SME NAS 2026: Synology vs QNAP vs Asustor.
Comparison of the 3 SME NAS vendors. OS, security, backup, performance, pricing.
Synology RS / DS Plus
SMEs with 5-200 users, demanding security + simplicity
- ✓DSM 7.2: the most polished NAS OS on the market
- ✓Native immutable BTRFS snapshots (anti-ransomware)
- ✓Active Backup for Business free (Win/M365/Workspace/VMware)
- ✓Maintained apps: Drive, Photos, Office, Surveillance
- ✓Security: mandatory admin MFA, built-in Security Advisor
- ✓Hyper Backup to cloud (S3, Azure, B2, Drive)
- ✓Excellent documentation
- −Less powerful hardware than QNAP at an equivalent price
- −10 GbE options often on high-end models only
- −Third-party apps (Docker, etc.) less extensive
SMEs with 5-50 seats and no CISO, demanding security + operational simplicity
QNAP TS / TVS
SMEs with 10-200 users, media / virtualization use cases
- ✓Hardware often more powerful at an equivalent price
- ✓Built-in 10 GbE on more models
- ✓Integrated GPU for video transcoding (Plex, Surveillance)
- ✓Rich Virtualization Station + Container Station
- ✓Versatile Hybrid Backup Sync
- ✓High-performance Snapshot Manager
- −QTS 5.x cluttered interface, redundant multi-apps
- −History of ransomware incidents (DeadBolt 2022, Qlocker 2021)
- −Security updates sometimes lag behind Synology
- −Larger attack surface (services enabled by default)
Media studio, heavy video surveillance, homelab, IT virtualization
Asustor Lockerstor / AS
SMEs with 5-100 users, budget alternative to Syno/QNAP
- ✓Aggressive price/performance ratio (often -15-20% vs Syno)
- ✓Solid hardware (Intel Atom + sometimes Ryzen)
- ✓ADM 4.x modern interface
- ✓MyArchive: encrypted removable disk (USB-style)
- ✓Btrfs + ZFS compatible (depending on models)
- ✓3-year warranty often included
- −Smaller community than Syno/QNAP
- −Fewer maintained business apps
- −More spartan documentation
- −Less reliable distribution in Europe
Budget-constrained SMEs, standard file + backup use, self-sufficient IT team
Detailed comparison table
| Criterion | Synology | QNAP | Asustor |
|---|---|---|---|
| OS | DSM 7.2 | QTS 5.x | ADM 4.x |
| File system | BTRFS (snapshots) | ext4 / ZFS | Btrfs + ZFS (high-end models) |
| Immutable snapshots | Yes (BTRFS) | Yes (Snapshot Manager) | Yes (Btrfs) |
| Mandatory admin MFA | Yes | Optional | Optional |
| Security update responsiveness | Excellent | Variable | Good |
| Win/Mac/Linux backup | Active Backup free | Hybrid Backup Sync | ABackup |
| M365 / Workspace backup | Active Backup included | Boxafe | Limited |
| VMware/vSphere backup | Active Backup VM | Hybrid Backup VM | Limited |
| Cloud sync (S3/Azure/Drive) | Hyper Backup | HBS3 | DataSync |
| Container virtualization | Container Manager | Container Station + Virt Station | Docker |
| IP video surveillance | Surveillance Station (8 cameras free) | QVR Pro | Surveillance Center |
| 10 GbE | High-end models | More accessible | Depending on models |
| Standard warranty | 3 years | 2 years (paid extension) | 3 years |
Recommendation by profile
→ Synology DSM
The most secure and refined OS, free Active Backup, operational simplicity. A no-regret choice for 80% of SMEs.
→ QNAP TVS / TS-h
Powerful hardware + accessible 10 GbE + GPU transcoding. Heavy surveillance.
→ Asustor Lockerstor
Unbeatable price/performance ratio, 3-year warranty, all the essential features present.
How these products were selected
No independent laboratory tests NAS units in this range, and none of the three vendors appears in the ANSSI catalogue or the Common Criteria register. The selection therefore rests on availability through professional distribution in France and on the machines we deploy ourselves. The sources below only cover vulnerability tracking.
- 1.Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Synology, CERTFR-2026-AVI-0491, CERT-FR, 2026-04-24, checked 2026-09-09.CERT-FR tracks and publishes Synology DSM vulnerabilities. An advisory is a tracking signal, not a recommendation.
- 2.Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits QNAP, CERTFR-2026-AVI-0762, CERT-FR, 2026-06-17, checked 2026-09-09.The same tracking for QNAP products.
Vendor pricing changes without notice: the check date says when we last looked. Spotted an error or a source worth adding? Write to us and the page is corrected.
Choosing + sizing + deploying an SME NAS?
Capacity + RAID + 3-2-1-1-0 backup calculation + network integration + training. Audit + recommendation + delivery + deployment.