SAN JOSE, USA: Netgear Inc., a provider of networking solutions, announced the addition of a new, high-density network storage system to its award-winning family of ReadyNAS products for small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

The ReadyNAS 3200 is a 2U 12-bay unified storage platform that provides up to 24 terabytes in a single system.

The easy-to-use system offers high-end features such as redundant power supplies and dual Gigabit Ethernet ports at an SMB price point, enabling growing businesses to securely share, store and protect business-critical network data.

Drew Meyer, director, Storage Marketing, Netgear Network Storage Business Unit, said: "With the ReadyNAS 3200, we are augmenting our line of storage solutions that provide the high-end features of other, more expensive rack-mount products with the ease-of-use and price point that match the resources of a growing SMB."

The ReadyNAS 3200 combines the award-winning features of the other ReadyNAS for Business products, including the recently launched ReadyNAS 2100 1U rack-mount and the ReadyNAS Pro and NVX desktop systems, with a capacity platform for sharing, storing and protecting.

Featuring 12 bays that enable up to 24 terabytes of NAS and iSCSI SAN capacity, the ReadyNAS 3200 easily supports up to 250 users. Standard features such as Continuous Data Protection (CDP) software for automatic client backup functionality and the ReadyNAS Remote drag-and-drop remote file sharing utility mean easy and effective remote site data management for harried IT managers. And the embedded ReadyNAS Vault service delivers an optional cloud-based backup and disaster recovery services for as little as $.25/GB/month.

David Reinsel, group vice president, storage and semiconductors, IDC, said: "IT managers at small businesses often face storage demands large enough to require enterprise-scale solutions, but can also lack the resources to acquire or support enterprise-grade complexity. The ReadyNAS line offers a unique combination of simplicity and flexibility with the protective redundancy and high-performance feature set typically found on more expensive models. The high density and rack-mount form factor of the ReadyNAS 3200 should have strong appeal to midsize organizations seeking an affordable solution."

The ReadyNAS 3200 can come equipped with 6TB, 12TB and 24TB of storage capacity. The solution is available at CDW and can be purchased from Netgear's other PowerShift Partners as of late July, at an estimated price starting at $4,999. ReadyNAS Vault is included as a 30-day trial of pre-paid and annual capacity plans. ReadyNAS systems come with full 24/7 technical support and an industry-leading five-year warranty.