Synology Remote Backup: Setup & Options

Synology remote backup lets you copy data from one Synology NAS to another location over the internet, protecting against local disasters like fire, theft, or drive failure. You set up a destination NAS (or a cloud service) and then configure the source NAS to push backups to it on a schedule. This article explains the built-in tools, how to choose between them, and how to set up a basic remote backup.

Why Remote Backup Matters

A local backup—say, an external USB drive plugged into your NAS—protects against accidental file deletion or a single drive failing. But it does nothing for a flooded basement, a power surge that kills both devices, or a burglary where the NAS and the USB drive are taken together. Remote backup copies your data to a physically separate location, so a single disaster at your home or office cannot destroy both copies. For most home and small-business users, the 3-2-1 rule is a useful target: three copies of your data, on two different types of media, with one copy offsite.

Built-in Tools: Hyper Backup vs. Snapshot Replication

Synology DSM includes two primary tools for remote backup, and they serve different purposes.

• Hyper Backup is the general-purpose tool. It can back up to another Synology NAS, a generic rsync server, a USB drive, or several cloud services (Amazon S3, Backblaze B2, Google Drive, etc.). It supports versioning, meaning you can keep multiple historical versions of a file and restore any of them. It also deduplicates data, so only changed blocks are sent after the first backup.
• Snapshot Replication is designed for rapid, space-efficient point-in-time copies. It works only between Synology NAS units (or on the same NAS to a different volume). Snapshots are near-instant, but they are not a full backup by themselves—they rely on the same physical storage. However, you can replicate snapshots to a remote Synology NAS, which gives you a consistent, versioned copy that can be restored in seconds.

For most users, Hyper Backup is the right choice for a scheduled, offsite backup. Use Snapshot Replication if you need very frequent recovery points (e.g., every hour) and your destination is also a Synology NAS.

How to Set Up Hyper Backup to Another Synology

The most common remote backup scenario is NAS-to-NAS. Here is the general process, using DSM 7.x.

1. On the destination NAS, install the Hyper Backup Vault package from Package Center. This package makes the NAS ready to receive backups.
2. On the source NAS, install Hyper Backup (it is usually pre-installed).
3. Open Hyper Backup and select Backup > Data backup task.
4. Choose Remote NAS device as the destination type.
5. Enter the destination NAS’s IP address or QuickConnect ID, your username, and password. You can also specify a shared folder where the backup will be stored.
6. Select the folders and applications you want to back up.
7. Choose a schedule (e.g., daily at 2:00 AM) and enable version retention if desired.
8. Complete the wizard. The first backup will be a full copy; subsequent ones will be incremental.

If the two NAS units are on different networks, you may need to set up port forwarding on the destination router (port 6281 for Hyper Backup) or use Synology QuickConnect. QuickConnect is simpler but slower for large data.

Choosing Between Synology NAS, rsync, and Cloud

Your choice of destination depends on your needs and budget.

• Another Synology NAS (at a friend’s house or a second office): Best if you already have hardware. You control the storage and privacy. Requires some network setup.
• Generic rsync server (e.g., a Linux box or a cheap VPS): More flexible, but you lose versioning unless you configure it separately. Hyper Backup can use rsync, but it is less user-friendly.
• Cloud storage (Backblaze B2, Amazon S3, Wasabi, etc.): No hardware to maintain, easy to access from anywhere, and often includes versioning. You pay a monthly fee per GB stored plus data transfer costs. For large amounts of data, this can become expensive over time.

A common hybrid approach: keep a local Hyper Backup to a USB drive for quick restores, and a second Hyper Backup task to a remote NAS or cloud for offsite protection.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Remote backups fail for predictable reasons. Here are the most frequent issues and what to check.

• Connection refused: The destination NAS is not reachable. Check that Hyper Backup Vault is installed, the port is open in the router, and the source can ping the destination.
• Slow first backup: The initial full copy can take days over a slow upload link. Consider seeding the backup by physically moving a drive (if using a USB drive) or using Synology’s Data Transfer tool for a one-time local copy.
• Backup task stops randomly: Often due to network timeouts or the destination running out of space. Check the destination’s storage and enable the task’s reconnect option.
• Versioning consumes too much space: Hyper Backup’s default retention may keep many versions. Adjust the retention policy to keep e.g. 7 daily, 4 weekly, 3 monthly versions.
• Encryption not enabled: If you do not enable encryption in Hyper Backup, your data travels in plain text over the internet. For sensitive data, always check the encryption box and store the key securely.

Security and Encryption

When backing up over the internet, encryption is non-negotiable. Hyper Backup offers two layers: it can encrypt the backup data itself (with a password that you must keep safe—if lost, the backup is unrecoverable), and it can use SSL/TLS for the transfer. For rsync, use SSH. For cloud destinations, the provider typically encrypts data at rest, but you can also enable client-side encryption in Hyper Backup. Never send unencrypted backups to a remote location, especially if you do not fully trust the network path.

Costs and Alternatives

Remote backup is not free unless you already own the destination hardware. A second Synology NAS costs a few hundred dollars plus electricity and internet bandwidth. Cloud storage typically charges per GB/month (e.g., Backblaze B2 is about $6/TB/month, but prices change—check current rates). Data egress fees can apply when restoring. Alternatives to Synology’s own tools include Rclone (command-line, works with many cloud providers), Duplicati (open-source, encrypted backups to cloud), or simply using the NAS’s built-in rsync service to a non-Synology server. Each has trade-offs in ease of use, versioning, and cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I back up my Synology to a friend’s Synology for free?

Yes. If your friend installs Hyper Backup Vault and opens the right port, you can back up to their NAS without any subscription. You just need to agree on storage space and ensure both internet connections have enough upload bandwidth. This is a popular way to get offsite backup without paying a cloud provider.

What is the difference between Hyper Backup and Snapshot Replication?

Hyper Backup creates a full backup with versioning, stored in a proprietary format that you can restore to any Synology NAS. Snapshot Replication creates block-level snapshots that are tied to the storage system; they are faster and use less space, but you can only restore them on a Synology NAS. Use Hyper Backup for long-term archival, Snapshot Replication for short-term recovery.

Does remote backup over the internet slow down my normal NAS usage?

Yes, but only during the backup window. The NAS uses CPU and network bandwidth to send data. If you schedule the backup at night or during off-peak hours, the impact on daytime users is minimal. You can also set a bandwidth limit in Hyper Backup’s settings.

What happens if the destination NAS is offline when the backup runs?

Hyper Backup will retry according to the schedule’s retry settings. By default, it will attempt again at the next scheduled time. You can enable the option to start the task as soon as the destination becomes available. The backup will resume from where it left off, not restart from scratch.

Can I restore a single file from a remote backup?

Yes. In Hyper Backup, open the backup task, select Restore, and browse the versions. You can restore individual files or folders without downloading the entire backup. This works for both NAS and cloud destinations.

Is it safe to store encrypted backups on a cloud service I don’t trust?

If you enable client-side encryption in Hyper Backup, the data is encrypted before it leaves your NAS. The cloud provider only sees ciphertext. As long as you keep the encryption password safe, you can use any cloud service. If you lose the password, the data is unrecoverable—there is no backdoor.

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