Interview: How Synology ActiveProtect aims to enhance data backup efficiency in Malaysia?

Data backup is an important procedure in any computing environment, but have you ever wondered if it is executed efficiently to ensure smooth data restoration when a disaster happens?

Synology, a renowned company for making NAS servers with excellent backup capabilities, has recently unveiled its Synology ActiveProtect appliance at COMPUTEX 2024 that aims to resolve the woes of backing up multiple computing environments; while ensuring hassle-free restoration and contingencies should a disaster occur within the organization.

We talk to Jason Sin, Sales Manager for Synology in Malaysia, to find out how Synology ActiveProtect will benefit its customers in Malaysia.

Hi Jason, it’s great to be back at Synology’s COMPUTEX event, I noticed that Synology has been emphasizing a lot on data backup and protection recently, and this eventually leads to the unveiling of the Synology ActiveProtect Appliance. However, Since you already have sophisticated NAS servers perfectly protecting your customers’ data, why do you think your customers will want to invest in a Synology ActiveProtect Appliance?

Our ActiveProtect series is designed to meet the demands of enterprises and is ideal for large-scale deployments. It offers a comprehensive backup solution through our centralized management portal, featuring enhanced security, immutable backups, and air-gapped options. The series also emphasizes backup efficiency, delivering speeds up to seven times faster compared to our current backup applications.

For Malaysia, the practice of backing up data is becoming more commonplace among businesses here as they are now quickly moving to digitalise their operational functions. This includes managing and protecting the data they create and oversee across their pool of customers.

As cyber-threats continue to grow, there is an inherent need to have backups at different locations and with variable defenses in place – this is now a trend that Malaysia is keenly aware of since multiple digital attacks have occurred across public and private sectors, resulting in massive revenue and data losses. That is why Synology believes there is a need to innovate our offerings and provide next-gen enhancements where necessary.

How many models do you have for the Synology ActiveProtect Appliance?

The introduction of the ActiveProtect backup appliance will occur in two phases. In the first phase, we will launch the 2U model, DP7400, this year. In response to enterprise demands, the second phase will include the release of the ROBO(Remote Office/Branch Office) 1U model and an AFA(All-Flash Array) model for high-speed read/write or recovery needs, scheduled for next year.

What are the protection features that Synology ActiveProtect has to prevent attacks and safeguard data?

Our ActiveProtect series includes several features designed to shield data from cyberattacks. These include immutable snapshot and backup functionalities, as well as robust access and permission controls. Additionally, enterprises can establish air-gapped backups, allowing for offline scheduling fortified by firewall, network interface, and hardware power.

To further guarantee data recoverability, our solution is equipped with restoration drills and backup verification. With ActiveProtect, enterprises’ data remains safeguarded against cyber threats, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

In terms of licensing, I understand you mentioned storage based licensing instead of an annual licensing model, can you explain how that works?

We adopt a straightforward pricing model based on storage usage, measured by the amount of storage utilized per year. In contrast to competitors who employ varied billing methods tied to instance or workload quantities, our approach is the simplest. While others may bill differently based on account, file size (in GB), or VM quantity (as seen with Veeam), we bill for deduplicated storage. We also consider the complexity of sizing. To simplify the process for our customers, we offer a one-year storage license with corresponding capacity for the machine in the first year.

Additionally, while license subscription is the go-to business model for many on-demand service providers, Synology believes that data storage, management, and protection should be accessible to all – hence why the billing system is based on the number of deduplications and storage capacity. That way, it is easier to quantify how much is needed and determine when it is necessary to scale accordingly. Malaysian businesses, especially the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have different scaling/growth rates – as such, what we offer will help them grow at the pace they are comfortable with.

When can we expect Synology ActiveProtect to roll out in Malaysia and who are your partners?

To connect with Synology’s local reseller partners in Malaysia, visit the Synology Where to Buy Page. As for inquiries about Synology products or solutions, contact Synology Expert for free deployment assistance.