Build Redundant NAS Local and Cloud Backup Strategy

Creating hybrid backup protection with NAS and the cloud

Companies can’t depend on just one backup location these days. Local storage can be ruined by hardware failures, ransomware attacks, accidental deletions, and even building outages. At the same time, only using cloud storage can make recovery take longer and operations take longer.

A hybrid backup architecture is the most reliable option. This combines fast backups on-site with copies in the cloud, making sure that both restoration is quick and the system can survive disasters. A Synology NAS is often the main platform for using this method.

Why Redundancy is Important

A backup that is only kept in one place is not a real backup. If a ransomware attack encrypts your network, it can also affect local storage. If a regional outage affects access to the cloud, online recovery may not be possible.

Redundant design keeps things safe in case of more than one failure. Local copies let you get back to work right away, while cloud copies protect you from disasters like fire, theft, or infrastructure failure. When used together, they keep things running instead of just saving data for a short time.

Step 1: Set up the Local Primary Backup

First, the NAS should be the main place to store backups in the office. This local system should back up all endpoints, servers, and shared folders. Local backup is the fastest way to get back up because you don’t need an internet connection.

Local storage also lets you back up your files often. Systems can protect themselves every hour or all the time without using up too much bandwidth. Restoration takes minutes instead of hours if you accidentally delete something or your software gets corrupted.

Step 2: Make a second NAS copy

Replicate data to another NAS device in a different physical location to make it more resilient. This could be another branch office or a safe place to work with other people.

Replication keeps a backup data mirror that is always up to date. Operations can still go on from the secondary site if the main site goes down. This method protects against both hardware failure and incidents at the building level at the same time.

Step 3: Add a layer of cloud backup

The third layer protects both sites from regional disasters and cyber attacks that put both sites at risk. Cloud backups should be unchangeable or versioned so that old data can’t be overwritten.

Cloud copies should run on a schedule instead of syncing all the time. This stops encrypted files from immediately replacing clean data. A delayed retention model makes sure that there are always safe recovery points.

Step 4: Set up version retention

Retention rules set the limits on how far back recovery can go. Short retention is good for everyday mistakes, and long retention is good for legal and audit needs.

Most organizations keep daily versions of their most recent data and monthly versions of their older data. This balanced approach keeps the recovery history reliable while avoiding too much storage.

Step 5: Check Recovery Often

Backups are only useful if they work. You should plan recovery tests on a regular basis to make sure that files, systems, and applications can be restored correctly.

Testing checks permissions, makes sure that applications are consistent, and sets expectations for how long it will take to restore. Companies often find out that their backups don’t work when they really need them.

Synology’s Point of View

Synology NAS platforms support a hybrid backup architecture that uses local snapshots, remote replication, and cloud synchronization. The system lets administrators keep multiple restore points while managing bandwidth use and retention schedules. When set up correctly, the NAS becomes the main recovery center that protects both local and remote workloads.

About the Epis technology

Epis Technology makes multi-layer backup systems that use local NAS storage, remote replication, and cloud protection all at the same time. The company uses Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backup, scalable storage systems, and disaster recovery planning to make sure that businesses can quickly get back to work after a failure or cyber attack. Epis Technology helps businesses achieve true business continuity instead of just storing data by making sure that retention policies are in line with operational needs.