Turning a Vulnerable Synology NAS into a Security Hub
Turning a Vulnerable Synology NAS into a Fortified Security Hub for a Growing Consulting Firm
As consulting firms continue to embrace hybrid work and cloud-based collaboration, the importance of secure and reliable storage infrastructure has never been greater. Consultants routinely handle sensitive client information, contracts, financial records, project documentation, and confidential business communications. Protecting that information requires more than simply deploying a NAS device and hoping for the best.
At Epis Technology, we recently worked with a growing consulting firm that relied heavily on a Synology NAS for file storage, backups, remote access, and team collaboration. While the platform provided excellent functionality, years of growth had introduced security gaps that left the environment vulnerable to modern cyber threats.
What began as a routine security review quickly turned into a complete infrastructure hardening project that transformed the NAS into a secure and resilient business platform.
The Warning Signs
The consulting firm had expanded significantly over several years.
Its Synology environment supported:
- Shared project files
- Client documentation
- Departmental collaboration
- Backup repositories
- Remote employee access
- Historical business records
The system was functioning well from an operational perspective, but several warning signs had begun appearing.
Administrators reported:
- Repeated failed login attempts
- Suspicious external connection attempts
- Growing numbers of user accounts
- Inconsistent permission structures
- Limited security monitoring
While no breach had occurred, the company recognized that its security posture had not evolved alongside its growth.
The Security Assessment
Epis Technology performed a comprehensive review of the Synology environment.
Our assessment focused on:
- User permissions
- Remote access configurations
- DSM security settings
- Backup protection
- Account management
- Monitoring capabilities
The findings revealed several common issues frequently seen in growing organizations.
These included:
- Legacy user accounts
- Excessive permissions
- Weak password policies
- Incomplete multi-factor authentication adoption
- Unnecessary service exposure
- Limited auditing visibility
None of these issues alone represented an immediate crisis, but together they increased the organization’s overall risk profile.
Building a Security-First Strategy
Rather than applying isolated fixes, Epis Technology designed a layered security strategy that addressed both current risks and future growth.
The objective was clear:
Transform the Synology NAS from a basic storage platform into a secure business infrastructure hub.
Strengthening Account Security
The first step involved improving identity protection.
We implemented:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Strong password policies
- Account lockout protections
- Administrative account separation
- User access reviews
Because credential theft remains one of the most common attack methods, improving authentication significantly reduced overall risk.
Tightening Access Controls
Over time, employees had accumulated permissions that exceeded their actual responsibilities.
Epis Technology introduced:
Role-Based Access Controls
Users received access based on business requirements rather than historical permissions.
Least-Privilege Access
Employees only retained access to the resources required for their daily responsibilities.
Permission Auditing
Regular review procedures were established to prevent permission creep.
These changes improved both security and compliance readiness.
Reducing External Exposure
One of the most important improvements involved reducing unnecessary internet-facing services.
We reviewed:
- Open ports
- Remote access methods
- Administrative interfaces
- External services
By limiting exposure and improving access controls, the attack surface was significantly reduced.
Leveraging Synology Security Features
Modern Synology platforms include powerful security tools that are often underutilized.
We optimized:
- Security Advisor
- Account Protection
- Login monitoring
- Audit logs
- Notification systems
- System health monitoring
This provided administrators with much better visibility into potential threats.
Protecting Critical Business Data
Security is only one part of resilience.
Recovery readiness is equally important.
Epis Technology strengthened:
- Snapshot Replication
- Backup automation
- Retention policies
- Recovery validation
- Disaster recovery procedures
This ensured the firm could recover quickly from ransomware, accidental deletion, or operational failures.
Creating Continuous Monitoring
The firm previously relied on reactive security practices.
We implemented proactive monitoring for:
- Failed login attempts
- Administrative changes
- Permission modifications
- Storage health alerts
- Backup failures
- Unusual account activity
This allowed potential problems to be identified before becoming business disruptions.
The Results
Following the project, the consulting firm achieved:
- Stronger cybersecurity protections
- Improved access governance
- Better monitoring visibility
- Enhanced compliance readiness
- Reduced attack surface
- Improved backup resilience
Most importantly, leadership gained confidence that the Synology environment could support future growth without introducing unnecessary risk.
Why Synology Security Matters
Today’s NAS platforms are no longer simple file servers.
They often contain:
- Sensitive client data
- Financial information
- Backup repositories
- Collaboration systems
- Operational records
Organizations that treat NAS systems as critical infrastructure rather than basic storage devices are significantly better positioned to defend against modern cyber threats.
About Epis Technology
Epis Technology helps organizations secure and optimize Synology environments through cybersecurity hardening, backup automation, disaster recovery planning, and infrastructure modernization. The company specializes in Synology consulting, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, enterprise storage solutions, fully managed PC backups, and business continuity services.
By combining layered security controls, proactive monitoring, and resilient backup architecture, Epis Technology helps businesses transform storage platforms into secure foundations for long-term growth and operational success.