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Synology DS224+ In-Depth Review: Plug and Play NAS Systems Can’t Get Any Easier

May 8, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

We’re generating more data than ever before thanks to a growing technologically savvy culture. The smartphone is one such gadget that has allowed us all to easily create content. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing for a living, having any gadget means you’re creating data. This can be in the form of home videos, pictures and even voice notes or presentations. It’s gotten to a point where our smartphones and tablets now come with a minimum of 128GB of storage and we’ve signed up for at least one cloud storage provider with at least 1TB of storage space. At the same time, we’re becoming even more aware of the need to keep our data secure. In addition, more and more cloud storage providers are charging a premium for higher tiers of storage. With all of these confounding factors, what can we do?

That’s where Synology’s Disk Stations come into play. The company has made a name for itself with its server solutions. Now, the company is looking at providing a turnkey solution for regular Joes and Janes like you and me when it comes to storage. These Disk Stations are versatile storage solutions that come with expandability, flexibility and security that a lot of us need when it comes to keeping our memories, work and data safe and accessible.

We’ll be giving you a rundown and review of the Synology DS224+, one of the most basic offerings that Synology has. Is it worth investing in the system? Can you use reliably like Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox? These are the questions that we are looking to answer with our in-depth review of the Synology DS224+.

What is a NAS?

Like Julie Andrews once sang, “Let’s start at the very beginning”. The Synology DS224+ is a NAS system. Techies and Enthusiasts would be very familiar with the term. But what is a NAS? A NAS or N-A-S stands for Network Attached Storage. Essentially, it’s one or more hard disks that are attached to a network that allows multiple people to access data remotely. This means you can access your data from any device on the same local network or even the internet if you allow it. There are a lot of ways to do this, but some methods are complicated and tedious.

The Synology DS224+ and other Synology Disk Station products make this easier with Synology’s proprietary software and platform. The Disk Stations come with at least 2 disk bays that allow you to have about 40TB of storage. The Disk Station Manager (DSM) allows you to customize how you use your NAS. It can be remote storage, a mail server and even a regular server for your website if you so desire.

In a nutshell, a NAS is data storage attached to the internet. This allows you to use it in a variety of ways including as remote storage.

Setting Up the Synology DS224+

Setting up the Synology DS224+ is a pretty simple process. You have to first set up the hardware and then the software. Synology has made this very straightforward with its apps and website.

Hardware

Hardware is pretty simple to set up. When you buy a Synology Disk Station like the DS224+, you will get casing for the NAS and hard disks. In our case, we have the DS224+ which supports two hard disks. We were provided a bundle with two 4TB hard disks. The Synology DS224+ is a complete system. Essentially, it’s a very basic computer with a processor, RAM and storage.

Specs:

CPU	Intel Celeron J4125 64-bit, Quad Core 2.0GHz/2.7GHz Turbo
RAM	2GB built-in Max 6GB (additional user-accessible slot)
Storage	2 Drive Bays (potential max 40TB memory capacity at the time of writing) Compatible with: 3.5-inch SATA HDD 2.5-inch SATA SSD
Ports	2x RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Port 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1

Assembly is straightforward. You’ll need to remove the disk caddies from within the DS224+ and place the hard disks in them. Synology provides a simple snapping mechanism which removes the need for screws and tools. All you have to do is snap on the hard disks into the caddies. If you want it to be more secure, you can use the screws provided. In our case, we didn’t do this. The DS224+ also comes with a spare slot for added RAM if you want to provide it with more RAM. We added an extra 4GB of RAM to our setup as we’d have more than 2 people accessing the system. The extra RAM would give us a little more bandwidth when it comes to downloading and uploading later on.

Once you’ve set up the Synology DS224+, you’ll need to get it hooked up to both power and the Internet. Hooking it up to the internet is very straightforward. In the box, Synology provides two ethernet cables which can attach to the DS224+, you need to plug these in and then plug it into two ethernet slots at the back of your home router. Generally, your router should come with 4 ports, so you should have enough. If you don’t you may need to get a simple network switch to do this. Once you hook it up to the internet, it’s time to set up the software.

Software

You can set up the software of the Synology DS224+ in two ways: through your web browser or the DS Finder app. Both are similar processes, but the app is a little simpler. The DS Finder App is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

If you’re using your browser, you’ll need to access the URL https://finds.synology.com which will search your network for any Disk Station products. Using the app is as simple as opening the app and letting it do the same. Once the DS224+ is found, it will automatically set up the Disk Station Manager (DSM) software. It’s generally a step-by-step guide on both.

Once you’ve set up your DSM environment, you’ll need to set up your admin and user credentials. This will include setting up user groups and permissions for each group. This will allow you to share files and folders easier later on. This includes setting up private environments and folders for each user if you want to. Once this is done, your DS224+ is ready to go.

In the DSM environment, you’ll be able to install packages that will introduce the features that you want in the DS224+. For us, this was the Synology Drive Server package, the File Station Package, the Active Insight Package, the Advanced Media Extensions package and the Synology Application Manager package. Once these are installed, you’ll be able to access the DSM from anywhere with a phone or browser. If you’re using a browser, you’ll need to access https://quickconnect.to/ and put in the relevant credentials. Otherwise, you can use one of Synology’s many apps.

Apps, Apps and MORE APPS? WHY SO MANY?

Speaking of many apps, this has to be my one pet peeve with Synology’s Disk Station system. The number of apps available is just too many. There are more than 10 apps available from Synology for the Disk Station system. Although a number of them are specialized apps for specific functions of the Disk Station, I seriously think that Synology should either phase out or streamline the apps they have for the Disk Station system.

Throughout the setup process, you’ll be using the DS Finder App. Once you’re done with that you can simply uninstall it. You will need the Synology Secure Sign-In app to sign in with the authenticator once you set up your DS224+. If you’re using it as shared storage, you have either the DS Files app or the Synology Drive app. There’s also the DS audio, DS photos, DS Video and Synology Photos apps.

As is pretty obvious from the list of apps, several apps have overlapping functions. It’s not only confusing for users, but it also feels unnecessary. It would make sense for Synology to merge a lot of these apps into a single app. Aside from the specialized apps like Bee Storage, a lot of the apps are repetitive. A single, unified app would help streamline and simplify the user experience of the Disk Station system immensely.

Using the Synology DS224+ as Remote Storage

For our review, we decided to use the Synology DS224+ primarily as shared storage. We were working off the DS224+ uploading and downloading files continuously. Primarily, we were uploading and downloading large media files for our videos and pictures for our articles on the drives.

The Synology DS224+ was able to handle the continuous uploading and downloading that we did. It was also very consistent when it came to upload and download speed. Of course, this also depends on the speed of the internet connection where the NAS is. Our office has a 100Mbps connection. This allowed us to upload files of about 100MB in a matter of minutes. Downloads were even faster. However, we have to note that in Malaysia we were working off 5G and 4G LTE networks at any time. On the local network, the Synology DS224+ can be mapped as a network drive making it easier to drag and drop files more seamlessly.

We were also able to stream videos off the drive very seamlessly. The experience with the Synology Drive app on both mobile and desktop is very streamlined. The app allows you to upload and synchronize folders seamlessly with the DS224+. In fact, connections were more stable on the apps than when using the browser. I was able to upload a 400GB folder to the drive without much hassle. However, when using the browser, it kept timing out and resulting in failed uploads.

It’s worth noting that the Synology DS224+ can be used for more than just remote storage. The system can support running websites, mail servers and even Git repositories. Fundamentally, the Disk Stations can work as a local server for anything you need to run. As long as there is a package that supports the functionality, you’ll be able to set it up. However, regular Joes and Janes like us will mostly be using it to back up pictures, videos and even files. It would also be remiss of us if we did not highlight that you will need to replace the hard disks every so often to ensure that your Disk Station remains in working order.

Overall, the performance of the Synology DS224+ was very stable and reliable as a shared remote drive. It also allowed us to store and streamline our work process, making it easier to get things done.

A Beginner’s NAS Built for Simplicity & Functionality with the Potential to Do More Than Just Remote Storage

Synology DS224+ is one of the simplest and most accessible NAS systems available currently. It’s simple to set up with a small, manageable learning curve when it comes to usage. What’s more, it’s a secure and private server that is easily accessible through mobile apps or a browser. The DS224+ is also very versatile with the many functions it can perform. Coming in at about RM3,000 for a setup with 8TB of space, it’s also one of the more affordable options available.

The only drawback of the experience of the Synology DS224+ is the deluge of apps you will need to make your way through to figure out which you will be using. It also suffers a handicap compared to other subscription-based cloud storage due to the reliance on the speed of your internet. However, that isn’t a make-or-break issue considering we have broadband speeds of up to 2Gbps in Malaysia.

Overall, the DS224+ is a powerful and affordable NAS solution for those looking for a simple and reliable way to manage their digital life.

Business, Contributed

Why Small Businesses Don’t Backup: Exploring Limitations and Solutions for Data Protection

April 4, 2024 Joanne Weng Leave a comment

This article is contributed by Joanne Weng, Sales Director at Synology

In today’s digital age, backup solutions are more critical than ever before. Businesses of all sizes must ensure that their data is secure and easily recoverable in case of data loss or cyberattacks. One of the most commonly cited backup rules is the 3-2-1 rule, which suggests having at least three copies of data stored in two different formats, with one copy stored offsite. While this serves as a solid foundation for a backup strategy, it may not always be practical or feasible for all businesses.

Should we follow the golden rule of 3-2-1 backup?

The golden rule has its limitations, especially for small businesses with limited resources. Implementing a complete backup solution can be costly, as it requires additional hardware and offsite storage solutions. According to a 2021 report from Databarracks, “implementing the 3-2-1 backup rule is becoming more expensive, with the cost of storage and cloud services rising by around 10% over the past year” (Source: TechRepublic).

For SMBs, prioritizing practicality in your office’s data protection plan is crucial, and identifying a suitable solution for your business is paramount. According to a survey by ITProPortal, 40% of small businesses do not have any data backup solution in place. Moreover, 34% of businesses have experienced data loss due to hardware failure or human error, and 25% have experienced data loss due to cyberattacks. Hence, the primary concern here is to implement this data protection strategy seamlessly and initiate it as swiftly as possible.

Reasons why small businesses don’t backup

Let’s delve into the reasons why SMBs often lack proper backup solutions. As previously mentioned, one of the primary limitations of backup is its cost. Budgetary constraints are consistently a major concern for most businesses. Backups might be perceived as both time-consuming and expensive due to hardware costs, recurring software license fees, and maintenance expenses.

Furthermore, constructing and managing a robust backup solution also demands significant effort, which many SMBs are unable to allocate. A dedicated IT team for setting up the necessary infrastructure is often lacking, leading to the outsourcing of such tasks.

Lastly, the recent adoption of hybrid working has resulted in office data scattered across different platforms and devices. This situation makes data centralization and management initially cumbersome. Additionally, data migration in such cases can give rise to security risks.

Backup solution with compatibility, capacity, and value cost

To overcome these challenges, small businesses need a data protection solution that facilitates scalable backup appliances, simplifies IT deployment and maintenance, as well as offers flexibility and secure integration across various platforms and devices.

Synology backup solutions are ideal for businesses, offering both on-premise and cloud-based backup solutions to cater diverse business needs. These solutions come with three key advantages: compatibility, capacity, and value cost. Unlike traditional backup appliances, there is no need to select corresponding backup software based on varying endpoint requirements and software compatibility. Synology’s hybrid-cloud provides a centralized backup appliance that spans across platforms, along with scalable storage. Utilizing enterprise-grade technologies such as global deduplication and changed block tracking (CBT), maximized storage efficiency with simplicity.

Moreover, the backup software licenses cover everything, from folder-level and bare-metal backups to VM and SaaS backups, and all of this is available at no cost—100% free. Synology’s public cloud backup service adopts a pricing method that only calculates storage space, instead of the number of devices or employees. This transparent pricing approach ensures there are no hidden costs associated with the backup package, setting it apart from other solutions available in the market.

Backup is not that hard: Deployment sizing recommendations for different usages

So, considering all the mentioned benefits, let’s focus on practicality: What is the ideal backup setup for small to medium businesses? Here are three recommended sizing for different segments of usage scenarios.

Smaller-sized businesses and startups

Starting from smaller-sized businesses, such as startups with around 30 employees. These companies require endpoint and SaaS backup capabilities to safeguard the data of their remote-working staff. Additionally, they might require storage scalability to accommodate future needs. Given that these businesses often lack dedicated IT personnel to formulate a comprehensive backup strategy, Synology’s Plus Series 4-bay or above model with cloud storage backup will be the most suitable solution.

For this context, the best approach is to employ Synology’s Active Backup for Business. This tool enables the automatic backup of office data from PCs, servers, and SaaS accounts (like Microsoft 365) to centralize all the data on the NAS. To further enhance the layers of protection for this centralized data, Hyper Backup can be adopted. This solution facilitates backing up the NAS, along with all its configurations, to options such as external hard drives, public clouds, or another Synology NAS device.

What’s more, the user-friendly intuitive UI, coupled with the setup wizard, allows the staff to easily set up the system. The powerful hybrid protection strategy comes at a cost comparable to that of protecting a set of individual PCs, making it undeniably a cost-effective backup plan.

Medium-sized businesses

Moving on, for a company size of around 200 employees, the deployment approach remains comparable to the one previously mentioned; however, a larger company size introduces additional factors, such as the need to back up virtual machines and the necessity for faster access speeds and greater storage capacity due to the increased scale. Normally, businesses of this size would have an IT team for handling backup tasks, Yet, given the larger number of devices to be backed up, challenges arise in terms of cross-platform deployment and ongoing maintenance.

This is where Synology’s comprehensive backup software setups in to provide assistance. It not only supports almost all the common platforms in SMBs IT infrastructure but also provides a central management portal. Thus, Synology emerges as the most fitting choice for SMBs.

Similar to the Startups package, here we would recommend 8-bay or above Plus Series models along with C2 Storage for the data protection plan. This package could cover all the backup-needed platforms, and the storage can be easily expanded by providing flexibility in expansion in the future.

SMEs or Larger-Scale Corporations

Lastly, when considering larger companies, such as SMEs with approximately 1000 employees, the pain point would be similar to what SMBs face, but enterprises would require more complicated management due to the significantly larger number of devices. Furthermore, these enterprises would need more immediate recovery to minimize downtime. To meet the critical requirements in enterprises require, we can provide the corresponding one-stop backup solution with multiple-layer protection.

The highly scalable 2U rack models paired with Cloud backup prove to be an optimal choice. and in consideration of the recovery time requirement, it would be great to have another on-prem NAS for disaster recovery solutions so that enterprises can utilize Snapshot Replication for instant recovery. Even for large-scale enterprises, Synology would still become the best choice with flexible data protection deployment, including on-prem, cloud, and an extra DR site.

In conclusion, while the 3-2-1 backup rule is an essential starting point, it may not be enough to meet all business backup needs. Synology offers flexible backup solutions that can help businesses achieve reliable and cost-effective backups that suit their unique needs and risks. By taking a holistic approach to backup and regularly testing backup systems, businesses can ensure that their data is secure and easily recoverable in case of data loss or cyberattacks.

Business, Contributed

Unlocking Cost-Effective Data Management Solutions with Synology

March 27, 2024 Joanne Weng Leave a comment

This article is contributed by Ms. Joanne Weng, Sales Director at Synology

In today’s business landscape, managing extensive amounts of data has become crucial for enterprises across various industries. Whether optimizing manufacturing operations, analyzing consumer behaviour in retail, safeguarding financial data, or dealing with rapid data growth in the media sector, the challenges of data management persist. To address these challenges effectively, businesses must seek cost-efficient solutions that offer scalability, ease of use, and robust security measures.

Synology, a leading provider of data management solutions, presents a comprehensive approach to addressing the demands of data storage and protection. Leveraging insights gained from serving over 150,000 clients worldwide, Synology offers tailored solutions that precisely meet the needs of businesses in Malaysia. Here are three crucial aspects for evaluating costs when implementing massive storage solutions:

1. Scalability: Anticipate Data Growth Patterns

Businesses must assess their current storage needs and anticipate future growth to select appropriate hardware without overspending. Synology identifies two main types of companies—those with substantial existing data or clear estimates of future storage needs for the next 3-5 years, and those with limited current data and uncertain growth rates, requiring gradual capacity expansion based on actual needs.

2. Ease of use: Prioritize Ease of Management and Software Integration

After selecting hardware to accommodate future data growth, businesses must also assess software compatibility and user-friendliness for both current and prospective IT operations and maintenance.

Numerous businesses opt for large-scale storage devices as their file servers or centralized data repositories for endpoint protection. These solutions necessitate diverse management features, login mechanisms, and platforms for user access or backup services. Nonetheless, not all solutions seamlessly integrate hardware and software, and some may incur additional licensing or subscription expenses, which can accumulate over time.

Synology tackles this challenge by crafting user-friendly data management and protection software applications, specifically designed to streamline the learning process for IT professionals. Furthermore, these applications come bundled with Synology’s hardware purchase, offering both budget flexibility and alternative deployment options for businesses.

3. Robust security measures: Ensure Comprehensive Data protection

Lastly, when storing large and critical data volumes, businesses must ensure the security mechanisms to prevent breaches or loss due to accidents or malicious attacks. Synology emphasizes two key aspects: hardware availability and data protection measurements.

Businesses should consider whether the solution offers high availability mechanisms, multi-path redundancy, and support for Out-of-Band Management for remote access. Additionally, comprehensive backup solutions and advanced security features like Synology offers, Write Once Read Many (WORM) and immutable backup technology, are imperative to meet evolving cybersecurity requirements.

Toyota Motor Vietnam Selects Synology As Its Data Management Partner

The partnership between Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) and Synology serves as a testament to the highlighted benefits of implementing Synology’s solutions. By upgrading its data storage system to a petabyte scale, TMV enhances operational efficiency, data recovery capabilities, and system stability while significantly reducing data protection costs.

“Synology’s storage solution has increased our business resilience” Mr Bui Ta Hoan, Head of Information Technology at TMV, attests to the effectiveness of Synology’s storage solution in enhancing operational efficiency and data protection. Through Synology’s technology, TMV ensures continuous production line operation, secures sensitive data and achieves substantial cost savings.

In an era driven by data, businesses in global as well as Malaysia require robust and cost-effective solutions to manage their expanding data volumes efficiently. Synology offers a comprehensive suite of solutions tailored to address the unique challenges faced by enterprises across various sectors, empowering them to thrive in the digital age.

Business, News

Synology Empowers Malaysian Businesses with Cutting-edge NAS Solutions

January 22, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

As businesses in Malaysia embrace hybrid work models, the demand for robust data storage solutions is increasing. Synology, a NAS (Network Attached Storage) provider, is stepping up to the plate by unveiling a slew of innovative features during its recent Synology Solutions Day in Malaysia.

Jason Sin, Sales Manager for Synology Malaysia, expressed the company’s dedication to fortifying data security and boosting productivity. Synology’s NAS servers that run on its secure DiskStation Manager (DSM) will play a pivotal role in addressing the evolving needs of businesses.

Tailored Solutions for Malaysia

Synology is introducing four key solutions customized for the Malaysian market: Data Management, Data Protection, Productivity Enhancement, and Surveillance. This strategic move acknowledges the shift from cloud-based storage and solutions to Synology NAS storage, aligning with diverse industry requirements.

Combatting Cyber Threats

Synology presents a comprehensive data protection solution in response to the escalating cyber threats facing Malaysian businesses. This encompasses heightened NAS login security through features like two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication, passwordless authentication, and IP address restrictions. The company also offers robust backup solutions for devices, PCs, servers, and SaaS (software-as-a-service) accounts.

A notable addition is Immutable Snapshot, a boon for industries handling sensitive records. Paired with WriteOnce Shared folders, it facilitates swift, secure snapshots, preventing data compromise through Write Once Read Many (WORM) actions for up to 30 days. This feature ensures the integrity of critical files by restricting alterations.

Productivity Amplified with Generative AI

In light of the changing landscape, Synology has integrated Generative AI into Synology Office and MailPlus. This allows users to generate written content seamlessly. Tasks like email composition, article translation, and information searches become effortless through AI-powered chat box interactions.

The Mail Merge feature further streamlines communication by automating the insertion of recipients’ details, and optimizing email workflows.

Future Roadmap and Innovations

Synology’s commitment extends beyond the present, with plans to enhance scale-out capabilities and introduce enterprise-level data protection products. High-performance solutions catering to the burgeoning AI storage demands are also on the horizon.

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