With the increasing threats of cyberattacks and data breaches, enterprises and SMBs alike are prioritizing robust data protection strategies. Synology, a global leader in storage solutions, has taken a significant step forward with the launch of ActiveProtect, a purpose-built appliance designed to simplify and strengthen data protection.
SmartStateIndia had the opportunity to interact with Russell Chen, Country Manager of Synology, to discuss the evolving data protection landscape in India, how ActiveProtect is addressing key industry challenges, and Synology’s roadmap for the future.
How do you see the Indian market evolving in terms of data protection?
Russell Chen: The demand for data protection in India is huge, primarily due to increasing cybersecurity threats like ransomware attacks. Organizations are now recognizing the importance of immutable backups and air-gapped storage as essential safeguards against cyber threats. Enterprises and IT managers are looking for solutions that provide comprehensive and resilient data protection, and that’s where Synology is making a difference.
How aware are SMBs of data protection challenges, and how are they adopting these solutions?
Russell Chen: SMBs require data protection just as much as large enterprises, but cost has traditionally been a barrier to adoption. The upfront investment in traditional backup solutions can be overwhelming for smaller businesses. However, Synology’s integrated hardware and software solutions, along with a straightforward licensing model, make it much easier and more affordable for SMBs to start their data protection journey.
One of the key highlights of ActiveProtect is its ease of use. Could you elaborate on its benefits in terms of deployment and integration?
Russell Chen: Many traditional data protection solutions require businesses to integrate separate hardware and software components, often requiring third-party support. With ActiveProtect, we eliminate this complexity. Our solution integrates storage, backup, and management into a single, easy-to-deploy appliance. Additionally, ActiveProtect supports air-gapped backups and immutable storage, ensuring maximum security against cyber threats. It’s designed to be intuitive and secure while reducing the operational burden on IT teams.
Why do you believe ActiveProtect represents the future of enterprise data protection?
Russell Chen: Synology is a game-changer in the data protection market. Unlike traditional solutions that charge based on capacity or the number of users, our licensing is based solely on cluster nodes—making cost estimation straightforward for enterprises. Furthermore, we provide a fully integrated hardware-software approach, ensuring a seamless experience for IT teams while reducing costs.
With AI playing a growing role in IT infrastructure, how is Synology integrating AI into its data protection solutions?
Russell Chen: AI will be a crucial part of Synology’s future roadmap. Currently, our system provides passive notifications (such as email or WhatsApp alerts) when an issue arises. However, in the near future, we plan to introduce AI-driven proactive risk detection—analyzing backup structures to identify potential vulnerabilities before an incident occurs.
Beyond data protection, we are integrating AI across various domains, including:
- Productivity: AI-powered automation in Synology’s email services and office solutions.
- Surveillance: AI-driven license plate recognition and people/vehicle counting for enhanced security and monitoring.
What are Synology’s business expansion plans for the Indian market?
Russell Chen: India is a crucial market for us, and with the new financial year approaching, we are set to strengthen our presence in both SMB and enterprise segments. While we already have a strong foothold in the NAS market for SMBs, we are now targeting larger enterprises (1,000+ employees) by expanding our offerings in data protection, file sharing, surveillance, and productivity solutions.
To support this growth, we will introduce new enterprise solutions such as NVMe all-flash NAS and Scale-out storage servers. We are also building stronger relationships with key partners to enhance our enterprise outreach.
Looking ahead, what is Synology’s long-term vision for India?
Russell Chen: The Indian market has experienced significant growth post-COVID, and we are confident that we can double our revenue within the next three years. Our ultimate goal is to become the world’s leading private cloud platform, providing organizations with secure, scalable, and AI-powered data management solutions.
In Conclusion
With the launch of ActiveProtect, Synology is redefining the enterprise data protection landscape by offering integrated, scalable, and AI-ready solutions. As cyber threats continue to evolve, organizations—whether SMBs or large enterprises—must prioritize data resilience. With innovative backup strategies, a cost-effective pricing model, and a vision for AI-driven automation, Synology is poised to be a leader in India’s data protection market.
