What if there was a simple solution to not only store all your data, but also protect, organize and rework it? This is, in essence, what the NAS offers, a tech object that is still too little known to the general public.
The twentieth anniversary of the youngest is fast approaching and what better way to celebrate it than a little slideshow bringing together an anthology of the most juicy photos from the past two decades? Problem, said photos are scattered across half a dozen external hard drives in more or less good condition and at least three smartphones that you have “ forgotten» to save. How can I find this photo from Christmas 2008 with the pretty princess dress? Or that of his smile lightened by the loss of the first quenottes? If only you had taken the time to store and classify your archives correctly…
With the proliferation of digital documents comes the problem of preserving and organizing them. A top issue that is often brushed aside, and which unfortunately leads to the loss of precious memories. For example: how long has it been since you backed up the contents of your phone, or that of your hard drive? However, this is not inevitable. There are many ways to protect all the documents, data and memories we hold dear. Among them, the simplest and most effective is undoubtedly the NAS, a device that stores everything you want to entrust to it, and much more.
The NAS, a private and secure storage space
Why is NAS the perfect tool to take care of the hundreds of gigabytes of files, images and other videos that haunt our hard drives? Quite simply because this small device combines the advantages of an external storage medium with the accessibility of cloud.
A NAS (or Network Attached Storage ) is a small server that houses multiple hard drives and is installed in your home (or workplace) instead of being locked away in a server farm halfway around the world. Immediate advantage: the NAS belongs to you in its entirety. You define who can access the data stored inside, just like the routines forbackupor the configuration. You maintain control of your data in all circumstances.
There, you are probably saying to yourself: “But then, what is the advantage of NAS compared to a stupid and nasty external hard drive?“. The answer lies in the term “Network» of the device name. A NAS, like a server, is connected to the net, which means you can access it anywhere, anytime, from any device. At Synology for example, it is possible to access the entire content and functionalities of its NAS on computer, mobile or tablet, on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android or a simple browser.
Additional advantage of a NAS: security. Even if it is connected to the Internet, and therefore potentially accessible by malicious people, a NAS has several layers of security to make their task impossible. In this area, Synology’s references are among the most reliable. In addition to using modern encryption protocols (TSL1.3, AES 256 and RSA 4096) and a two-factor authentication system, Synology NAS have many security settings to act on. Fine management of file access authorizations, IP blocking, firewall rules: hackers better watch out.
This data protection effort is not limited to the software part only, since the NAS, by essence, also offers superior protection in the event of a hardware malfunction. The presence of multiple hard drives allows it to benefit from the benefits of a RAID configuration, which, without going into too much technical detail, provides very effective protection (in fact redundancy) in the event of failure of a storage medium. You won’t lose any data if one of your hard drives decides to eat dandelions by the root.
An extensive ecosystem that offers great versatility
Whether in terms of accessibility, performance or security, the NAS is a perfect tool for hosting our data. But to confine the NAS to this sole use of storage would be to miss its true potential. Because the NAS is not just a hard drive mounted in seed with lots of network functionalities. No, a NAS is a versatile platform that not only allows you to manage the data it stores, but also offers advantages in terms of productivity or security.
Synology thus offers an entire software ecosystem, often free of charge, which has multiple benefits. Synology Drive, for example, offers all the tools needed to classify, organize, modify and share the data stored on your NAS. Among its major features, we find for example:
- the ability to add, delete, move or modify files on the NAS at any time, regardless of where you are (with web access obviously) and regardless of the device;
- the ability to send, or give access to all or part of your files to a third person, with or without passwords, to protect them;
- a data tracking and updating system that allows not only permanent access to the latest version of a document, but also access to earlier versions in the event of a problem.
Beyond this section dedicated to data management, Synology NAS also benefit from a galaxy of additional tools:
- communication tools, such as Synology Mail Plus or Synology Chat;
- productivity apps like Synology Calendar or Synology Office or Synology Photo;
- security and data protection systems with Active Backup (for Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace) or C2 Backup.
This versatility is what makes the strength of a NAS. A practical, complete device, easy to use, and capable of satisfying the needs of individuals as well as those of professionals, independents or businesses.
Synology: an unrivaled experience in storage
With more than twenty years of experience, Synology is today positioned as one of the major players in the NAS and more generally storage market with currently nearly 12 million users for 5,270 petabytes of data stored. Ask around: if someone you know has a NAS, there is a good chance that it is a reference from the manufacturer’s catalog. But what makes Synology and its products strong?
In two words: experience. The company’s longevity allows it to offer finely designed products, which combine reliability, performance, simplicity and versatility. From installation to daily use, everything is done smoothly without the need for extensive technical knowledge. Because beyond simple hardware, it is the entire software ecosystem offered by Synology which knows how to be affordable for beginners and advanced for advanced users.
Nothing better illustrates Synology’s know-how than the star of its catalog, the DS923+. A NAS with four storage bays capable of accommodating up to 54 TB of data depending on the installed hard drives (HDD or NVMe M.2 SSD) which shines with its performance and minimal footprint. Much faster than its predecessor (the DS923), particularly on application loads and indexing work, it offers perfectly secure storage space coupled with a simple and complete working environment thanks to compatibility with the entire software suite. developed by Synology.
A perfect NAS for all those, individuals and professionals, who are looking for a storage solution that can adapt to their needs. Generally priced around 760 euros, the DS923+ is currently offered at 629 euros by the Boutique du Net, with free delivery. Please note that storage media, HDD or NVMe SSD are not included, and must therefore be purchased separately. And if your needs involve more storage space, you can always take a look at the DS1829xs+ and its 10 bays for a total of 144 TB of storage.