NAS backup: a simple, secure, offsite approach

NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices are very convenient for centralizing data or making local copies, but they are often misused as the one and only backup solution. As an IT expert, you know the risks are many, and best practice is to rely on an offsite backup solution.

The limits of local NAS backup

Using a NAS as your only backup medium has major security flaws. Most of the time, the NAS is connected to the company network, making it vulnerable to ransomware that encrypts every accessible drive, including the NAS. If a physical disaster occurs (fire, theft), your data is lost since the NAS is on site. In addition, manual methods on a NAS are time-consuming and unreliable.

There is often confusion between a NAS as a working source and a NAS as a backup target. A NAS used as a collaborative workspace must be backed up. For a NAS used as a backup target, failing to keep an offsite copy is a major risk.

The criteria of a good backup strategy

An effective backup solution must meet several fundamental criteria:

  • Long history: A sufficient backup history is crucial to guard against threats such as ransomware, which can take several weeks to detect.
  • Non-alterability (immutability): A backup must not be able to be modified or destroyed by an attacker.
  • Offsite storage: To protect against physical risks, the backup must be stored outside the company.
  • Completeness and effectiveness: You need to make sure that all necessary data is backed up and that the backup works properly day to day. To do so, regular restore tests and active monitoring are essential.

Kiwi Backup: the simple, secure solution for NAS backup

Kiwi Backup offers a complete answer to these challenges. The solution installs directly on Synology and QNAP NAS devices. The process is quick and simple, and data is stored offsite 100% in France, with HDS and ISO 27001 certification.

Thanks to its optimized architecture, the solution uses block deduplication to considerably reduce the bandwidth required and speed up transfers. The transfer ratio is generally less than 1% of the volume of data backed up. Backups are immutable and stored in several different datacenters, guaranteeing they cannot be altered even if a problem occurs at the main site. You also have a monitoring dashboard to check the effectiveness of your backups at a glance.