Backup season begins on 3/21
The countdown begins. Build your backup strategy on 3-2-1 Backup Day, and be ready to celebrate World Backup Day on March 31st.
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Plan ahead to protect your data According to a 2025 study, only 54% of ransomware victims successfully restored their data from backups—the lowest recovery rate in six years. Backup season is the ideal time to put the right strategy in place, ensuring your data can be recovered if an attack ever occurs. Ransomware in small business As ransomware attacks increasingly target endpoints, networks and cloud systems, small businesses need a tiered backup strategy. Attack vectors are evolving Driven by AI-enhanced phishing and automation, new tactics continue to emerge like deepfakes and cloud vulnerability exploitations. Home users are susceptible Whether by phishing, malicious downloads, or device vulnerabilities, all users must protect their personal data and internet metadata. Step 1 Consolidate your digital sprawl To implement a 3-2-1 Backup strategy, start by centralizing all your data from mobile devices, computers, cloud accounts and external drives. A Synology device that fits your storage needs can help you consolidate this data and keep it secure. BeeDrive or BeeStation
(Up to 3.45 TB)
Delivers high-speed, local consolidation of your camera rolls and work documents, right out of the box.
BeeStation Plus
(Up to 6.98 TB)
Speeds up AI photo indexing and media streaming, transforming a stack of hard drives into a personal cloud.
DiskStation
(Scalable to 650 TB or more)
Provides a private cloud foundation for consolidating large media libraries, computers, servers, cloud and virtual data.
View recommended products
Step 2 Map your 3-2-1 route Now that your data is consolidated, map out your 3-2-1 backup strategy using Synology systems. Keep three copies of your data on two devices, with one stored off-site. Solution 1 : BeeProtected Automatically store your computer and phone backups onto a BeeDrive. Copy all files to BeeStation over USB and then automatically to the cloud with BeeProtect enabled. Free one-month trial of BeeProtect and three-year license of Acronis True Image included with all Bee series purchases. Solution 2: Local private cloud For professionals or enthusiasts, including surveillance footage and personal data from mobile phones and computers. A primary and secondary Synology NAS operate locally, offline. Local NAS #2 has a tier for backups which are copied to C2 Storage automatically based on a schedule and retention of your choosing. Solution 3: Multi-site hybrid cloud To protect against local disasters or hardware failures, a second, remote NAS provides fast off-site backup with immutable snapshots, full system recovery and end-to-end encryption. Synology C2 Storage acts as a tertiary, encrypted cloud, giving long-term protection and flexible recovery of large datasets or individual files. Step 3 Test your backups A backup strategy only works if it’s tested. How you verify your 3-2-1 backups depends on your Synology system and the way your data is stored.
DiskStation Manager
BeeStation Manager
Backup verification Enable Backup Verification to implement scheduled trial runs of the restoration in Virtual Machine Manager. The restoration is recorded as a video which confirms that the backup can be successfully restored.
File restoration Make changes to a file in BeeStation. In BeeFiles, right-click a document or photo folder and select History or Version. Restore as a copy to BeeStation.
Bare-metal recovery drill Build a bootable USB drive in Windows using Synology Active Backup for Business Media Creator. Insert USB into test PC, boot from USB and connect to the Synology NAS.
Remote recovery Log into the BeeStation Portal from any browser and click on Data Protection. Select the most recent recovery point to restore.
Ransomware or malware rollback Delete a shared folder. Open Snapshot Replication > Recovery. Select a previous snapshot and click “Restore to this snapshot" and confirm that the folder is restored.
Encrypted cloud recovery Delete a file from your BeeStation. Log into the BeeProtect Recovery Explorer to download the file.
DiskStation Manager
Backup verification Enable Backup Verification to implement scheduled trial runs of the restoration in Virtual Machine Manager. The restoration is recorded as a video which confirms that the backup can be successfully restored.
Bare-metal recovery drill Build a bootable USB drive in Windows using Synology Active Backup for Business Media Creator. Insert USB into test PC, boot from USB and connect to the Synology NAS.
Ransomware or malware rollback Delete a shared folder. Open Snapshot Replication > Recovery. Select a previous snapshot and click “Restore to this snapshot" and confirm that the folder is restored.
BeeStation Manager
File restoration Make changes to a file in BeeStation. In BeeFiles, right-click a document or photo folder and select History or Version. Restore as a copy to BeeStation.
Remote recovery Log into the BeeStation Portal from any browser and click on Data Protection. Select the most recent recovery point to restore.
Encrypted cloud recovery Delete a file from your BeeStation. Log into the BeeProtect Recovery Explorer to download the file.
Start with a solid foundation With a variety of base capacities and functions to chose from, there’s a solution for every backup need.
BeeStation Plus DS223 DS925+ DS1823xs+ BeeStation Plus DS223 DS925+ DS1823xs+ BeeStation Plus DS223 DS925+ DS1823xs+ BeeStation Plus DS223 DS925+ DS1823xs+
BeeStation BeeStation BeeStation Plus DiskStation DiskStation DS223 DiskStation DiskStation DS925+ DiskStation DiskStation DS1823xs+
Maximum raw storage Maximum raw storage 8 TB Maximum raw storage 40 TB Maximum raw storage 80 TB Maximum raw storage 240 TB
Expansion capabilities Expansion capabilities - Expansion capabilities - Expansion capabilities 180 TB via DX525 (9 x 20 TB) Expansion capabilities 360 TB via DX517 (18 x 20 TB)
Expansion capabilities Expansion capabilities - Expansion capabilities - Expansion capabilities 1 native slot Expansion capabilities 2 native slots
M.2 NVMe SSD M.2 NVMe SSD - M.2 NVMe SSD - M.2 NVMe SSD 2 native slots M.2 NVMe SSD 2 native slots
Built-in networking Built-in networking 1GbE x 1 Built-in networking 1GbE x 1 Built-in networking 2.5GbE x 2 Built-in networking 10GbE x 1, 1GbE x 2
Networking upgrades Networking upgrades - Networking upgrades - Networking upgrades - Networking upgrades Add 10GbE x 2 or 25GbE x 2
Memory upgrades Memory upgrades - Memory upgrades - Memory upgrades 32 GB (16 GB x 2) Memory upgrades 32 GB (16 GB x 2)
Unique strength Unique strength 3-2-1 backup in minutes Unique strength Versatile, private cloud backup Unique strength Storage-intensive workflows with immutable snapshots Unique strength Large-scale storage with automatic tiering in DSM 7.3
Where to buy Find the right Synology system for your backup needs at participating retailers. Frequently asked questions What is the 3-2-1 backup rule and why is it essential for data protection?
The 3-2-1 backup rule is the industry standard for disaster recovery. It requires keeping 3 copies of your data, stored on 2 different types of media (such as a NAS and an external drive), with 1 copy kept offsite (such as the cloud or a remote server). This strategy ensures that even if you suffer hardware failure, theft and a ransomware attack on your primary network, a recoverable copy remains safe and accessible.
What happens if my primary NAS hardware fails?
If you follow the 3-2-1 strategy, you have options. You can restore your data from your offsite copy (C2 Storage or secondary NAS) using Hyper Backup Explorer to a PC. For high-availability environments, Synology supports Snapshot Replication to a secondary server for rapid failover and Synology High Availability (SHA) for instantaneous service continuity.
How do immutable snapshots protect my data from ransomware?
Immutable snapshots utilize WORM (Write Once, Read Many) technology on Plus Series NAS or higher to lock your backup data for a specified period, making it impossible for anyone, including hackers or administrators, to modify or delete the files. With ransomware attacks occurring every 19 seconds and often targeting existing backup infrastructure, immutable snapshots allow you to "roll back" to a clean state instantly without paying a ransom.
Can I perform a "bare-metal" recovery of my entire Windows PC or server?
Yes. Using Active Backup for Business (ABB), you can back up your entire computer, including the operating system, settings and applications. In the event of a crash or hardware failure, you can use the Synology Recovery Media Creator to create a bootable USB drive and restore your entire system to the same or dissimilar hardware.
How does BeeStation replace paid cloud subscriptions like Google Photos or iCloud?
BeeStation creates a personal cloud in your home with no monthly fees. It features a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) which boosts AI processing speed, meaning your photo recognition of people, pets, and objects happen locally on your device without sending data to the cloud." A single 4 TB BeeStation acts as a centralized hub, replacing current subscription costs with a one-time hardware purchase.
What is the difference between file synchronization and a true backup?
Synchronization (like Dropbox or OneDrive) updates files across devices in real-time; if you accidentally delete or corrupt a file on one device, that error syncs everywhere immediately. A true backup retains historical versions of your data, allowing you to restore files from a specific point in time before the corruption or deletion occurred.
Does Synology offer End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) for cloud backups?
Yes. When using Hyper Backup to send NAS data to a BeeStation and C2 Storage, you can utilize secure, encrypted during data transfer and while at rest. This ensures your data is encrypted on your device before it leaves your network, meaning not even Synology can decrypt or view your files stored in the cloud.
Can I back up Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data to a local NAS?
Yes and it is highly recommended to protect against accidental deletion or retention policy gaps. Active Backup for Microsoft 365 and Active Backup for Google Workspace allow you to download and own off-line copies of your emails, contacts, calendars and Drive files directly to your Synology NAS, completely license-free.
How does "Auto-Tiering" improve performance for creative professionals?
Synology Tiering (available in DSM 7.3) optimizes your backups by automatically moving, or "tiering," infrequently accessed data from a high-performance SSD hot tier to a cost-effective, high-capacity HDD cold tier. It boosts performance for active data while managing storage costs. Policies can be customized based on file age or access frequency to automate this process.
How do I run a recovery drill to verify my backups are working?
For NAS/DSM users, Active Backup for Business can verify backups by automatically booting up your backup image in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) and capturing a video of the successful boot process. For BeeStation users, a recovery drill involves logging into the BeeProtect portal from a separate network and successfully decrypting and downloading a file to a local device.
What is "Deep Search" on BeeDrive and how does it help me find files?
Deep Search is an AI-powered feature that runs locally on your computer to index your backups. It allows you to find photos using natural language descriptions (e.g., "sunset at the beach") or locate documents by searching for text within them, even if you don't remember the filename,. This processing happens locally to ensure your privacy.
Do I need to buy expensive hard drives for my Synology NAS?
You must use drives listed on the Synology Products Compatibility List to ensure system stability and technical support,. While Enterprise-grade drives are recommended for business environments due to higher workload ratings, Synology offers a range of validated drives, including the HAT3300 series for home and SOHO users, to ensure reliability.
How does a NAS protect against "bit rot" or silent data corruption?
Synology NAS units using the Btrfs file system employ "self-healing" technology. Btrfs stores checksums for data and metadata, allowing the system to automatically detect silent data corruption (bit rot) and recover the correct data from a mirrored copy (RAID) without user intervention.
Can I use a Synology NAS for video surveillance recording?
Yes. Surveillance Station transforms your NAS into a Network Video Recorder (NVR) compatible with over 17,000 IP cameras and peripherals. You can set up event triggers (like motion detection), archive footage to the cloud for a tamper-proof offsite copy and manage everything through a centralized dashboard.
Is Acronis True Image included with Synology products?
Select Synology products, including BeeDrive and BeeStation, come with a complimentary three year license for Acronis True Image Essentials. This software provides comprehensive cyber protection for your computer, including antivirus scans and ransomware defense, complementing the hardware backup provided by the Synology device.
Looking for an MSP alternative? You didn't sign up to be IT, but your team depends on you to keep their data safe. Save time and money without sacrificing data recoverability with Synology all-in-one backup appliances.
  • Secure your data and scale your business with a purpose-built backup appliance.
  • Perform disaster recovery drills periodically via a built-in virtual machine.
  • Instantly restore data via P2V or V2V migration to keep services running.
  • Synology Premium Support gives you top-tier assistance whenever you need.
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Notes: 2025 State of ransomware report by Sophos