Synology NAS Setup for Singapore Businesses
Your records, on your premises.
With a separate backup.
For Singapore companies with files spread across loose hard disks, Google Drive and Dropbox, or CCTV footage that too many people can open. We start from the records you must keep and who may see them. Then we build and install a Synology NAS in your office to the access and backup scope agreed after the site check.
Send your headcount, roughly how much data you hold, the number of CCTV cameras, and what you pay for cloud storage today. We reply within one working day. After a site check, you get a written quote.
Nachi Leong · PSCMC (SS 680) · Diploma in Business Information Technology, Singapore Polytechnic · Since 2014
Advice to install.The consultant you meet is the consultant who stays with your project.
Who a Synology NAS setup is for
For companies that want their files and footage in one controlled place.
For owners or operations managers whose files sit in several places, or who need a clear owner for their CCTV recorder. It can also help when a customer or security audit asks where records are kept and who can open them.
Files in too many places
Loose hard disks, Google Drive, Dropbox and staff laptops. It can be unclear which copy is current, and a failed disk can put work at risk.
CCTV footage with no clear access list
CCTV footage is sensitive. You need to know who can view or export it, and keep that access to the people who need it.
An audit is coming
A customer, ISO or security audit asks where records are kept, who can see them, and how they are backed up. You need a clear answer on paper and in practice.
Cloud bills that grow with headcount
You pay per user for storage every month. With 15 to 20 users or more, or data that keeps growing, an in-house NAS can cost less over a few years.
Before you decide. An in-house NAS is not free to run. It needs a backup copy kept apart from it, power protection, regular updates and one named person who owns it. The quote sets out the agreed scope.
Synology NAS setup process
Records and access first. Then the box.
The site check and written quote set the scope. The work can cover an access and backup plan, the build and install, a restore test, and the responsibilities of the person who will own it. Hardware is sized from what you must keep and who may see it.
- 01Site check
The site check starts with the records you must keep and who may see them.
- 02Access and backup plan
The written plan can cover shared folders, who can open each one, how CCTV footage is accessed, the backup copy and where it is kept. The quote follows from the agreed plan.
- 03Build and install
We build and install the Synology NAS on its own network segment, to the plan.
- 04Restore test
The backup plan should include a restore test before you rely on the copy.
- 05Name the owner
The plan should name the person responsible for users, backups and updates after installation.
Synology NAS setup deliverables
A NAS plan built around your records and access needs.
The written quote sets out the agreed setup, access plan, backup and responsibilities. It gives you a clear record of what has been agreed.
- Written access and backup plan, based on the records you must keep
- Synology NAS on its own network segment
- Shared folders and access roles, kept to the fewest people who need them
- CCTV recording and named viewing or export access, if in scope
- Files moved from old hard disks, Google Drive or Dropbox
- Backup copy kept apart from the NAS, offsite where needed
- Power protection with automatic shutdown
- A restore test before you rely on the backup
- Named responsibility for ongoing users, backups and updates
- Admin access arrangements stated in the quote
| Folder | What it holds | Who can open it | Backup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance | Invoices, bank statements, payroll | Owner and accounts staff | Separate copy |
| Operations | Orders, supplier files, delivery records | Operations team | Separate copy |
| HR | Staff records and contracts | Owner and HR only | Separate copy |
| CCTV | Camera recordings | Named staff | Event clips copied as agreed |
Synology NAS setup cost
A written quote after the site check.
a site check.
The cost depends on how much data you hold, the number of users and cameras, how long footage needs to be kept for your purpose, and whether you need an offsite copy. The written quote follows the site check.
Your written quote sets out
- The NAS, drives and power protection considered, and why
- The access and backup plan
- Which files, cloud folders and cameras are in scope
- The backup copy, and whether it is kept offsite
- Yearly support after installation, if you want it, and what it covers
When it saves money: cloud storage is charged per user. At list prices checked in October 2026, Dropbox Standard is US$15 per user a month on annual billing, and Google Workspace Business Standard is S$18.80 per user a month on the flexible plan. A NAS is mostly a one-off cost. The saving is strongest from about 15 to 20 users, or when your data keeps growing. A small team may save little. No grant pays for the NAS itself.
Planning the setup
The site check comes first. The schedule follows from it.
The schedule is set in your written quote after the site check. It depends on how much data is moved and the number of users and cameras.
What helps the setup move
- A list of the folders and cloud accounts in use today
- One person who can approve the access plan
- Admin access to your Google Drive, Dropbox or other cloud accounts
- A good internet upload speed for moving files and the offsite copy
What can add time
- Large amounts of data spread over many disks and accounts
- Cameras that need new cabling or are not compatible
- Network equipment that cannot create a separate segment
- Several sites that each need their own copy
Your written quote states the schedule for your data, users and cameras.
What to settle before the NAS goes live
The points that matter before you rely on a NAS.
A NAS on its own is just storage. Settle these points before you rely on it or need to explain it to an auditor.
Access is kept to the fewest people
Give each folder and the CCTV footage a named access list. Keep everyone else out, even if the NAS could serve far more users.
The backup is kept apart
CSA's Cyber Essentials mark asks for backups stored separately from the main copy, offsite where feasible, and that includes data held in the cloud. Plan a copy isolated from a fault or attack on the NAS.
Restores are tested
Cyber Essentials asks for backup restores to be tested at least twice a year. Test the copy before you rely on it, then repeat the test.
CCTV footage follows the PDPA
PDPC guidance sets no fixed retention period for CCTV. Keep footage only as long as your purpose needs it, then delete it. People can ask for footage of themselves, and staff and visitors should be told cameras are in use.
Remote access is planned carefully
Avoid opening ports on your router. Where staff need access from outside, use an encrypted private network with two-step login.
Power and updates are covered
Use power protection so the NAS can shut down safely in a power cut. Name the person responsible for updates and checks.
Advice before installation
We start from the records, not the box.
Nachi Leong, Principal Consultant
Nachi Leong is ZES's principal consultant. She holds a Diploma in Business Information Technology from Singapore Polytechnic, and from 2021 to 2024 advised Singapore small businesses and partners on cloud accounting adoption, onboarding and workflow at a global cloud accounting software company. She is PSCMC certified by TÜV SÜD and prepares companies for ISO and security audits.
About Nachi Leong- One consultant
The consultant you meet is the consultant who stays with your project.
- An online electronics retailer, 2025
Files sat on loose hard disks that kept failing, plus Google Drive and Dropbox. We advised first, then built and installed a NAS on its own network segment. It was sized so up to about 120 users could be given access, but access was kept to the fewest people because the CCTV footage is sensitive. The offsite option is a second NAS of the same or higher capacity at another site, linked over an encrypted private network.
- We run it ourselves
Since June 2026, ZES's own company filing runs on Synology Drive instead of Dropbox, and Google Drive syncs to the NAS.
- Audit preparation
ZES prepares companies for security audits where CCTV recordings must be kept and access logged, and for ISO audits that ask how records are controlled.
Recent digital work
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- Lead capture into a CRM: 6,400+ leads over 12 monthsService business
- Shopify website migrationOnline retailer
- Website, brand and marketingFashion accessories brand
- Meta advertising managementConsumer brand
Synology NAS questions
Cost, backup, CCTV and who looks after it.
Short answers for owners and managers deciding whether to bring files and CCTV in-house. If you are also looking at information security as a whole, read our ISO 27001 page.
What does ZES actually do on a Synology NAS project?
We start with a site check and a written plan of the records you must keep and who may see them. On the agreed scope, we advise, build and install the Synology NAS. The plan also names the person responsible for the NAS after installation.
Will a NAS save us money compared with Google Drive or Dropbox?
It depends on your team size and how much data you hold. Cloud storage is charged per user every month. At October 2026 list prices, Dropbox Standard is US$15 per user a month on annual billing, and Google Workspace Business Standard is S$18.80 per user a month on the flexible plan. A NAS is mostly a one-off cost, plus a backup copy, power and support. The saving is strongest from about 15 to 20 users, or when data keeps growing. A small team may save little.
How much does a Synology NAS setup cost?
We quote after a site check. The cost depends on how much data you hold, the number of users and cameras, how long footage needs to be kept for your purpose, and whether you need an offsite copy. Your written quote lists the agreed scope, hardware, access and backup plan.
Is a NAS enough as a backup?
No. A NAS with mirrored drives protects you from one drive failing. It does not protect you from fire, theft, flood, ransomware or someone deleting the wrong folder. You need a separate copy kept apart from the NAS, offsite where possible, and restore tests. CSA's Cyber Essentials mark asks for exactly this, including a separate backup of data held in the cloud.
How long should we keep CCTV footage in Singapore?
PDPC guidance does not set a fixed retention period for CCTV footage. You keep it for as long as your purpose needs it, and delete it once there is no legal or business reason to keep it. Your customer contract or a security audit may set its own period. Storage needs to match the period your purpose and contracts require.
What if someone asks for CCTV footage of themselves?
Under the PDPA, a person can generally ask for footage of themselves. You may ask for the date, time and place, and you may need to mask other people in the clip. Give a small number of named staff access to find and export footage, so access requests can be handled properly.
Who looks after the NAS after it is installed?
Someone in your company should own it day to day. ZES also offers yearly support after installation. It can cover backup and restore checks, updates, adding and removing users, and reviewing who can open the CCTV footage. The scope and yearly fee are set out in your written quote, so you can choose it or leave it out.
Can staff reach their files from outside the office?
Yes, if you need it. Avoid opening ports on your router, because that is a common way in for attackers. Instead, use an encrypted private network with two-step login. Remote speed depends on your office internet upload speed. Real-time co-editing of documents works better in Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, so many companies keep those for that.
Can one NAS hold both our files and our CCTV recordings?
In a small office, often yes. One NAS can hold shared files and record a modest number of cameras, which saves a second box and a second power unit. CCTV footage is kept in its own area with its own short list of people who can open it. The assessment needs to check the camera count and recording needs against the NAS before this is recommended.
Is there a grant for a NAS?
No grant pays for the NAS hardware itself. If you are working towards CSA's Cyber Essentials mark, the CISO-as-a-Service programme can co-fund a cybersecurity health plan by a CSA-onboarded consultant, and that plan may recommend a separate backup. ZES is not one of those consultants. For grants that fit other projects, see our SME grants guide.
Does ZES sell or repair Synology hardware?
ZES's role is the advice, build and installation around the agreed access and backup plan. The quote lists the NAS, drives and power protection considered for your plan.
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Start with a site check
Start with a site check
Tell us what you store today, how many people need access and how many cameras you record, and we will arrange a site check and a written quote.
- Phone
- +65 8901 2255