Synology Active Backup for SaaS

Synology Active Backup for SaaS backs up Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data to a Synology NAS, making it a strong fit for organizations that already operate compatible Synology hardware. It is less suitable if you need a cloud-hosted backup destination or a second backup copy.

Overview

The service covers business data across both suites: OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Teams, alongside Google Drive, Gmail, Contacts and Calendar. Google Workspace coverage includes shared drives, email labels and attachments. Item-level recovery and audit logs help administrators retrieve and track individual items rather than treating the suite as a single all-or-nothing restore.

Microsoft 365 backups can run continuously, manually or on a schedule. Continuous intervals adjust between one and ten minutes based on detected API request rates. Both products support file versioning; Google Workspace retention can be set for a specified period or configured to keep every version. That flexibility supports recovery from unwanted changes, but retained data consumes NAS capacity.

Key features

• Microsoft 365 recovery: The Recovery Portal allows administrators and employees to restore or export backed-up data. Employee self-service depends on configuration, so organizations should confirm their access model before relying on it.
• Storage efficiency: Single instancing and block-level deduplication reduce duplicate data in Microsoft 365 backups. Deduplication for either product requires an x64 Synology NAS using Btrfs.
• Google Workspace setup: Administrators must configure the Drive SDK API and create a service key before creating a backup task. This adds setup work compared with simply connecting an account.
• Ransomware protection: The service includes ransomware protection, alongside versioning and recovery tools.

A significant constraint is that neither the Microsoft 365 nor Google Workspace product supports secondary backups. Organizations seeking another copy beyond the NAS will need a separate approach.

Pricing

Active Backup for SaaS (Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace): free (billed Free). It is a free add-on for Synology NAS with no software license required. Accounts are unlimited, subject to NAS storage capacity, and a compatible Synology NAS is required. This is attractive for organizations that already have suitable hardware and can provide enough storage; it is not a hardware-free or capacity-unlimited backup service.

There are no cheaper paid tiers to trade down to: the plan covers both supported suites, with account count limited by available NAS storage rather than a published seat cap. The Microsoft 365 requirement is a compatible NAS running DSM 6.1-15217 or later.

Platforms

Active Backup for SaaS is self-hosted on Synology NAS hardware. The Microsoft 365 product requires compatible hardware and DSM 6.1-15217 or later. Both products require an x64 model with Btrfs if you want deduplication. Its local NAS foundation suits organizations that want backup storage under their own administration, but it makes hardware compatibility and storage capacity central purchasing considerations.

Who it's for

This is a sensible choice for organizations using Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or both that already run compatible Synology NAS equipment and want item-level recovery without a software license fee. It is a poor fit for teams that need secondary backups, want a destination independent of their NAS, or cannot accommodate the required Google Workspace setup.

Pros and cons

• Pro: No software license fee and unlimited accounts make it appealing when compatible NAS capacity is already in place.
• Pro: Coverage spans key Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data, with item-level recovery, versioning and audit logs.
• Pro: Microsoft 365 supports continuous backups with intervals adjusted from one to ten minutes, as well as manual and scheduled runs.
• Con: A compatible Synology NAS is mandatory, and account capacity still depends on its storage.
• Con: Neither product supports secondary backups, limiting its role as a complete backup strategy.
• Con: Google Workspace backups require Drive SDK API configuration and a service key.

Alternatives

For a different file-service approach, compare Hitachi Universal Volume Manager, which is paid and requires a license on the local storage system. LucidLink is a paid alternative with no free plan, a free trial and a Starter plan at $7 a month (billed member/month); its listed plan includes 10 members and 100 GB per member, shared. QNAP HybridMount is a free alternative with a free plan and paid Small and Medium tiers. Panzura CloudFS uses capacity-based licensing with custom pricing. Peer Global File Service is another option for Windows users. Triofox is a paid alternative with a free trial, while CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform is paid and has no free plan. Morro Data CloudNAS is paid, offers a free trial and has a Business plan on request.

Explore more options in SaaS Backup Software, Microsoft 365 Backup Software, Google Workspace Backup Software, Email Backup Software, Cloud Storage Gateway Software and Storage Migration Software.

Verdict

Choose Synology Active Backup for SaaS if you already operate a compatible Synology NAS and want no-license-cost, item-level protection across Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Its broad suite coverage and flexible Microsoft 365 backup cadence are compelling; look elsewhere if secondary copies or a backup destination independent of Synology hardware are essential.