Step-by-Step Guide to Set Up NAS Cloud Sync for Data Backup

Safe data storage is one of the major concerns of organizations, especially when they use hardware for this purpose. A small failure in the device can put the files at risk. 

Moreover, using hard drives to store data restricts you from conveniently transferring files across multiple devices. It is one of the significant needs of today’s world when remote work is at its peak. 

The good news is that NAS Cloud Sync can resolve both problems simultaneously. So let’s dig deeper into NAS cloud sync and see how to set it up on your device. Moreover, we will also discuss its benefits and certain limitations. 

What is NAS Cloud Sync?

NAS cloud sync is a feature in all modern network-attached storage (NAS) devices. This is particularly useful for syncing files stored on NAS devices to multiple cloud storage solutions. Through this, you can automatically back up all your essential data to the cloud to prevent potential loss due to hardware failure. 

You can pick a cloud storage service of your choice, with common ones being Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. The best part about this technology is that it synchronizes the data automatically based on the schedule you set. 

In addition to providing the primary backup and sync features, NAS cloud sync frees up storage from your device by seamlessly moving infrequently used files to the cloud storage. 

How to Set Up NAS Cloud Sync

Let’s briefly overview how to set up NAS cloud sync on your device.

  1. You must first download the Synology Cloud Sync on your device and access it via the Package Center. Then search for Cloud Sync and launch it. 
  2. You will see a list of cloud providers on your screen. Select your desired cloud service provider. Their initial setup process may vary, but the functionality is almost identical once integrated. Once you have chosen a particular cloud service, click Next
  3. Now you will have to go through a small process of authenticating with the cloud provider. 
  4. The next step involves the selection of the Local Path on your NAS device and the Remote Path on the cloud server. 
  5. After selecting the location, you can encrypt the data by setting a password to add an extra security layer during synchronization. 
  6. After that, you will be asked to set a sync schedule. The system can back up the files immediately as uploaded by default. But you can adjust the settings daily, weekly, or monthly at your convenience. 
  7. Click Next to proceed and enter the encryption key. Now select Done to finalize the NAS backup. You can also visit Advanced Settings to modify the folders to be synced. 

NAS Cloud Sync Benefits

Initially, NAS devices were physically installed in data centers. However, the incorporation of cloud technology eliminated the need for on-site NAS. It has several benefits, including: 

  • Automatic or scheduled backups to prevent data loss under unfavorable circumstances like hardware failure.
  • Workers can access data from anywhere using any device.
  • Increased scalability potential as a cloud server’s storage capacity can be increased according to your business needs.
  • You can also give file access to users based on their position in the business.
  • Syncing files to cloud servers provides additional security benefits like data encryption and multi-factor authentication.

Limitations of NAS Cloud Sync 

While NAS Cloud Sync has numerous benefits, it is important to know that this technology is not entirely perfect. You may have to deal with some limitations while using it. However, the degree of these limitations varies according to your chosen cloud storage solution. 

Some of the limitations include the following: 

  • You may be unable to sync the files stored on both NAS and any external device. The EDS14 model is an exception in this case. 
  • The speed of uploading and downloading the files can be limited according to the cloud server. 
  • Some cloud storage solutions have certain restrictions for the syncing file’s name and size.
  • This technology does not support incremental updates. Hence, if you make any changes to a file, you must sync and re-download the entire file again.

Wrap Up

NAS cloud sync has made it easier to back up data on cloud servers while freeing up space for further storage. Other than that, this technology has several other benefits discussed in this article. However, don’t forget to consider its limitations before jumping in to incorporate it.

Overall, the limitations don’t outweigh the advantages, and NAS cloud sync remains one of the most beneficial options to back up and protect data for organizations.