AOMEI Cyber Backup
NAS Data Protection Best Practices in 2025 [6 Practices]
Learn about basic NAS data protection best practices, including automated backup policies, encryption, disaster recovery planning, and using AOMEI Cyber Backup. ensure that your NAS data is safe, recoverable, and protected from ransomware, hardware failure, or user error.
By Amelia / Updated on May 23, 2025
Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices are essential for centralized mass storage businesses and individuals. However, NAS data can be exposed to danger due to several hardware failures, human error, and software vulnerabilities. So, NAS data protection is intuitively important.
Why NAS Data Protection Matters
NAS devices are prized for their scalability, ease of file sharing, and centralized access. But their constant availability on the network also makes them prime targets for ransomware attacks:
- Ransomware Attacks
- Accidental deletion
- Hardware failure
- Unauthorized access or misconfiguration
The above facts will cause data loss on a NAS without a reliable protection strategy.
NAS Data Protection Best Practices
The following lists some best practices to mitigate these risks and ensure that NAS data is always secure and recoverable.
Practice 1. Implement a Robust NAS Backup Strategy
A reliable backup plan is crucial. Follow the 3-2-1 backup rule: keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 copy offsite.
- Schedule automatic NAS backups
- Include versioning and retention policies
- Regularly test your backups
Practice 2. Use Reliable Backup Software: AOMEI Cyber Backup
One of the most efficient ways to back up NAS data is through dedicated backup software. AOMEI Cyber Backup is a free centralized backup solution designed for secure, scheduled backups of virtual machines, disks, files, and servers.
Automatic & incremental backups of data
Web-based centralized management console
Support for file-level and full-image backup
Restore in on click from backup points
Free for personal and commercial use
Simple steps to backup NAS data
Step 1. Download and launch the AOMEI Cyber Backup.
AOMEI Cyber BackupFree, easy, centralized, enterprise data backup solution.
Step 2. Go to Backup Task > + Create New Task, and choose the disk that contains NAS data. Then choose the Target Storage (Add a new local storage, and Add a new network storage).
Step 3. Schedule backup strategies and backup retention policy to run it automatically.
Step 4. Click Start Backup to initiate the backup process.
Step 5. Click Backup Task to locate the task you want to restore, and click … > Restore. You can specify the target location by choosing Restore to original location or Restore to new location.
Practice 3. Secure NAS Access with Proper Permissions
Access control is often overlooked but is crucial for protecting NAS data.
Use complex passwords and disable the default admin accounts.
Assign user-level permissions and restrict write access.
Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) where possible.
Practice 4. Encrypt Data and Communications
To protect data both at rest and in transit:
Enable NAS encryption for sensitive files.
Use SSL/TLS for remote access.
Consider VPN access only for external users.
Encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted or stolen.
Practice 5. Monitor Logs and Apply Firmware Updates
Outdated firmware can expose your NAS to known vulnerabilities. Keep your device secure by:
Regularly checking for firmware updates.
Monitoring system logs and access history.
Setting up email alerts for unusual activity.
These small practices can give early warning of potential attacks or failures.
Practice 6. Have a Disaster Recovery Plan
Even with top-tier protection, disasters can strike. Your disaster recovery (DR) plan should include:
Automated recovery workflows.
Regular drill and testing.
Ability to restore to different hardware
AOMEI Cyber Backup supports rapid restore capabilities, helping you minimize downtime and return to normal operations quickly.
Conclusion
NAS data loss can be very damaging, but with the right tools and best practices, you can eliminate most of the risks and ensure your data is always safe, recoverable, and secure. You can download AOMEI Cyber Backup to set up automatic NAS backups.
