Post Syndicated from Vic A original https://www.servethehome.com/minisforum-n5-max-review-with-amd-ryzen-ai-max-395/
We review the Minisforum N5 Max, a 64GB AMD Strix Halo system that combines 10GbE, a 5-bay NAS, and more into a single box
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Post Syndicated from Ryan Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/asustor-showcases-flashstor-12-pro-gen3-flashstor-6-gen3-all-flash-nases-at-computex-2026/
For Computex 2026, Asustor had their upcoming third-generation Flashstor NASes on display. With support for either 6 or 12 M.2 SSDs, these all-flash NASes continue to be an interesting offering
The post Asustor Showcases Flashstor 12 Pro Gen3 & Flashstor 6 Gen3 All-Flash NASes at Computex 2026 appeared first on ServeTheHome.
Post Syndicated from Stephanie Doyle original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/what-network-data-can-and-cant-tell-us-about-ai-infrastructure/
AI infrastructure is difficult to observe directly. That’s because AI systems are highly distributed. They span storage platforms, GPU clusters, training pipelines, and multiple cloud providers—and those looking to optimize their stacks have to build out a visibility layer that takes all of those things into account. Data is constantly moving between different tools and infrastructure layers, and it’s imperative to understand how and why.
Your organization is ready to prioritize AI-first projects. But is your data ready? Whether you’re developing AI-powered products to bring in new revenue or building internal AI tools to increase productivity, your AI initiatives start with the data you already have and how it’s stored.
Read the guide, “Navigating Multimodal Dataset Economics,” to understand how to optimize AI infrastructure.
One critically important aspect: understanding the network layer. Network telemetry makes it possible to observe how data actually moves between environments: which endpoints exchange data, how long those connections persist, and how much information flows between them over time.
Since re-launching the Network Stats series in November 2025, we have had direct visibility into what that movement looks like in practice. Backblaze has always been an advocate for the benefits of a multi-cloud design, and our position as a pure storage provider offers a unique perspective on the movement of storage to the neoclouds where AI processing, inference, and model training take place. Our network telemetry captures data flows across those connections in real time.
The Q1 2026 Network Stats report covers a full quarter of observed network traffic across those connections. This makes it possible to see patterns in how AI workloads move data between storage and compute environments.
However, while these patterns are real and worth studying, they need to be interpreted carefully. A single quarter of data may highlight emerging behaviors, but those behaviors may not reflect how AI infrastructure will ultimately be designed.
And, as we often say—the dataset is young, and network landscape is going through a fundamental change. It will be exciting to see what happens over time, but we, as a community, should be discerning.
Network-level metrics expose behaviors that application or storage metrics often don’t reveal. Application logs can show what a system is trying to do, and storage metrics can show how much capacity is being used. But, it’s the network layer that reveals how data actually moves between systems.
Several network patterns help make that movement visible:
When we examine the network data, it begins to reveal how modern workloads operate.
One of the clearest examples appears in the Q4 2025 Network Stats data. In that quarter, neocloud traffic was concentrated around a relatively small number of endpoints, and those connections carry sustained, high-magnitude data transfers over time. Compared with traditional internet traffic patterns, fewer connections are responsible for moving a much larger share of the data. We call those elephant flows.
In Q1 2026, we dug into the ways that the data also show a geographic pattern. Neocloud traffic clusters in specific regions with dense compute and interconnect infrastructure, rather than being evenly distributed across the network.
These signals in the network data are meaningful. They reveal important characteristics of how AI workloads behave across infrastructure. But, they do not by themselves explain what those patterns imply for infrastructure design.
A single quarter of telemetry can reveal emerging patterns, but it cannot distinguish durable infrastructure trends from short-term experimentation.
AI infrastructure is still evolving quickly. New training frameworks are emerging, GPU availability continues to shift, and companies are experimenting with different compute providers and network connections. Because of this, infrastructure decisions today are still temporary. Teams are building pipelines with the resources they can access now, and many are finding that multi-cloud architectures allow them the ability to optimize their tech stack—traditionally only considered cost play, this is far more important from a performance perspective.
That means some of the patterns visible in current network data aren’t constraints for anyone attempting to deal with a changing landscape. For example, these are some of the patterns we can’t attribute causality to in a vacuum:
As these conditions change, the same workloads may produce different network signatures. And, more importantly, a flexible, interoperable tech stack means that enterprises can be responsive.
This also is why network telemetry becomes much more informative when observed quarter by quarter and over time. Multiple quarters of data make it easier to distinguish temporary conditions from infrastructure patterns that persist.
But even before those longer-term patterns emerge, network telemetry still provides valuable insight into how AI infrastructure behaves under current conditions.
The patterns visible in network telemetry become more useful when we consider what they imply for infrastructure planning. Rather than describing the traffic itself, they help engineers understand the operational demands AI workloads place on real systems.
Sustained high-volume transfers point to the level of throughput infrastructure must support. If large datasets move repeatedly across the network, drive IOPS, API servers, load balancers, network switch pairs, and other interconnect layers must be capable of sustaining those flows without becoming bottlenecks.
Traffic concentrated among a relatively small number of systems suggests that storage and compute environments may become tightly coupled in real deployments. AI pipelines often depend on repeated exchanges between specific components rather than distributing activity evenly across many endpoints. For example, it may make sense to co-locate storage on flash hardware when you’re immediately feeding GPUs; however, your warm or cold data may be better served in different environments.
Regional clustering highlights where compute capacity and high-bandwidth interconnect infrastructure are currently concentrated. For operators, that can indicate where AI workloads are most likely to run and where supporting infrastructure must perform reliably at scale.
For engineers and infrastructure planners, data like this helps answer practical questions such as:
Taken together, this information provides a useful view into the operational demands AI workloads place on infrastructure today. They do not, however, define how AI infrastructure will ultimately be designed.
The real problem is that, in traditional environments, infrastructure decisions tend to stick. When a team chooses where data lives, how pipelines move it, and which providers are connected, those choices quickly become part of the system.
Over time, early infrastructure decisions can quietly lock an organization into a specific architecture, even if better options appear later.
Once large datasets are stored in a particular environment, changing course becomes slow and expensive. Moving the data can take days or weeks. Pipelines may need to be rewritten. Teams may have to rebuild integrations between storage and compute systems entirely.
This doesn’t mean early signals should be ignored. Network telemetry still shows how workloads behave today, and can indicate what happens tomorrow. That visibility helps teams understand the operational demands AI workloads place on infrastructure.
These observations should be treated as a snapshot of a system that is still evolving. Infrastructure that allows data to move easily between platforms and compute environments gives teams the freedom to adapt as tools, providers, and architectures change. In fast-moving AI ecosystems, flexibility can matter just as much as raw performance.
Using network telemetry responsibly means learning from the pressures visible today while recognizing that the systems producing these patterns are still taking shape.
The post What Network Data Can and Can’t Tell Us About AI Infrastructure appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup
Post Syndicated from Ryan Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/minisforum-s5-all-flash-nas-shown-based-on-intels-wildcat-lake-platform/
At Computex 2026 Minisforum was showing off their upcoming S5 NAS, a mid-range all-flash NAS. With 5 M.2 SSD slots and 10GbE networking, the fanless NAS punches up
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Post Syndicated from Ryan Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/zimacube-2-pro-review-intel-marvell-asmedia/
We review the ZimaCube 2 Pro NAS and see how this box combines an unexpected processor with 10GbE and many 3.5″ and M.2 SSD drive bays
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Post Syndicated from Ryan Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/beelink-me-pro-review-intel-seagate-small-and-focused-nas/
In our Beelink ME Pro review, we see how this is a small and low power NAS. We also let OpenClaw set it up as a Proxmox VE homelab node
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Post Syndicated from Ryan Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/qnap-ts-h1290fx-nas-review-amd-epyc-nvidia/
In our QNAP TS-h1290FX review, we see how this AMD EPYC-powered all-flash ZFS NAS with 25GbE performs, and why we use it daily
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Post Syndicated from Patrick Kennedy original https://www.servethehome.com/minisforum-n5-pro-review-an-awesome-nas-platform/
We look at the Minisforum N5 Pro an awesome 5-bay NAS with 10GbE and a super-fast AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX Pro 370 CPU with ECC memory support
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Post Syndicated from Patrick Kennedy original https://www.servethehome.com/building-new-sth-studio-nas-storage-qnap-solidigm-amd-nvidia/
We built a new 360TB studio NAS using high-capacity Solidigm SSDs, a QNAP NAS, and a host of customizations
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Post Syndicated from Patrick Kennedy original https://www.servethehome.com/blackmagic-cloud-store-mini-review-a-m-2-ssd-nas-made-too-simple/
In our Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini review, we see how this 8TB all-SSD NAS offers such a simple experience that it might be too simple
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Post Syndicated from Eric Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/blackmagic-cloud-pod-10gbe-usb-ssd-sharing-device/
The Blackmagic Cloud Pod might be the simplest 10GbE NAS out there providing an easy way to make USB SSDs accessible as network storage
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Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/qnap-nas-backup-to-cloud/
Your QNAP network attached storage (NAS) device helps your business centralize storage capacity, support collaboration, and access files 24/7 from anywhere. If you were relying on individual hard drives or another ad hoc storage solution before, it definitely helps you uplevel your data management practices.
One of the great features of a QNAP NAS device is Hybrid Backup Sync (HBS), its onboard backup utility that allows you to easily store a copy of your data to your NAS and other destinations. You can set regular, automated backups to protect against data loss due to hardware failures or accidental deletion. But, keeping a copy of your data on your NAS alone doesn’t constitute a true backup strategy. For that, you need to follow the 3-2-1 backup rule with at least one copy stored off-site.
This post explains how to set up a 3-2-1 backup strategy with your QNAP NAS. We’ll share the benefits of storing your backups in the cloud, discuss different options for backing up your QNAP NAS, and provide some practical examples of what you can do by combining cloud storage and your NAS.
Following the 3-2-1 strategy means having three copies of your data, two of which are stored locally but on different media (aka devices), and one stored off-site.
Your QNAP NAS is your first step towards completing the 3-2-1 strategy. By using it to store data locally, you have two copies on-site. Backing up your QNAP NAS to the cloud completes the 3-2-1 strategy by serving as your off-site storage.
You could maintain an off-site copy on another physical device like another NAS, an external drive, or a file server, but keep in mind, backing up to an external destination other than the cloud will require you to physically separate the backup copy—that is, send your drive via mail or drive it elsewhere in order to ensure geographic separation. Backing up your QNAP NAS to the cloud means you achieve a 3-2-1 strategy without going out of your way to physically separate the copies, and it allows you to easily store data in different regions for greater data resilience and disaster recovery.
Backing up your QNAP NAS to the cloud gives you a number of additional benefits, including:
QNAP offers a number of different tools and functionality to help you back up business devices and systems to your NAS, including:
Once you’ve created a copy of your business data to your QNAP NAS, you can then use QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync to back it up to the cloud. Hybrid Backup Sync supports multi-version backups and allows you to customize retention settings for version management. QNAP’s QuDedup feature deduplicates data, helping you manage your storage footprint. The utility also allows you to manage Time Machine backups for Mac devices.
The QNAP Hybrid Backup Sync app provides you with a lot of options. You can synchronize in the cloud as little or as much as you want. Here are some practical examples of what you can do with Hybrid Backup Sync and cloud storage working together.
The QNAP NAS has excellent fault tolerance—it can continue operating even when individual drive units fail—but nothing in life is foolproof. It pays to be prepared in the event of a catastrophe. Now that you know about the 3-2-1 backup strategy, you know how important it is to make sure that you have a copy of your files in the cloud.
Using your QNAP to store marketing assets like video and photos? You’ve invested untold amounts of time, money, and effort into producing those media files, so make sure they’re safely and securely synced to the cloud with Hybrid Backup Sync.
Apple’s Time Machine software provides Mac users with reliable local backup, and many Backblaze customers rely on it to provide that crucial first step in making sure their data is secure. QNAP enables the NAS to act as a network-based Time Machine backup. Those Time Machine files can be synced to the cloud, so you can make sure to have Time Machine files to restore from in the event of a critical failure.
If you use Windows or Linux, you can configure the QNAP NAS as the destination for your Windows or Linux local data backup. That, in turn, can be synced to the cloud from the NAS.
Hybrid Backup Sync allows you to choose from any number of cloud storage providers as a backup destination, and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is one of them. Check out our videos on how to use Hybrid Backup Sync to back up or sync your data to B2 in under 15 minutes.
If you haven’t given cloud storage a try yet, you can get started now and make sure your NAS is synced or backed up securely to the cloud.
The post How to Back Up Your QNAP NAS to the Cloud appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/nas-vs-cloud-storage-which-solution-fits-your-business-needs/
If you’re leading IT strategy for a growing enterprise and still weighing network attached storage (NAS) and cloud storage, you’re not alone. And you’re not behind. Even the most seasoned infrastructure pros find themselves re-evaluating their stack as data volumes explode and budgets tighten. Both offer unique benefits, but with overlapping features, it’s easy to see why the choice can be confusing.
Are you looking for greater control with physical access, as in a local NAS setup? Or is off-site backup, flexibility, and scalability through a cloud service provider more aligned with your needs? With plenty of discussions and debates outlining the pros and cons of one or the other, it can be difficult to determine the best storage solution for your specific needs.
This guide walks through clear, actionable insights into NAS and cloud storage, addressing your most pressing questions about storage costs, dedicated machines, data sharing, and performance. Whether the focus is cost, scalability, security, or accessibility, this guide will help identify the ideal storage solution for your business.
NAS, or network attached storage, is a file-level storage system designed specifically to provide centralized and shared disk storage for users on a local area network (LAN).
Essentially, NAS is a purpose-built computer that operates its own dedicated operating system (OS). It contains one or more storage devices that are configured to create a single shared volume. These storage devices are arranged in a RAID configuration to ensure data redundancy and performance.
These configurations make NAS ideal for file sharing, data backups, and accessing large files within an organization, making it a cost-effective solution for enterprises that need local storage with physical access.
Many NAS devices, such as Synology NAS or QNAP NAS, come with built-in software for additional functionalities like file syncing, data backups, and offsite backup options to integrate with cloud services.
NAS provides access to files using standard network file sharing protocols such as Network File System (NFS) and Server Message Block (SMB). By connecting directly to the local network, NAS allows users to easily store, access, and collaborate on files without overburdening other servers within the network. This separation of file-serving responsibilities helps optimize overall network performance, particularly for high-traffic environments.
NAS systems are generally managed through a web-based utility accessible over the network, offering an intuitive interface for configuration and maintenance. This interface allows administrators to handle tasks such as user permissions, storage allocation, and data redundancy settings—making it simpler to secure and organize shared files across the network.
NAS offers several advantages including faster data access, easier administration, simplified management, and many others. Here’s a breakdown:
While NAS offers numerous advantages for centralized file storage, there are some notable limitations to consider:
Cloud storage is a model of data storage where data is stored on servers located in off-site locations and accessed via the internet. This setup enables users to store, retrieve, and manage data without requiring local storage infrastructure. There are two main types of cloud: public and private.
Public cloud storage services are provided by third-party vendors over the public internet, making them accessible to anyone who wants to purchase or lease storage capacity. These services are designed to offer scalability and reliability, often on a pay-as–you-go basis.
Private cloud storage is dedicated to a single organization where an organization utilizes its own servers and data centers to store data within their own network. It can be hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider, but it’s always behind the organization’s firewall. This model is ideal for businesses that require more control over their data and have stringent security and compliance requirements.
One of the key benefits of public cloud storage is that it eliminates the need for businesses to buy, manage, and operate their own data center infrastructure. This shift allows companies to move from capital expenditure (CapEx) to operational expenditure (OpEx) model, focusing on paying only for the storage they need when they need it.
Additionally, cloud storage is elastic, enabling businesses to scale their storage capacity up or down more efficiently and strategically than through tactical hardware investments.
Private cloud storage allows for customized control and security measures, as organizations have full authority over their data environment. This setup can be highly beneficial for industries with strict data regulations, like finance and healthcare, as it enables better compliance with data privacy laws.
Additionally, private clouds provide reliable performance since resources are not shared with external users, reducing latency issues and enabling faster data access for internal teams.
In addition to the elasticity and scalability benefits of cloud storage, you can also combine on-premises storage and different types of public or private cloud storage to uniquely support your business needs. The primary models of cloud storage are:
This flexibility in cloud storage architecture allows businesses to balance performance, cost, and security—ensuring critical data is stored securely while remaining accessible and resilient across multiple environments.
Cloud storage works by allowing users to upload data, such as files, documents, videos, or images to remote servers via the internet.
Public cloud storage providers like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Backblaze maintain servers in large data centers. The uploaded data can be accessed and managed through web interfaces or APIs, making it highly accessible and flexible.
Cloud storage offers numerous benefits that can greatly enhance business operations, such as storage space scalability, flexible data sharing options, and built-in data protection through regular backups and client-side encryption. However, there are also a few considerations like data security and storage costs to keep in mind. Next, we’ll look at the advantages and some of the key limitations of cloud-based storage solutions.
Cloud storage enables businesses to scale with ease, reduce IT burdens, and access data remotely—offering a reliable, cost-efficient way to manage critical information. Here are some of the advantages of cloud storage:
While cloud storage offers flexibility and scalability, it also has some limitations that impose additional considerations like ongoing costs and internet dependence that businesses should evaluate carefully.
The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of NAS and cloud storage, highlighting key aspects such as cost, scalability, security, and performance. This comparison will help you determine which storage solution best aligns with your business requirements and operational workflows.
| Aspect | NAS | Cloud Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Storage model | File-level storage within a local network | Data stored on remote servers accessed via the internet |
| Performance | High speed access over a local network; optimal for on-premises work | Dependent on internet speed and latency; suitable for global access and remote teams |
| Scalability | Limited by physical hardware capacity; requires purchasing new devices for expansion | Virtually unlimited scalability; allowing storage to expand without additional hardware |
| Cost | Upfront hardware purchase, ongoing investment to expand capacity | Subscription-based, pay-as-you-go model, often with no upfront hardware investment |
| Maintenance | Requires in-house IT maintenance, updates and troubleshooting | Maintenance handled by cloud provider, reducing IT burden |
| Security | Controlled in-house, local network security; ideal for high-sensitive data | Enhanced by provider with encryption, multi-factor authentication, and security |
| Data redundancy | RAID configurations for local redundancy | Built-in data redundancy and disaster recovery options |
| Accessibility | Limited to local network access or VPN for remote connections | Accessible from anywhere with an internet connection, supporting remote work and collaboration |
| Compliance | Greater control for compliance in regulated industries; depends on in-house protocols | Many providers offer compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2, ideal for regulated industries |
A hybrid cloud solution combines the strengths of both NAS and cloud storage. While NAS offers a centralized location to store and access files, the data stored on the NAS is still vulnerable to data disasters such as floods, fires, or hardware failures.
By integrating cloud storage with NAS, you create an off-site backup of your NAS data that securely protects your critical data from virtually any data threat. This approach not only mitigates the risk associated with physical damage to your on-premises NAS equipment but also offers the scalability, flexibility and remote accessibility benefits of cloud storage.
Additionally, this helps you implement 3-2-1 backup protection where three copies of your data are stored in two different storage media (NAS and cloud) with one copy stored off-site in the cloud, protecting against ransomware, hardware failures, natural disasters, and other data threats.
Choosing between NAS and cloud storage for your business largely depends on your specific use cases and operational needs. NAS provides fast local access, control, and cost efficiency for businesses with stable storage needs and on-premises operations. In contrast, cloud storage offers unparalleled scalability, remote access, and maintenance-free operation, making it ideal for organizations with dynamic storage needs and remote workforces.
However, many businesses find that a combination of both, known as a hybrid cloud solution, offers the best of both worlds by combining the control of NAS with the scalability of cloud storage.
Ultimately, the right choice will depend on a thorough evaluation of your business needs and operational workflows. By understanding the strengths and limitations of both NAS and cloud storage, you can make an informed decision that ensures your data is secure, accessible, and available when you need it.
The answer depends on your specific business needs. Cloud storage offers scalability, remote access, and minimal maintenance requirements. NAS, on the other hand, provides fast local access and higher control over data management and security settings. Each solution has its strengths, and the best choice will depend on your priorities regarding data security, access, and cost.
Yes, many modern NAS devices come with built-in features that allow them to function similarly to cloud storage, or to connect to a cloud storage provider of your choice. These NAS systems can be accessed remotely over the internet, creating a private cloud or hybrid cloud solution. However, it requires proper configuration, secure settings and a reliable internet connection to ensure seamless remote access.
NAS devices are purpose-built for storage, offering simplicity, ease of management, and lower costs compared to traditional servers. While servers are multifunctional and can handle a variety of tasks, they are more complex to set up and maintain. NAS provides a straightforward solution for file sharing, backups, and media streaming without the need for extensive IT infrastructure. This makes NAS an excellent choice for small to medium-sized businesses that primarily need a dedicated storage solution.
Yes, NAS devices are designed to operate within a local area network (LAN) and do not require an internet connection for local access and file sharing. Users can store, access, and collaborate on files within local networks without internet access. However, for remote access or to leverage additional features such as cloud backups, an internet connection is necessary.
The post NAS vs. Cloud Storage: Which Remote Storage Option Is Best? appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/synology-cloud-backup-guide/
Synology network attached storage (NAS) devices are great for businesses. They enable easy collaboration, speed up restores, make your files accessible 24/7, and give you a level of data protection you probably didn’t have before. Essentially, a NAS device acts as a private cloud, offering centralized access and storage for everything from large files to ongoing projects.
That’s why it’s important to back up your Synology DiskStation to the cloud. While NAS offers a layer of redundancy on-premises if you happen to lose files, it doesn’t fully protect you from things like a natural disaster, a ransomware attack that infiltrates your backups, or multiple hard drive failures. Cloud backups are important for data redundancy and future data recovery, giving you easy access and fast restores.
To keep your data truly safe, the 3-2-1 backup strategy is the industry baseline. Using a 3-2-1 strategy with your NAS means you keep three copies of your data on two different media (like NAS and cloud storage), with one stored off-site. Backing your DiskStation up to the cloud is a great way to achieve that key off-site element. This setup protects against various risks, and ensures your data is available for recovery.
In this post, we’ll explain how to implement a 3-2-1 backup strategy for your Synology NAS, the benefits of backing up to cloud storage, options for backing up your DiskStation, and some practical examples of what you can do by pairing your NAS with cloud storage.
The 3-2-1 backup strategy is simple and time-tested. If you are using your Synology NAS to connect and back up computers on your network, that’s the first step—you have two local copies of your data on different mediums. You’d accomplish this by creating a multi-version local copy.
While this setup might seem sufficient, your data is still at risk from NAS device failure. It remains co-located with your primary data, making it vulnerable to disasters or theft. To fully protect your data, you need a third, off-site backup copy.
For your third copy, you could back up your Synology to an external desFor your third copy, you could back up your Synology to an external destination—either another Synology NAS, a file server, or a USB device. Each has pros and cons, and we’ll talk through them for argument’s sake.
With any of these options, you’ll need to physically move your backup device—the old Synology, file server, or USB-connected device—to another location, ideally more than a few miles away, to truly achieve a 3-2-1 backup.
However, backing up your Synology NAS DiskStation to the cloud means you achieve a 3-2-1 strategy without the need to physically separate your backup copies. Backing up your Synology NAS to the cloud means you have both convenience and robust data redundancy.
In addition to avoiding the lift of a physical move, backing up Synology NAS to the cloud offers a number of other benefits, too, including:
Synology offers various backup utilities and methods to protect your data, each suited to different backup needs and environments.
Hyper Backup is Synology’s built-in backup utility for backing up to any number of external destinations, including public clouds. It enables you to back up not just data stored on your NAS, but also applications and system configurations.
It offers incremental backups to help you manage your storage footprint. After your initial backup, using incremental backups means only files that have been changed will be updated.
It also offers cross-file deduplication to help you further manage your storage footprint. Hyper Backup allows you to back up to external devices as well as cloud services.
In addition to Hyper Backup, Synology also offers Cloud Sync, which is important for those who need real-time collaboration and file syncing capabilities. Keep in mind that sync is not the same as backup–Cloud Sync does not support application and system configuration file backups, and it only keeps the current version of your files. If someone accidentally deletes that file, it’s gone. If you’re not sure if you’re looking for backup or sync, you can read about the differences between them in this post.
If your Synology model supports the Btrfs file system, using Snapshot Replication is a bit faster both on the backup side and the restore side than Hyper Backup. Snapshot Replication allows you to back up to the same Synology NAS or another Synology NAS, but not to the cloud.
USB Copy only copies your data, not applications or system configuration files. It does not support cross-file deduplication, so you might end up with duplicate copies of your files. Additionally, this method is manual, and will require you to be responsible for regular backups as opposed to automating them with Hyper Backup or Snapshot Replication.
Using Hyper Backup and Cloud Sync together gives you total control over what gets backed up to cloud storage—you can synchronize in the cloud as little or as much as you want. This flexible approach allows you to customize your backup plan and protect your Synology NAS data based on priority and needs.
Here are some practical examples of what you can do with Cloud Sync, Hyper Backup, and cloud storage working together.
The DiskStation has excellent fault-tolerance—it can continue operating even when individual drive units fail. However, for comprehensive protection, syncing and backing up the entire DiskStation to cloud storage ensures that your data remains secure during a disaster or system failure.
If you’re storing essential media files—like videos, music, and photos—on your DiskStation, Cloud Sync or Hyper Backup can ensure these valuable files are safely stored in the cloud. Synology NAS offers data redundancy on-premises, but cloud storage provides an additional off-site backup layer for further protection.
For Mac operations, Synology allows the DiskStation to serve as a network-based Time Machine backup. With Hyper Backup, you can synchronize Time Machine files to the cloud so that in the event of a critical failure, your Time Machine backups are securely stored off-site, ready for a seamless restoration.
Hyper Backup allows you to choose from any number of cloud storage providers as a backup destination, and Backblaze B2 Cloud Storage is one of them.If you haven’t given cloud storage a try yet, you can get started now, and make sure your NAS is synced or backed up securely to the cloud.
Hyper Backup is Synology’s built-in backup utility for backing up to any number of external destinations, including public clouds. It enables you to back up not just data stored on your NAS, but also applications and system configurations. Additionally, It offers cross-file deduplication to help you further manage your storage footprint and avoid duplicates.
Synology offers a lot of options for backing up your device, including to local volumes, external devices, other Synology systems, rsync servers, or public cloud services like Backblaze B2. The best way to back up your Synology NAS depends on many different factors, but the most important thing to remember is that you should follow a 3-2-1 backup strategy. That means keeping three copies of your data on two different media (i.e. devices) with one off-site. Backing up to the cloud is a great option for data redundancy and long-term protection when handling your off-site backups.
Yes, with Hyper Backup, you can set up automatic backups to many public clouds, including Backblaze B2. It offers incremental backups to help you manage your storage footprint. After your initial backup, using incremental backups means only files that have been changed will be updated.
Synology is compatible with many public cloud providers, including Backblaze B2, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon S3, and Synology C2 Storage.
The amount of cloud storage space needed for your Synology NAS backup depends on factors like the total data size, frequency of backups, and retention policies. Calculate your NAS data size, estimate growth, and choose a cloud plan accordingly. Hyper Backup provides storage estimates, helping you select the right amount of cloud storage space for secure, scalable data backups.
The post How to Back Up Your Synology NAS to the Cloud | Backblaze appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup
Post Syndicated from Eric Smith original https://www.servethehome.com/qnap-tbs-h574tx-reivew-e1-s-and-m-2-thunderbolt-10gbe-nas-sabrent-intel-kioxia/
In our QNAP TBS-h574TX we go into how QNAP may have made the NAS of the future with this E1.S and M.2 SSD Thunderbolt and 10GbE NAS
The post QNAP TBS-h574TX Reivew E1.S and M.2 Thunderbolt 10GbE NAS appeared first on ServeTheHome.
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/nas-life-expectancy-how-to-extend-nas-longevity/
There’s only one truth you need to know about tech: at some point, it will fail. Hard drives die. You get the blue screen of death the day of the big presentation. You lose cell service right when your mom calls. (Or maybe you pretend to lose service right when your mom calls. We won’t judge.) Whatever it is, we’ve all been there.
If you use network attached storage (NAS) for your business or at home, you’re probably well aware of this fact. The redundancy you get from a solid RAID configuration might be one of the reasons you invested in a NAS—to prepare for inevitable drive failures. NAS devices are a great investment for a business for their durability and reliability, but there are things you can do to extend the lifespan of your NAS and get even more out of your investment.
Extending the lifespan of a NAS system isn’t just about preventing hardware failures; it’s crucial for ensuring uninterrupted access to critical data while maximizing ROI on your IT investments. In this blog, you’ll learn about the key factors that influence NAS longevity and get real-world strategies to strengthen and optimize your NAS infrastructure.
Today’s NAS devices offer faster processing, enhanced performance, and significantly larger storage capabilities than ever before. These technological advancements have paved the way for efficient local data management using NAS in both professional and personal settings.
Despite these advancements, it’s important to acknowledge that NAS devices tend to have a finite lifespan. This limitation is due to several factors, including the physical wear and tear of hardware components, ever-evolving software requirements, and the constant advancement of technology which can render older systems less efficient or incompatible with new standards.
Also, it’s crucial to differentiate between the life expectancy of a NAS device and that of the hard drives within the device. While the NAS itself may continue to function, the hard drives that are subjected to intense read/write operations often have a shorter lifespan. If you want to learn more about hard drive reliability and failure rates, refer to Backblaze’s Hard Drive Stats.
From the quality of the hardware to the environment it operates in, multiple elements contribute to the lifespan of NAS. Let’s explore these key factors in detail:
One of the key factors that heavily affects the NAS device is the quality of the hardware itself. Additionally, factors such as the processor, memory, and power unit also play crucial roles. High-quality hardware and components from reputable manufacturers tend to last longer and offer better performance and reliability which contribute to the overall lifespan of the NAS.
The workload handled by the NAS is a significant determinant of its longevity. Devices that are constantly under heavy load, managing large data transfers, or running intensive applications will likely experience wear and tear more rapidly than those used for lighter tasks.
Operating a NAS in environments with high temperatures or humidity levels can lead to overheating and moisture-related damage. Additionally, locations with high levels of dust or corrosive elements can lead to physical deterioration of components.
The quality and stability of the network environment in which the NAS operates can also affect its lifespan. Frequent network issues or unstable connections can strain the NAS’s hardware and software, potentially leading to earlier failures.
Ongoing support and compatibility with new technologies are also vital for the longevity of NAS systems. As technology evolves, older NAS devices may struggle with compatibility issues, rendering them less efficient or even obsolete.
Now that we understand the factors that affect NAS longevity, let’s explore how proactive maintenance and care are crucial to extending its lifespan. There are a number of things you can do to keep your NAS functioning properly for the long haul:
By adhering to these maintenance and care guidelines, you can significantly enhance the lifespan and reliability of your NAS, ensuring that it continues to serve as a robust and efficient data storage solution for your business or personal needs.
In addition to proactive maintenance and care, there are a few other strategies you can use to extend NAS lifespan such as implementing fault tolerance and adding cloud storage to your backup strategy to offload data from your NAS. Let’s explore them below.
Fault tolerance refers to the ability of a NAS to continue operating correctly even if one or more of its hard drives fail. It’s critical for NAS systems to have fault tolerance in place, especially in business environments where data availability and integrity can not be compromised.
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) plays a pivotal role in achieving fault tolerance. It involves combining multiple hard drives into a single system to improve data redundancy and performance. By doing so, RAID protects against data loss due to single or multiple disk failures, depending on the RAID level implemented.
Various RAID configurations offer different balances of data protection, storage efficiency, and performance. Common configurations include RAID 0 (striping), RAID 1 (mirroring), RAID 5 and RAID 6, each with its specific advantages and use cases. For example, RAID 1 is simple and offers data redundancy, while RAID 5 and 6 provide a good balance between storage capacity and data protection. To fully understand which RAID configuration suits your needs, explore our NAS RAID Levels blog which explains how to choose the right RAID level for your NAS data.
Off-loading data from your NAS to a cloud storage service can significantly reduce the workload on your NAS hardware, thus potentially extending its life. You can consider creating a cloud archive of old data and a system for off-loading data on a regular cadence or as projects close.
The cloud also helps you establish a robust 3-2-1 backup strategy (three total copies of your data, two of which are local but on different mediums, and one copy off-site). This ensures data redundancy and offers enhanced data protection against local disasters, theft, or hardware failure. Many NAS devices, like Synology and QNAP, have built-in backup utilities that back up directly to cloud storage like Backblaze B2.
By integrating fault tolerance through RAID configurations and backing up data to the cloud, you can significantly enhance the data protection capabilities of your NAS. This approach not only ensures data safety but also contributes to the overall health and longevity of your NAS system.
Navigating the complexities of NAS systems can be a journey full of learning and adaptation. While NAS offers unparalleled convenience of local storage, it’s essential to recognize that its longevity relies on more than just its initial setup. It requires a proactive approach with diligent maintenance while embracing technological advancements such as fault tolerance and RAID levels. When properly cared for, however, many users find NAS to be a long-lived piece of their tech stack.
But, it doesn’t have to stop there. The integration of cloud storage with NAS systems can significantly help reduce the strain on your local system, and safeguard your NAS data off-site while ensuring you have comprehensive 3-2-1 data protection in place.
It’s time to hear from you. What strategies have you employed to extend the lifespan of your NAS device? Share your stories and tips in the comments below to help others in the NAS community.
The post NAS Life Expectancy: How to Extend NAS Longevity appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup.
Post Syndicated from Patrick Kennedy original https://www.servethehome.com/asrock-rack-altra-nas-ampere-altra-arm-nas-at-ocp-summit-2023/
We spotted the ASRock Rack ALTRA-NAS an Ampere Altra Max 128 Arm core NAS with PCIe Gen4, 10GbE, and IPMI, that will be a hit if launched
The post ASRock Rack ALTRA-NAS Ampere Altra Arm NAS at OCP Summit 2023 appeared first on ServeTheHome.
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/nas-performance-guide-how-to-optimize-your-nas/
Upgrading to a network attached storage (NAS) device puts your data in the digital fast lane. If you’re using one, it’s likely because you want to keep your data close to you, ensuring quick access whenever it’s needed. NAS devices, acting as centralized storage systems connected to local networks, offer a convenient way to access data in just a few clicks.
However, as the volume of data on the NAS increases, its performance can tank. You need to know how to keep your NAS operating at its best, especially with growing data demand.
In this blog, you’ll learn about various factors that can affect NAS performance, as well as practical steps you can take to address these issues, ensuring optimal speed, reliability, and longevity for your NAS device.
NAS devices can function as extended hard disks, virtual file cabinets, or centralized local storage solutions, depending on individual needs.
While NAS offers a convenient way to store data locally, storing the data alone isn’t enough. How quickly and reliably you can access your data can make all the difference if you want an efficient workflow. For example, imagine working on a critical project with your team and facing slow file transfers, or streaming a video on a Zoom call only for it to stutter or buffer continuously.
All these can be a direct result of NAS performance issues, and an increase in stored data can directly undermine the device’s performance. Therefore, ensuring optimal performance isn’t just a technical concern, it’s also a concern that directly affects user experience, productivity, and collaboration.
So, let’s talk about what could potentially cause performance issues and how to enhance your NAS.
NAS performance can be influenced by a variety of factors. Here are some of the most common factors that can impact the performance of a NAS device.
Hardware Limitations:
Software Limitations:
Network Challenges:
Disk Health and Configuration:
External Factors:
Understanding the common performance issues with NAS devices is the first critical step. However, simply identifying these issues alone isn’t enough. It’s vital to understand practical ways to optimize your existing NAS setup so you can enhance its speed, efficiency, and reliability. Let’s explore how to optimize your NAS.
There are a few different things you can do on a hardware level to enhance NAS performance. First, adding more RAM can significantly improve performance, especially if multiple tasks or users are accessing the NAS simultaneously.
You can also consider switching to SSDs. While they can be more expensive, SSDs offer faster read/write speeds than traditional HDDs, and they store data in flash memory, which means that they retain information even without power.
Finally, you could upgrade the CPU. For NAS devices that support it, a more powerful CPU can better handle multiple simultaneous requests and complex tasks.
Remember to always keep your NAS operating system and software up-to-date to benefit from the latest performance optimizations and security patches. Schedule tasks like indexing, backups or antivirus scans during off-peak hours to ensure they don’t impact user access during high-traffic times. You also need to make sure you’re using the right RAID configuration for your needs. RAID 5 or RAID 6, for example, can offer a good balance between redundancy and performance.
Consider moving to faster network protocols, like 10Gb ethernet, or ensuring that your router and switches can handle high traffic. Wherever possible, use wired connections instead of Wi-Fi to connect to the NAS for more stable and faster data access and transfer. And, regularly review and adjust network settings for optimal performance. If you can, it also helps to limit simultaneous access. If possible, manage peak loads by setting up access priorities.
Use your NAS device’s built-in tools or third-party software to monitor the health of your disks and replace any that show signs of failure. And, keep the physical environment around your NAS device clean, cool, and well ventilated to prevent overheating.
After taking the necessary steps to optimize your NAS for improved performance and reliability, it’s worth considering leveraging the cloud to further enhance the performance. While NAS offers convenient local storage, it can sometimes fall short when it comes to scalability, accessibility from different locations, and seamless collaboration. Here’s where cloud storage comes into play.
At its core, cloud storage is a service model in which data is maintained, managed, and backed up remotely, and made available to users over the internet. Instead of relying solely on local storage solutions such as NAS or a server, you utilize the vast infrastructure of data centers across the globe to store your data not just in one physical location, but across multiple secure and redundant environments.
As an off-site storage solution for NAS, the cloud not only completes your 3-2-1 backup plan, but can also amplify its performance. Let’s take a look at how integrating cloud storage can help optimize your NAS.
In essence, integrating cloud storage solutions with your NAS can create a comprehensive system that addresses the shortcomings of NAS devices, helping you create a hybrid setup that offers the best of both worlds: the speed and accessibility of local storage, and the flexibility and scalability of the cloud.
At its core, NAS offers an unparalleled convenience of localized storage. However, it’s not without challenges, especially when performance issues come into play. Addressing these challenges requires a blend of hardware optimization, software updates, and smart data management settings.
But, it doesn’t have to stop at your local network. Cloud storage can be leveraged effectively to optimize your NAS. It doesn’t just act as a safety net by storing your NAS data off-site, it also makes collaboration easier with dispersed teams and further optimizes NAS performance.
Now, it’s time to hear from you. Have you encountered any NAS performance issues? What measures have you taken to optimize your NAS? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below.
The post NAS Performance Guide: How To Optimize Your NAS appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup.
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/whats-the-diff-nas-vs-san/
The terms NAS and SAN can be confusing—the technology is similar and, making matters worse, the acronyms are the reverse of each other. NAS stands for network attached storage and SAN stands for storage area network. They were both developed to solve the problem of making stored data available to many users at once. But, they couldn’t be more different in how they achieve that goal.
Read on and we’ll dissect the nuances of NAS and SANs to help you make informed decisions about which solution best suits your storage needs.
When you’re working on a storage project, you need to be able to find instructions about the tools you’re using quickly. And, it helps if those instructions are easy to use, easy to understand, and easy to share. Our Technical Documentation Portal has been completely overhauled to deliver on-demand content in a user-friendly way so you can find the information you need. Check out the NAS section, including all of our Integration Guides.
NAS is a device or devices with a large data storage capacity that provides file-based data storage services to other devices on a network. Usually, they also have a client or web portal interface that’s easy to navigate, as well as services like QNAP’s Hybrid Backup Sync or Synology’s Hyper Backup to help manage your files. In other words, NAS is synonymous with user-friendly file sharing.
At its core, NAS operates as a standalone device connected to a network, offering shared access to files and folders. NAS volumes appear to the user as network-mounted volumes. The files to be served are typically contained on one or more hard drives in the system, often arranged in RAID arrays. Generally, the more drive bays available within the NAS, the larger and more flexible storage options you have.
The NAS device itself is a network node—much like computers and other TCP/IP devices, all of which maintain their own IP address—and the NAS file service uses the ethernet network to send and receive files. This system employs protocols like network file system (NFS) and server message block (SMB), enabling seamless data exchange between multiple users.
NAS devices are designed to be easy to manage, making them a popular choice for home users, small businesses, and departments seeking straightforward centralized storage. They offer an easy way for multiple users in multiple locations to access data, which is valuable when users are collaborating on projects or need to share information.
For individual home users, if you’re currently using external hard drives or direct attached storage, which can be vulnerable to drive failure, upgrading to a NAS ensures your data is better protected.
For small business or departments, installing NAS is typically driven by the desire to share files locally and remotely, have files available 24/7, achieve data redundancy, have the ability to replace and upgrade hard drives in the system, and most importantly, support integrations with cloud storage that provide a location for necessary automatic data backups.
NAS offers robust access controls and security mechanisms to facilitate collaborative efforts. Moreover, it empowers non-technical individuals to oversee and manage data access through an embedded web server. Its built-in redundancy, often achieved through RAID configurations, ensures solid data resilience. This technology merges multiple drives into a cohesive unit, mimicking a single, expansive volume capable of withstanding the failure of a subset of its constituent drives.
The weaknesses of NAS primarily revolve around scalability and performance. If more users need access, the server might struggle to keep pace. If you overprovisioned your NAS, you may be able to add storage. But sooner or later you’ll need to upgrade to a more powerful system with a bigger on-board processor, more memory, and faster and larger network connections.
Another drawback ties back to ethernet’s inherent nature. Ethernet divides data into packets, forwarding them to their destination. Yet, depending on network traffic or other issues, potential delays or disorder in packet transmission can hinder file availability until all packets arrive and are put back in order.
Although minor latency (slowness) is not usually noticed by users for small files, in data-intensive domains like video production, where large files are at play, even milliseconds of latency can disrupt operations, particularly video editing workflows.
On the other end of the spectrum, SANs are engineered for high-performance and mission-critical applications. They function by connecting multiple storage devices, such as disk arrays or tape libraries, to a dedicated network that is separate from the main local area network (LAN). This isolation ensures that storage traffic doesn’t interfere with regular network traffic, leading to optimized performance and data availability.
Unlike NAS, a SAN operates at the block level, allowing servers to access storage blocks directly. This architecture is optimized for data-intensive tasks like database management and virtualization or video editing, where low latency and consistent high-speed access are essential.
A SAN is built from a combination of servers and storage over a high speed, low latency interconnect that allows direct Fibre Channel (FC) connections from the client to the storage volume to provide the fastest possible performance. The SAN may also require a separate, private ethernet network between the server and clients to keep the file request traffic out of the FC network for even more performance.
By joining together the clients, SAN server, and storage on a FC network, the SAN volumes appear and perform as if it were a directly connected hard drive. Storage traffic over FC avoids the TCP/IP packetization and latency issues, as well as any LAN congestion, ensuring the highest access speed available for media and mission critical stored data.
Because it’s considerably more complex and expensive than NAS, a SAN is typically used by businesses versus individuals and typically requires administration by an IT staff.
The primary strength of a SAN is that it allows simultaneous shared access to shared storage that becomes faster with the addition of storage controllers. SANs are optimized for data-intensive applications. For example, hundreds of video editors can simultaneously access tens of GB per second of storage simultaneously without straining the network.
SANs can be easily expanded by adding more storage devices, making them suitable for growing storage needs. Storage resources can be efficiently managed and allocated from a central location. SANs also typically include redundancy and fault tolerance mechanisms to ensure data integrity and availability.
The challenge of a SAN can be summed up in its cost and administration requirements—having to dedicate and maintain both a separate ethernet network for metadata file requests and implement a FC network can be a considerable investment. That being said, a SAN is often the only way to provide very fast data access for a large number of users that also can scale to supporting hundreds of users at the same time.
| NAS | SAN | |
|---|---|---|
| Use case | Often used in homes and small to medium sized businesses. | Often used in professional and enterprise environments. |
| Cost | Less expensive. | More expensive. |
| Ease of administration | Easier to manage. | Requires more IT administration. |
| How data is accessed | Data accessed as if it were a network-attached drive. | Servers access data as if it were a local hard drive. |
| Speed | Speed is dependent on local TCP/IP ethernet network, typically 1GbE to 10GbE but can be up to 25GbE or even 40GbE connections, and affected by the number of other users accessing the storage at the same time. Generally slower throughput and higher latency due to the nature of ethernet packetization, waiting for the file server, and latency in general. | High speed using Fibre Channel, most commonly available in 16 Gb/s to 32 Gb/s however newer standards can go up to 128 Gb/s. FC can be delivered via high speed ethernet such as 10Gbit or 40Gbit+ networks using protocols such as FCoE and iSCSI. |
| Network connection | SMB/CIFS, NFS, SFTP, and WebDAV. | Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCoE. |
| Scalability | Lower-end not highly scalable; high-end NAS scale to petabytes using clusters or scale-out nodes. | Can add more storage controllers, or expanded storage arrays allowing SAN admins to scale performance, storage, or both. |
| Networking method | Simply connects to your existing ethernet network. | Simply connects to your existing ethernet network. |
| Simply connects to your existing ethernet network. | Entry level systems often have a single point of failure, e.g. power supply. | Fault tolerant network and systems with redundant functionality. |
| Limitations | Subject to general ethernet issues. | Behavior is more predictable in controlled, dedicated environments. |
When considering a NAS device or a SAN, you might find it helpful to think of it this way: NAS is simple to set up, easy to administer, and great for general purpose applications. Meanwhile, a SAN can be more challenging to set up and administer, but it’s often the only way to make shared storage available for mission critical and high performance applications.
The choice between a NAS device and a SAN hinges on understanding your unique storage requirements and workloads. NAS is an excellent choice for environments prioritizing collaborative sharing and simple management. In contrast, a SAN shines when performance and scalability are top priorities, particularly for businesses dealing with data-heavy applications.
Ultimately, the decision should factor in aspects such as budget, anticipated growth, workload demands, and the expertise of your IT team. Striking the right balance between ease of use, performance, and scalability will help ensure your chosen storage solution aligns seamlessly with your goals.
If you are using a NAS device or a SAN, we’d love to hear from you about what you’re using and how you’re using them in the comments.
The post What’s the Diff: NAS vs. SAN appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup.
Post Syndicated from Vinodh Subramanian original https://www.backblaze.com/blog/nas-ransomware-guide-how-to-protect-your-nas-from-attacks/
You probably invested in a network attached storage (NAS) device to centralize your storage, manage data more efficiently, and implement on-site backups. So, keeping that data safe is important to you. Unfortunately, as NAS devices have risen in popularity, cybercriminals have taken notice.
Recent high-profile ransomware campaigns have targeted vast numbers of NAS devices worldwide. These malicious attacks can lock away users’ NAS data, holding it hostage until a ransom is paid—or the user risks losing all their data.
If you are a NAS user, learning how to secure your NAS device against ransomware attacks is critical if you want to protect your data. In this guide, you’ll learn why NAS devices are attractive targets for ransomware and how to safeguard your NAS device from ransomware attacks. Let’s get started.
To begin, let’s quickly understand what ransomware actually is. Ransomware is a type of malicious software or malware that infiltrates systems and encrypts files. Upon successful infection, ransomware denies users access to their files or systems, effectively holding data hostage.
Its name derives from its primary purpose—to demand a “ransom” from the victim in exchange for restoring access to their data. Ransomware actors often threaten to delete, sell, or leak data if the ransom is not paid.
Ransomware threat messages often imitate law enforcement agencies, claiming that the user violated laws and must pay a fine. Other times, it’s a blunt threat—pay or lose your data forever. This manipulative strategy preys on fears and urgency, often pressuring the unprepared victims into paying the ransom.
The consequences of a ransomware attack can be severe. The most immediate impact is data loss, which can be catastrophic if the encrypted files contain sensitive or critical information. There’s also the financial loss from the ransom payment itself which can range from a few hundred dollars to several million dollars.
Moreover, an attack can cause significant operational downtime, with systems unavailable while the malware is removed and data is restored. For businesses, especially the unprepared, the downtime can be disastrous, leading to substantial revenue loss.
However, the damage doesn’t stop there. The reputational damage caused by a ransomware attack can make customers, partners, and stakeholders lose trust in a business that falls victim to such an attack, especially if it results in a data breach.
As you can see, ransomware is not just malicious code that disrupts your business, it can cause significant harm on multiple fronts. Therefore, it’s important to understand the basics of ransomware as the first step in building a robust defense strategy for your NAS device.
While the modus operandi of ransomware—to deny access to users’ data and demand ransom—remains relatively constant, there are multiple ransomware variants, each with unique characteristics.
Some of the most common types of ransomware include:
Locker ransomware takes an all-or-nothing approach. It locks users out of their entire system, preventing them from accessing any files, applications, or even the operating system itself.
The only thing the users can access is a ransomware note, demanding payment in exchange for restoring access to their system.
As its name suggests, crypto ransomware encrypts the users’ files and makes them inaccessible. This type of ransomware does not lock the entire system, but rather targets specific file types such as documents, spreadsheets, and multimedia files. The victims can still use their system but cannot access or open the encrypted files without the encryption key.
RaaS represents a new business model in the dark world of cybercrime. It is essentially a cloud-based platform where ransomware developers sell or rent their ransomware codes to other cybercriminals, who then distribute and manage the ransomware attacks. The ransomware developers receive a cut of the ransom payments.
Leakware steals sensitive or confidential information and threatens to publicize them if ransom is not paid. This type of ransomware is particularly damaging as even if the ransom is paid and the data is not leaked, the mere fact that the data was accessed can have significant legal and reputational implications.
Scareware uses social engineering to trick victims into believing that their system is infected with viruses or other malware. They scare people into visiting spoofed or infected websites or downloading malicious software (malware). While not as directly damaging as other forms of ransomware, scareware can be used as the gateway to a more intricate cyberattack and may not be an attack in and of itself.
Yes, ransomware can and frequently does target NAS devices. These storage solutions, while highly effective and efficient, have certain characteristics that make them attractive to cybercriminals.
Let’s explore some of these reasons in more detail below.
NAS devices act as centralized storage locations with all data stored in one place. This makes them an attractive target for ransomware attacks. By infiltrating a single NAS device, bad actors can gain access to a significant amount of company data, maximizing the impact of their attack and the potential ransom.
Unlike traditional PCs or servers, NAS devices often lack robust security measures. Most NAS systems may not have an antivirus installed, leaving them exposed to various forms of malware including ransomware. Additionally, outdated firmware can further weaken the device’s defenses, offering potential loopholes for attackers to exploit.
NAS devices are designed to be continuously online, allowing for convenient and seamless data access. However, this also means they are constantly exposed to the internet, making them a target for online threats around the clock.
NAS devices, like many other hardware devices, often come with default configurations that prioritize ease of access over security. For example, they may have simple, easy-to-guess default passwords or open access permissions for all users. Not changing these default settings can leave the devices vulnerable to attacks.
NAS devices are an easy-to-use, accessible way to expand on-site storage and manage data, making them attractive for people without an IT background to use. However, novice users, and even many of your smartest power users, may not know to follow key best practices to prevent ransomware. As humans, all of us are vulnerable to error. In addition to NAS devices having some unique characteristics that make them prime targets for cybercriminals, you can’t discount the human element in ransomware protection. Understanding the following risks can help you shore up your defenses:
There is often a lack of awareness among NAS users about the potential security risks associated with these devices. Most users may not realize the importance of regularly updating their NAS systems or implementing security measures. This can result in NAS devices being unprotected, making them easy prey for ransomware attacks.
While NAS devices provide local data storage, it has to be noted that they are not a full 3-2-1 backup solution. Data on NAS devices needs to be backed up off-site to protect against hardware failures, theft, natural disasters, and ransomware attacks. If users don’t have an off-site backup, they risk losing all their data or paying a huge ransom to get access to their NAS data.
Conducting regular security checks and audits can help identify and rectify any potential vulnerabilities. But, most NAS users take regular security audits as an afterthought and let security gaps go unnoticed and unaddressed.
In some organizations, NAS devices may be accessed by numerous employees, some of whom may not be trained in security best practices. This can increase the chances of ransomware attacks via tactics like phishing emails.
NAS device manufacturers often release software updates that include patches for security vulnerabilities. If users neglect to regularly update the software on their NAS devices, they can leave the devices exposed to ransomware attacks that exploit those vulnerabilities.
Now that you understand the NAS devices vulnerabilities and threats that expose them to ransomware attacks, let’s take a look at some of the practical measures that you can take to protect your NAS from these attacks.
While technical measures are a crucial part of NAS ransomware protection, they are only as effective as the people who use them. Human error is often cited as one of the leading causes of successful cyber-attacks, including ransomware.
This is where cybersecurity training comes in, playing an important role in helping individuals identify and avoid threats.
So, what kind of training can you do to help your staff avoid threats?
Also, it is important to remember that cybersecurity training should not be a one-time event. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, so regular training is necessary to ensure that staff members are aware of the latest threats and the best practices for dealing with them.
Ransomware is an ever evolving threat in our digital world and NAS devices are no exception. With the rising popularity of NAS devices among businesses, cybercriminals have been targeting NAS devices with high profile ransomware campaigns.
Having a comprehensive understanding of the basics of ransomware to recognize why NAS devices are attractive targets is the first step toward protecting your NAS devices from these attacks. By keeping systems and applications updated, enforcing robust credentials, limiting access, employing proactive network security measures, and backing up data, you can create a strong defense line against ransomware attacks.
Additionally, investing in regular cybersecurity training for all users can significantly decrease the risk of an attack being successful due to human error. Remember, cybersecurity is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of learning, adapting, and implementing best practices. Stay informed about the latest NAS ransomware types and tactics, maintain regular audits of your NAS devices, and continuously reevaluate and improve your security measures.
Every step you take towards better security not only protects your NAS data, but sends a strong message to cybercriminals and contributes towards a safer digital ecosystem for all.
The post NAS Ransomware Guide: How to Protect Your NAS From Attacks appeared first on Backblaze Blog | Cloud Storage & Cloud Backup.