Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems function as centralised hubs for vital business data, a critical role that unfortunately positions them as attractive targets for cybercriminals. The growing reliance on NAS backup solutions means that increasing numbers of companies are vulnerable to a multitude of threats, such as NAS-specific ransomware attacks, where cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in NAS devices to encrypt files and demand ransoms, disrupting operations.
Threats to NAS systems
Recent threats, including eCh0raix, DeadBolt, and Synolocker, have targeted NAS vulnerabilities, exploiting weak credentials or unpatched firmware, leaving organisations locked out of their data.
DeadBolt attacks typically target any unpatched or exposed internet-facing NAS devices. It often takes the approach of hijacking NAS login pages with ransom demand in exchange for decryption. Whereas eCh0raix ransomware is known to target Linux-based QNAP and Synology devices, exploiting weak passwords and known security weak points. SynoLocker Ransomware targets vulnerabilities in DSM software, particularly outdated firmware and weak passwords.
Threats are not just limited to cyber attacks. NAS systems are also prone to hardware failures, physical damage, wear, and defects. Human error, such as accidental deletions, misconfigurations, or poor backup practices account for most data loss cases. While natural disaster events such as floods, fires, or earthquakes can make local NAS devices unusable or irreparable.
The knockon effect of NAS system data breach and downtime can of course have a massive financial impact on businesses. This includes lost revenue, decreased productivity and customer dissatisfaction, as well as potential regulatory fines and reputation damage which can erode customer trust. Therefore, protecting NAS requires attention to the various potential pitfalls.
The limitations of standard NAS protection
NAS devices typically offer a basic layer of data protection out of the box, with standard features such as encryption, access controls, snapshot functionality, and backup options. However, the extent and effectiveness of these features can differ significantly between devices. This means they often fall short of the demands of enterprise-level data protection, as well as lack the compliance capabilities that properly implemented backup systems deliver. Therefore, it is vital for organisations to evaluate whether the NAS aligns with an organisation’s specific protection requirements.
NAS protection: common mistakes made by organisations
Businesses often face numerous challenges when it comes to managing NAS data protection. As touched upon above, a common issue is underestimating the need for a robust backup strategy, mistakenly relying on built-in snapshots or replication features as adequate safeguards.
Not regularly updating firmware, with a failure to use strong, unique passwords - can leave data wide open to data breaches, as occurred with Synology device attacks. And while new updates will address security issues in outdated firmware, if these are not addressed promptly, the vulnerability remains. Similarly, weak passwords become easy prey for brute-force attacks. These attacks rely on hackers systematically trying countless combinations until they eventually stumble upon the right one, compromising security in the process.
Another error is ignoring encryption for NAS data. Unencrypted NAS data is highly vulnerable, exposing sensitive information and risking compliance issues. Organisations should use AES-256 encryption and TLS protocols to secure data in transit and at rest.
Unfortunately, even though they are vital, regular recovery tests also tend to be skipped. This can create issues down the line as untested backups often fail just when needed. To be prepared, IT admins should regularly simulate recovery scenarios to ensure backup reliability and prepare their teams for swift action.
An organisation’s data growth is another factor that shouldn’t be ignored. Underestimating data growth can cause storage shortages and backup inefficiencies. Therefore, the business’ data growth trends should be monitored to ensure the backup system scales accordingly.
Best practices
To safeguard NAS data, organisations should take practical approaches such as developing a backup and recovery strategy in preparation for current and future challenges. Best practices for optimal NAS data protection include:
Implementing redundant systems - for strategic diversification and quick recovery, a combination of NAS-to-NAS replication, cloud backups and hybrid redundancy should be implemented. NAS-to-NAS replication allows real-time duplication of data between two NAS systems, ensuring that critical files remain intact even if one system fails. NAS cloud backup provides an additional layer of safety, protecting data against physical damage caused by local disasters such as fires or floods. A hybrid approach that combines on-premises NAS backups with backup copies stored in the cloud offers the best of both worlds — the speed of local backups and the geographic diversity of offsite copies.
RAID implementation - IT admins can also consider implementing RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) levels for NAS systems. RAID 1, or mirroring, and RAID 5/6, which use striping with parity, add data redundancy and improve fault tolerance. This means that if a drive fails, the organisation's data stays accessible. It is also worth noting that RAID is not a replacement for regular backups, but it does significantly boost the resilience of the storage infrastructure.
Encrypting NAS data from the start - to maintain security, data should be encrypted the moment it leaves the device, whether destined for local storage or the cloud. Even if someone gains access to the NAS device, encrypted data remains protected against breaches and leaks.
Auditing access to NAS data - maintaining visibility into NAS backup software through auditing is another cornerstone of effective data protection. Automated audit log scans can be used to track all file activity, including transfers, modifications and access attempts. Strong access controls can be implemented by enforcing user permissions and regularly reviewing access policies to prevent misuse or breaches.
Leveraging immutable backups - immutable backups are a vital component of any robust data protection strategy. Unlike traditional backups, which can be accidentally deleted or overwritten, immutable backups cannot be altered or deleted once they are created.
Finally, keeping NAS backups in a safe, offsite repository can save data in case of a ransomware attack. Should the main NAS system get hacked, an immutable backup can be utilised to get the data back up and running – without the need to deal with the encrypted files.
There’s no doubt that properly protecting the organisation’s NAS systems is essential for safeguarding the business. By implementing these proven strategies, IT admins will have taken major steps towards building a robust defense against unforeseen threats.
