Unlocking Cost Savings and Sustainability with AWS S3 and Synology Hyper Backup
Tags: aws, backup, synology, sustainability
Published: 2023-06-05 14:31:10

The importance of safeguarding digital data cannot be overstated, and as a committed user of Synology NAS, I understood this imperative well. While my NAS offered centralized storage and easy accessibility, it also underscored the need for a reliable, cost-efficient, and sustainable disaster recovery (DR) solution. For a long time, Dropbox was my go-to for this. However, as my data needs evolved, Dropbox's fixed pricing structure began to feel increasingly ill-fitted and unsustainable economically.

That's when I decided to explore the potential of AWS S3. Renowned for its scalability, security, and performance, AWS S3 also offered a flexible "pay-as-you-use" pricing model that seemed like a more sustainable and financially sensible choice.

## Setting Up AWS S3 with Synology Hyper Backup

Setting up AWS S3 with my Synology NAS was made incredibly straightforward through the Hyper Backup application. The transition involved:

1. Creating an AWS account and setting up an S3 bucket with proper access permissions.
2. Launching the Hyper Backup application on the Synology DSM.
3. Selecting AWS S3 as my backup destination.
4. Filling in the necessary AWS S3 bucket details, including Access Key ID, Secret Access Key, and the bucket name.
5. Configuring the backup settings, including selecting local folders to back up, setting automatic backups, and managing versions of my backups.
6. Launching the backup process to begin syncing my Synology NAS data with my AWS S3 bucket.

## Economic and Environmental Impact

Dropbox's pricing model offered a static storage capacity, regardless of the actual usage. In my case, I didn't need the full size of the provided storage, so a sizable portion of the storage I was paying for went unused. This situation was not only financially inefficient but also unsustainable as it led to wasteful consumption of digital storage resources.

Conversely, AWS S3's pay-as-you-go model allows users to pay only for the exact amount of storage used. This flexible model eliminated unnecessary waste, leading to a more sustainable and financially efficient solution. I found myself making savings of nearly 50% compared to my Dropbox subscription, as I was now only paying for the storage I was actively using.

Moreover, AWS offers cost management tools to monitor spending and set up usage alerts. This ensured that I maintained control over my budget and further reduced waste, aligning with sustainable digital practices.

## Final Thoughts

Switching to AWS S3 for my Synology Hyper Backup solution has proven to be a sustainable, economical, and custom-fit solution for my DR needs. The flexible pricing model of AWS S3 has allowed me to eliminate waste, both in terms of storage and cost, while retaining a secure and reliable backup of my data.

By moving from Dropbox to AWS S3, I not only found a cost-effective DR solution but also one that better aligns with principles of sustainable consumption and efficiency. If you're looking for an affordable, secure, adaptable, and sustainable DR solution for your Synology NAS, AWS S3 is a fantastic option to consider.