NAS vs cloud backup: costs, recovery time and maintenance
Consider a NAS for substantial local restores across several devices, or cloud backup for an off-site destination with less storage hardware to manage. They can be combined: a NAS alone does not create an off-site copy.
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Who this guide is for and what to prepare
- People moving beyond external-drive-only backups
- Buyers comparing PC and NAS backup subscriptions
What you need
- List PC, NAS and cloud-held data with sizes
- Establish acceptable downtime and connection limits
Compare costs and recovery
A NAS provides network storage; cloud backup copies data to a remote destination. Synology offers concrete examples, but capabilities still depend on the chosen model and service.
Scroll horizontally to see the full table →
| Condition | NAS | Cloud backup |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Enclosure, drives, power, replacements | Capacity tier, renewals, options |
| Restore speed | LAN and drives matter | Connection and restore size matter |
| Management | Updates, capacity, hardware alerts | Account, billing, job status |
| Off-site copy | Needs another destination | Covered uploaded data is remote |
| Scope | Model and application support | PCs, NAS data or cloud accounts |
Avoid buying the wrong type of subscription
C2 Backup for Individuals covers devices and personal OneDrive data. A NAS using Hyper Backup instead targets C2 Storage, currently grouped under C2 OneStorage pricing. The shared name does not make the subscriptions interchangeable.
Write the full path before buying: source, application and destination. Distinguish “PC → PC client → cloud” from “NAS → Hyper Backup → remote target,” then verify that the subscription and hardware support it.
Choose for the recovery you need
A NAS is a candidate for several PCs with large local datasets and an assigned administrator. Compare cloud options first for fewer PCs when you want less hardware. In either case, estimate initial protection time and how long a large restore could take.
Redundant disks in one location cannot protect against losing that location. If the NAS becomes primary storage, include a separate backup destination in the budget.
Evaluate with a small recovery test
Judge an evaluation by whether an earlier version can be restored elsewhere, not just by accepted capacity. Use non-sensitive copies covering the formats and history you require.
- Prepare test documents, images and a larger file
- Read model, OS and application requirements
- Set the destination and retention; confirm completion
- Change a document and create another version
- Restore the earlier version elsewhere and check time and contents
Account for the whole cost and ownership
Budget for replacements and remote storage with a NAS; check capacity, billing, tax and exit arrangements with cloud services. Store encryption recovery material separately, assign failure-alert ownership and schedule recovery tests. Fixed prices are omitted because payable totals vary by region and promotion.
Limitations and requirements
- Moving the only copy onto a NAS does not create another copy.
- Do not remove originals before confirming upload and recovery.
Frequently asked questions
Can I combine a NAS and cloud backup?
Yes, using a compatible application and destination. A PC backup subscription is not automatically a NAS target.
Is price alone enough?
Compare equivalent coverage and retention, then include recovery time and maintenance.
Official sources and verification date
Sources checked: . Check the official sources below for changes to supported systems, plans and menus.
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