NFS Should Be The Default Backup File Protocol, With SMB Reserved For Specific Windows Or App Requirements
DCIG, Thursday, September 3rd, 2026
5 Reasons NFS Makes the Best Default File Protocol for Backup
DCIG recommends organizations adopt NFS as their default file protocol for backup traffic due to its broad storage support, simplicity, and natural integration with Linux-based infrastructure.
While modern SMB 3.x offers competitive advantages through multichannel connections and RDMA capabilities, organizations should switch to SMB only when specific application requirements, Windows integration needs, or demonstrated performance benefits justify the change.
Protocol implementation and overall system architecture matter more than protocol selection alone, and organizations should prioritize meeting performance requirements over achieving theoretical maximum throughput.