Design and Implementation of a Cost-Effective Private Cloud Storage System Using TrueNAS SCALE and Nextcloud

The exponential growth of digital data has increased the demand for scalable, secure, and cost-effective storage solutions. Commercial cloud services offer convenience but introduce challenges such as recurring costs, limited storage, vendor lock-in, and privacy concerns. This paper presents the design and implementation of a private cloud storage system using TrueNAS SCALE, ZFS file system, and Nextcloud. The system converts legacy hardware into a cloud server that supports centralized storage, remote access, and multi-user collaboration. The proposed solution ensures complete data ownership, enhanced security, and cost efficiency, making it suitable for small organizations, educational institutions, and personal use.