I am frequently asked about the most cost-effective backup solution, and my consistent recommendation is Synology paired with Amazon Glacier for long-term archival backup. Synology stands out in the market for its unparalleled speed in backing up and restoring crucial data. Unlike other solutions that depend on constant internet connectivity and may rely on cloud services with potential availability issues, Synology provides peace of mind with its locally stored, encrypted, and secure data-at-rest. You are in the driver seat when it comes to your backups.
Synology supports the configuration of multiple 12, 14, 18TB drives in a RAID setup, providing fault tolerance by allowing for a failed disk. The data is striped across the RAID, ensuring redundancy in the event of a hardware failure. To determine your specific backup drive space needs, you can utilize the Synology RAID Calculator available at (https://www.synology.com/en-us/support/RAID_calculator). Opting for local backups with Synology offers several advantages, including the ability to back up entire desktops and server infrastructure without the need to upload data to a cloud backup service that charges based on gigabyte usage. Synology facilitates local backups by hosting them, managing daily delta changes, employing compression and deduplication techniques to minimize required storage space. For long-term storage, data older than 30 days is seamlessly uploaded to AWS Amazon Glacier.
Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often choose Synology as a backup solution and for long-term archive backup to Amazon Glacier for several reasons:
- Cost-Effective Solutions: Synology provides cost-effective backup solutions that are well-suited for SMB budgets. The initial investment in Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices is often more affordable compared to some enterprise-grade solutions.
- User-Friendly Interface: Synology offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing backups. This ease of use is particularly valuable for SMBs that may not have dedicated IT staff, allowing them to set up and manage backups without extensive technical expertise.
- Versatility and Flexibility: Synology NAS devices offer versatility and flexibility in terms of storage capacity and configurations. This allows SMBs to scale their backup infrastructure based on their evolving needs.
- Data Protection Features: Synology devices come with built-in data protection features, including RAID configurations and backup applications. These features contribute to the overall security and reliability of the backup process.
- Integration with Cloud Services: Synology NAS devices often have built-in support for cloud backup services, including seamless integration with Amazon Glacier. This allows SMBs to create a comprehensive backup strategy that includes both local and cloud-based storage for added redundancy.
- Reliability and Durability: Synology is known for producing reliable and durable NAS devices. This is crucial for SMBs seeking a long-term backup solution that can withstand continuous use and provide data integrity over time.
- Centralized Management: Synology provides centralized management tools that allow SMBs to efficiently monitor and control their backup processes. This centralized approach simplifies administration and enhances overall system management.
- Amazon Glacier Integration: Synology’s compatibility with Amazon Glacier makes it easy for SMBs to implement a tiered storage strategy. This allows them to use lower-cost, long-term archival storage (Amazon Glacier) in conjunction with more accessible local storage.
- Scalability: Synology NAS solutions are scalable, enabling SMBs to expand their storage capacity as their data requirements grow. This scalability is essential for businesses anticipating increased data volumes over time.
- Security Measures: Synology places emphasis on security, offering features such as encryption, access controls, and other security protocols to safeguard backup data from unauthorized access or cyber threats.
By combining Synology’s NAS solutions with Amazon Glacier for long-term archival storage, SMBs can create a robust and cost-efficient backup strategy that ensures data protection, accessibility, and scalability for their growing needs.ier for long-term archival storage, SMBs can create a robust and cost-efficient backup strategy that ensures data protection, accessibility, and scalability for their growing needs.