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Synology NAS setup and support for business
We set up, update and support Synology NAS units for offices: storage pools planned properly, DSM kept current, snapshots that ransomware cannot change, and a copy of everything kept off site.
- Set up, updated and monitored
- Snapshots ransomware cannot change
- A copy kept off site
- DiskStation and RackStation
What a Synology does for an office, and when it is the right tool
A Synology NAS is a small, purpose-built storage server. In a business it usually does one or more of four jobs: a file server for the office, the place every PC and server backs up to, a backup of your Microsoft 365 mail and files, and recording for security cameras.
It does them well, at a fraction of the cost of a Windows server, and it is one of the most common pieces of equipment we find in GTA offices.
It is also one of the most neglected. We regularly meet Synology units that have not been updated in years, are reachable from the internet, back up to a USB drive that was unplugged long ago, or are one failed disk away from losing everything. None of that is the hardware’s fault. It is how it was set up and then left alone.
A NAS is not always the answer. For everyday documents that people open from home and share with clients, SharePoint and OneDrive are usually better. A NAS earns its place for very large files, for accounting and design software that cannot run from a synced folder, for fast local access, and above all as a backup target. Many of our clients run both.
Choosing a model and drives that will last
Synology’s range runs from home units to rack-mounted servers. For business use we work almost entirely in three families.
| Family | Typical fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Plus series desktop units, such as the DS925+ and DS1825+ | Most offices of 5 to 50 people: file sharing, PC and server backup, Microsoft 365 backup | Four to eight bays, room for faster networking on most models, and enough power for the Active Backup suite |
| XS and XS+ units | Busier offices, heavier file work, virtual machine storage | Faster processors and 10 Gb networking, worth it when many people open large files at once |
| RackStation units | Offices with a server rack, larger backup targets, mid-size organizations | Fit the network cabinet, often with redundant power supplies |
Drives
Use drives built for NAS work, and keep every drive in a pool the same model where you can. When Synology launched its 2025 Plus series, it limited those units to its own branded drives. It reversed that with DSM 7.3 in October 2025, so third-party hard drives and SATA SSDs work fully again on those models. Storage pools built on M.2 NVMe drives still need drives from Synology’s compatibility list.
Redundancy
For four drives or fewer we usually use SHR-1 or RAID 5, which survives one failed drive. Above that, or with very large drives, we use SHR-2 or RAID 6, which survives two. Rebuilding a modern high-capacity drive can take days, and a second failure during a rebuild is exactly when single-drive protection runs out.
The setup standard every unit gets
Whether we install a new unit or take over one already in your office, it is brought to the same baseline. Most of these settings take minutes. Leaving them out is how a NAS becomes the weak point of an otherwise well-run network.
| Setting | Our default | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Internet exposure | No ports forwarded to the NAS, QuickConnect off unless there is a reason for it, remote access only through your VPN | Ransomware campaigns have targeted NAS units reachable from the internet |
| Admin access | Named admin accounts only, with two-step sign-in, and the built-in admin account disabled | A shared, guessable admin login is the easiest way in |
| File system | Btrfs with data checksums on shared folders | Detects silent data corruption and makes snapshots possible |
| Snapshots | Scheduled snapshots of every share, with immutable snapshots kept for a set number of days | Immutable snapshots cannot be deleted or encrypted, even by an attacker with admin rights, until they expire |
| Updates | DSM and packages kept current, with security updates installed automatically | Most NAS compromises use flaws that already had a fix |
| Health checks | Scheduled drive tests and data scrubbing, with alerts sent to us as well as you | A failing drive is replaced before the pool degrades, not after |
| Power | Connected to a battery backup that tells the NAS to shut down cleanly in a power cut | An abrupt power loss mid-write is a common cause of a damaged volume |
| File sharing | SMB3 only, old SMB1 off, permissions set by group, recycle bin on shared folders | Old protocols are insecure, and a recycle bin saves most accidental deletions |
A NAS is one copy, not a backup plan
RAID protects you from a dead drive. It does nothing against ransomware, an accidental deletion, a burst pipe or a stolen unit. Those need copies elsewhere, and a NAS is very good at making them.
What the NAS backs up
Synology’s Active Backup for Business backs up Windows PCs, Windows servers and virtual machines to the NAS without per-device licence fees on supported models. Active Backup for Microsoft 365 does the same for mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. For many small offices, that one box replaces two or three paid backup products.
Where the NAS itself goes
The NAS is then copied off site with Hyper Backup, either to Synology’s C2 cloud storage, to another Synology at a second office or an owner’s home, or to other cloud storage. Encrypted, versioned, and on a different network from the original.
Proving it works
A backup nobody has restored is a hope, not a backup. We test restores of a file, a folder and a whole machine on a schedule and keep a record of each test, which is also the evidence a cyber insurer asks for. Our backup and disaster recovery page explains how this fits a full recovery plan.
When a drive fails or the NAS will not start
Most Synology emergencies are recoverable if nobody panics. Most permanent data loss we see happens in the first hour after the problem appears, through well-meant steps that make it worse.
- A degraded storage pool. One drive has failed and the pool is running without protection. Replace that drive, and only that drive, with one of the same or larger size, then let the rebuild finish without restarting the unit.
- A crashed pool or two failed drives. Stop. Do not remove more drives, reinitialize anything or accept any offer to create a new pool. Call us, so we can work out what can still be read before anything else is touched.
- The NAS will not start or cannot be found on the network. Often a failed power supply, a full system partition or a network change. The data drives are usually fine and can be read in another unit.
- Files suddenly renamed or unreadable. This is likely ransomware. Disconnect the NAS from the network immediately. Immutable snapshots are what get you back from this.
For any of these, our 24/7 emergency line reaches a technician, whether or not you are already a client.
Synology work we quote
New units are supplied, installed and configured for a fixed price. Monitoring and updates for a NAS we look after are covered by our managed IT plan, and recovery work after a failure is quoted once we know what happened.
- New Synology supplied, installed and configuredFixed quote
- Health check and hardening of an existing unitFixed quote
- Active Backup for PCs, servers and Microsoft 365Fixed quote
- Off-site copy to C2 or a second SynologyFixed quote
- Old NAS replaced, with data migratedFixed quote
- Recovery after a failed pool or ransomwareQuoted on assessment
Questions people ask
Can a Synology NAS replace our Windows file server?
Often, yes. A Synology handles shared folders, permissions and backups well at a lower cost than a Windows server. If staff work remotely and collaborate on everyday documents, SharePoint may suit those files better, and many offices use a NAS alongside Microsoft 365.
Do we have to buy Synology-branded drives?
No. Synology briefly limited its 2025 Plus series to its own drives, but reversed that with DSM 7.3 in October 2025. Third-party NAS hard drives and SATA SSDs work fully again. Storage pools on M.2 NVMe drives still need drives from Synology's compatibility list.
Is RAID a backup?
No. RAID keeps the NAS running when a drive fails. It does not protect against ransomware, deletion, fire, theft or corruption. You still need snapshots and a separate copy off site.
Can a Synology back up Microsoft 365?
Yes. Active Backup for Microsoft 365 backs up mailboxes, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams to the NAS, without per-user licence fees on supported models. The NAS should then be copied off site as well.
What are immutable snapshots?
Snapshots that cannot be changed or deleted, even by an administrator, until a period you choose has passed. If ransomware encrypts the shared folders, the immutable snapshots are untouched and the files can be restored from them.
Should our NAS be reachable from the internet?
Generally not. Ransomware campaigns have targeted NAS units exposed directly to the internet. Remote access should go through your VPN or a properly secured service, with two-step sign-in on every admin account.
What should we do if our Synology shows a crashed storage pool?
Stop and call for help before touching anything. Do not pull more drives, reinitialize or create a new pool. Most data loss happens through well-meant steps taken in the first hour.
Can you support a Synology someone else installed?
Yes. We start with a health check, bring it to our setup standard, confirm the backups and off-site copy actually work, and document how it is configured.
Tell us what’s going on
Pick how urgent it is and leave a way to reach you. The help desk replies by phone or email. If work has stopped, call 647-812-3775 instead.
Something broken, or something to plan?
For anything urgent, call. A technician answers the emergency line 24/7. For everything else, open a ticket and tell us what is going on.