Enhance the Security of Synology NAS

How to Enhance the Security of Your Synology NAS

Your Synology NAS is one of the most valuable pieces of equipment in your digital environment. It stores sensitive data, business files, backups, and personal content — which makes it a target for cyber-attacks. Whether you use it for home, business, or cloud-hybrid operations, securing your Synology NAS is essential. Below are the best, most effective practices to protect your system against unauthorized access, ransomware, and data loss.

Update DSM and All Packages Regularly

Security begins with keeping DiskStation Manager (DSM) and apps up to date. Synology frequently releases security patches to block new vulnerabilities.

Best practices:

• Enable automatic DSM updates

• Turn on auto-update for all installed packages

• Check the Security Advisor after updates

Keeping your system updated reduces exposure to known exploits and malware.

Enable the Synology Firewall

Synology NAS includes a built-in firewall that filters traffic and blocks unwanted connections.

How to configure:

1. Go to Control Panel → Security → Firewall

2. Enable the firewall

3. Create strict rules to allow only required ports (e.g., 5001 for HTTPS)

4. Block unused or high-risk ports

A properly configured firewall prevents unauthorized external access.

Use Strong Admin Controls & Disable the Default Admin

Bot attacks often target the default “admin” username.

Essential steps:

• Disable or rename the “admin” user

• Use a unique username

• Create complex passwords (use password manager)

• Assign each user only the permissions they need

Limiting privileges greatly reduces the success rate of brute-force attacks.

Enable 2-Factor Authentication (2FA)

2FA provides an extra shield even if passwords are compromised.

Steps to activate:

• Go to Personal → Account → 2-Step Verification

• Use an authentication app (Google Authenticator, Authy)

This prevents unauthorized logins even if someone steals your credentials.

Use HTTPS and Install an SSL Certificate

Unencrypted access puts your credentials and data at risk.

Recommendations:

• Enable HTTPS only

• Generate and install an SSL certificate via Let’s Encrypt

• Redirect HTTP to HTTPS

This secures all web-based connections to your NAS.

Set Up Auto Block and Account Protection

Synology’s Auto Block tool prevents repeated login attempts.

To activate:

• Go to Control Panel → Security → Protection

• Enable Auto Block

• Set limits for failed login attempts

• Block IPs with suspicious behavior

This is one of the most effective protections against brute-force attacks.

Use VPN Instead of Port Forwarding

Port forwarding exposes your NAS to the open internet.

Safer alternative:

• Set up a Synology VPN Server (OpenVPN recommended)

• Access your NAS through the VPN tunnel instead of public ports

This hides your NAS from attackers scanning IP ranges.

Enable Security Advisor for Real-Time Protection

Security Advisor scans system configurations and suggests improvements.

Run it regularly to detect:

• Weak passwords

• Unsafe settings

• Outdated apps

• Vulnerable network ports

It provides easy, actionable advice tailored to your NAS setup.

Encrypt Shared Folders and Backups

If someone gains physical access to your drive, encryption protects your files.

How to secure your data:

• Enable encryption for sensitive folders

• Use encrypted backup destinations

• Store your encryption key safely offline

Encryption ensures only authorized users can read the data.

Protect Against Malware With Antivirus Solutions

Your NAS can be infected through uploads or synced devices.

Synology offers:

• Antivirus Essential (free)

• Antivirus by McAfee (premium)

Enable scheduled scans and real-time protection to keep malicious files out.

Secure Remote Access With QuickConnect Carefully

QuickConnect is convenient but should be hardened.

Tips:

• Disable QuickConnect if not needed

• Use strong passwords

• Allow access only to specific apps

Consider using VPN as a safer alternative when possible.

Enable Audit Logs and System Monitoring

Monitoring helps detect suspicious activity early.

What to enable:

• Log Center

• Resource Monitor

• Notifications for unusual login attempts

Set alerts to email or mobile so you are notified instantly.

Perform Regular Backups (3-2-1 Strategy)

Security isn’t complete without backup protection.

Ideal setup:

• Use Hyper Backup

• Store backups in multiple locations (local + Synology C2 + external disk)

• Schedule backups daily or weekly

Ransomware and data loss risks are greatly reduced with proper backups.

Securing your Synology NAS requires a combination of smart configuration, strong access controls, encrypted connections, and ongoing monitoring. By following these essential best practices, you protect your data, prevent cyber-attacks, and ensure your NAS runs safely for years to come.

Epis Technology: Your Partner for Secure Synology Deployments

Epis Technology (ET) specializes in building secure, scalable, and fully managed Synology NAS environments for businesses. Their services include Synology deployment, configuration, data protection strategies, hybrid cloud integration, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, ransomware-resilient storage setups, and long-term IT infrastructure support. ET ensures your Synology system remains fully secure, optimized, and ready to protect your critical business data with professional monitoring and best-practice security hardening.