

As for the secure use outside your home, see if you can install TailScale on that NAS. I use it on mine, it’s like having a Wireguard VPN but you don’t have to mess with port forwarding. The only downside is that to connect to your NAS from outside your LAN, you’ll have to be on a device that’s also running TailScale, but if it’s a device you own that’s easy to set up.
UniFi NVR using non-UniFi cameras was a bit tough to set up, at least in a way that has ‘smart’ features. Presumably using UniFi cameras (and/or doorbell) would be much easier. But once running it’s easy to use, and there is a nice “Protect” app. Maybe check a how-to video for the app to take a look, unfortunately there is no demo site from Ubiquiti.