People working at home or in small offices with fewer than five personnel require simple ways of storing work files. Most of the time, users store work files on a computer. However, collaborative work, wherein team members and clients share work files, can become a productivity challenge if the files are scattered and stored on different computers separately. A network-attached storage (NAS) device, such as the Synology DiskStation DS223, can be an ideal solution in such a scenario.
The Synology DiskStation DS223 is a two-bay network-attached storage (NAS) device designed for home and small office use. Powered by a quad-core Realtek RTD1619B processor with 2GB DDR4 memory, the DS223 promises to deliver smooth and responsive performance for daily file access and sharing tasks.
The two drive bays of the DiskStation DS223 are compatible with 3.5" SATA hard disk drives (HDDs) or 2.5" SATA solid-state drives (SSDs). The DS223 can accommodate up to 18TB of accessible data with Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), a flexible RAID management system that can optimize storage capacity and data protection based on user needs. With SHR, in which 18TB is the available space, the other 18TB is for data protection.
Connectivity-wise, the DS223 comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port and three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, allowing users to connect the device to a network and add external storage devices or other peripherals. The DS223 also supports various protocols and services, such as SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, and WebDAV, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android devices.
Measuring 165 mm x 108 mm x 232.7 mm and clad in a black enclosure, the Synology DiskStation DS223 helps users save valuable space in home and small office setups. The DS223 also has a 92 mm x 92 mm x 25 mm fan that cools the device and the drives.
Besides its compact size, the DiskStation DS223 offers other functionalities. The NAS device can serve as a file server. Once computers connect to the DS223 via server message block (SMB) or file transfer protocol (FTP), team members can access the same device, which can be the working file repository.
As a collaboration server, the DS223 supports file management tools, like Synology Drive and File Station, which allow each NAS account to have its own folder and team folder. If Synology QuickConnect is enabled, users can also share files on NAS with a link. The receiver does not need an account to access the link, which can have a password and an expiration date for data security.
Because data security is also associated with keeping work files protected from corruption and loss, the Synology DiskStation DS223 also supports file-level backups and sync features. Users can use the Synology Drive client to sync tasks and back up data.
The DiskStation DS223 not only offers features for data security but also for physical security in a home or office setting. Like other Synology NAS devices, the DS223 has two free camera licenses. The device supports Synology Surveillance Station, a network video recorder (NVR) system that enables home and small office users to add cameras to their DS223 without paying additional fees.
With the DS223, users can have up to 20 cameras on its Surveillance Station. Videos captured have encryption, privacy masking, and watermarks for data privacy. Users can also monitor their home and small office setup from anywhere at any time using Synology DS Cam, a mobile extension of the Surveillance Station.
Selling for the price of ₱16,799, the Synology DiskStation DS223 is a reliable and versatile NAS device that offers a good balance of performance, features, and value for home and small office users who need centralized storage and simplified data management. With the DS223, users can have a file server, collaboration platform, data protection, and surveillance without purchasing several devices and applications.