The Synology DiskStation DS923+ is a robust solution for users needing local, high-performance storage with advanced data protection and scalability. It's ideal for businesses or individuals who want full control over their data and are comfortable with managing their own hardware. Microsoft OneDrive for Business Plan 2 is better suited for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, offering seamless integration, ease of use, and accessibility from anywhere. The choice depends on the user's priorities: control and performance versus convenience and integration.
| Attribute | Synology DiskStation DS923+ | Microsoft OneDrive for Business Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Synology DiskStation DS923+ | Microsoft OneDrive for Business Plan 2 |
| Storage Capacity | 4 bays (3.5" or 2.5" SATA HDD/SSD), Max Internal Capacity: 72TB (4 x 18TB drives), Max Expanded Capacity: 152TB (9 drives with DX517 expansion unit) | Generally 1 TB per user, expandable to 5 TB per user for subscriptions with 5+ users. Maximum 25 TB for individual education users. Beyond 25 TB, storage may be provisioned as 25 TB SharePoint team sites. |
| Data Redundancy Options | Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR), Basic, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 6, RAID 10 | Files are synchronized across devices. Version history allows reverting to previous file versions. |
| Data Security Features | Btrfs (metadata mirroring, file self-healing, snapshot replication), Military-grade data encryption, AES-NI hardware encryption, Two-factor authentication, Scheduled and near-instant data protection, immutable snapshots | Encryption for data in transit and at rest. Two-factor authentication (2FA). Compliance with GDPR and HIPAA. Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Sensitivity labels. Conditional access controls. Advanced threat protection. |
| File Sharing Capabilities | SMB, AFP, NFS, FTP, WebDAV, CalDAV, iSCSI, Windows Access Control List (ACL), application privileges, Synology Drive | Share files with colleagues, clients, and external partners. Granular permission control (view-only, edit, comment). Secure and password-protected links. Set expiration dates for shared links. Revoke access at any time. |
| Remote Access Functionality | Synology Drive, PPTP, OpenVPN, L2TP, Synology Hybrid Share | Accessible via web, desktop, and mobile apps. Files can be synchronized across devices. Offline access to synchronized files. |
| Backup and Restore Features | Active Backup Suite, Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup, Windows and Linux endpoints, VMs, Synology NAS, SaaS applications, Multiple destinations, integrity checks, deduplication, compression, versioning, Point-in-time copies of shared folders and LUNs | Version history to restore previous versions. Files On-Demand feature to access files without downloading them. |
| Scalability | DX517 (up to 9 drives), Upgradable to 32GB RAM, M.2 NVMe SSD slots, Optional 10GbE | Offers scalable subscription plans. Administrators can increase storage capacity as needed. |
| Integration with Other Services | VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, Citrix XenServer, OpenStack, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, Windows AD/LDAP servers | Integrates with Microsoft 365 apps like Teams, SharePoint, Outlook, and Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). Integration with Microsoft Entra ID. |
| User Management | Windows AD/LDAP integration, Windows ACL | Robust admin controls to manage user access and storage quotas. Single sign-on (SSO) support. Dynamic groups can be created and updated based on defined rules. |
| Performance | Read Speed: Up to 625 MB/s, Write Speed: Up to 559 MB/s, CPU: Dual-core AMD Ryzen R1600, RAM: 4GB DDR4 (expandable to 32GB), Connectivity: Optional 10Gbps Ethernet | Not available |
| Price | $599.99 to $752.99 (diskless) | $10 per user/month (annual commitment) |
| Ease of Use | Easy setup, User-friendly software | User-friendly interface. Easy to sync with local computers. Mobile apps available for iOS and Android. |
| Customer Support | Some users report limited tech support without Synology disks | 24/7 phone and web support. Premium plans may offer priority support and advanced management options. |
| Pros | Easy setup, User-friendly software, Good file transfer performance, Robust data security features, Comprehensive backup solutions, Scalable storage capacity, Integration with various services | Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 services, User-friendly interface and quick syncing, Mobile apps are easy to download and use, Offers version history for data integrity, OneDrive prioritizes security with encryption and access control |
| Cons | Additional costs for hard drives and expansion units, Optional upgrades like 10GbE network module increase cost, Some users report limited tech support without Synology disks | Large file syncing can slow performance, Syncing libraries with many files can create performance issues, File path length limitations (paths exceeding 400 characters can cause sync failures) |