two users. In the hospitality sector, personnel typically use most files within one folder with subfolders. There is also a separate folder for management that is not intended for staff where confidential matters can be stored.
Since Tresorit offers a 1 TB package for personal use, I thought it was a policy matter. Within a few days, I received a polite response that was slightly more general than pCloud's.
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for contacting us.
We kindly inform you that we have forwarded your request to our product development team for review and future consideration.
Your thoughts and ideas are highly valued as we strive to make Tresorit the best possible.
Should you have further comments or questions, please don't hesitate to contact us again.
Best regards,
The Tresorit Team
----------------------------------------------------------
A few days later, I asked Tresorit if they were interested in adding or adapting a package. Within an hour, I received the following response:
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear Raymond,
Thank you for your update.
We would like to inform you that your suggestions and insights have been forwarded. It will take time for the product team to review them, and they will need to coordinate with other partner teams, so unfortunately, we cannot provide an ETA for this at the moment.
Thank you very much for your patience.
Best regards,
The Tresorit Team
----------------------------------------------------------
Both companies responded promptly and correctly, which I consider a very positive sign. PCloud and Tresorit both deserve praise for their customer service.
Part 3: Switching from Windows to Linux (3) - Testing