In computer storage, a global file system is a distributed file system that can be accessed from multiple locations, typically across a wide-area network, and provides concurrent access to a global namespace from all locations.
Second, global file systems can improve performance by allowing data to be cached closer to the users who are accessing it.
Public clouds may be combined with on-premises NAS for tasks such as backup, tiering, or disaster recovery.
On-premises NAS is sold by well-established IT vendors including Dell, IBM, NetApp, and others, and most build in support for some type of cloud connectivity.
The use of caching devices reduces the amount of required on-premises storage capacity, and the associated capital expense.
One trade off is that because the gold copy of data is stored off-site, there may be latency issues when retrieving infrequently accessed files.