Synology made a notable impact at the 44th edition of GITEX GLOBAL in 2024, focusing on the latest data storage, management, and security innovations. This year, the company showcased its advancements across three dedicated zones, spotlighting new products like the ActiveProtect Appliance and its commitment to shaping the future of data protection and disaster recovery for businesses.
The event offered Synology an opportunity to engage with key stakeholders, gain insights into regional trends, and explore potential partnerships to drive further innovation.
In this Q&A with Michael Chang, Regional, Sales Head Asia Pacific, we explore Synology’s strategic priorities, the role of AI in its solutions, and its approach to addressing the evolving demands of businesses in the Middle East.
Can you share what Synology planned for GITEX this year and how your presence highlighted your latest innovations?
Our motivation for participating in the 44th edition of GITEX GLOBAL in 2024 is to showcase Synology’s latest innovations in three dedicated zones, covering cutting-edge secure data storage and management, data security, and a comprehensive smart surveillance system. With our upcoming release of the ActiveProtect Appliance, our attendance at GITEX GLOBAL allowed us to showcase this new product tailored for businesses seeking to enhance their disaster recovery and cybersecurity strategies.
We gained insights into emerging trends, network with key stakeholders, and explored potential collaborations to drive future innovations. By participating in GITEX GLOBAL, we strengthened Synology’s position as a leader in data management and protection while also contributing to the broader discussion on the future of technology.
With data storage and management becoming critical for businesses of all sizes, what are some key solutions Synology showcased at GITEX to address these needs?
At the 44th edition of GITEX GLOBAL in 2024, Synology showcased advanced data protection, data management, and surveillance solutions aimed towards businesses across various sectors.
These solutions focus on efficiency, scalability, and security, ensuring that organisations can effectively manage their data while staying protected from threats. Synology showcased solutions tailored to different data storage and management needs, including PB-level storage, scalable units for future expansion, all-flash servers for high-performance environments, and more.
By showcasing these solutions at GITEX, Synology demonstrated its commitment to providing businesses with robust, scalable, and secure systems for managing and protecting their data, catering to the growing demands of modern enterprises.
How is Synology adapting its products and services to the rising demand for cloud-based solutions, particularly in the Middle East region?
Synology is focusing on hybrid cloud solutions, combining the flexibility of cloud services with the security and control of on-premise highly scalable and expandable NAS systems. Synology NAS solutions provide endpoints and SaaS through on-prem backup that may be further protected through a separate NAS/ server or cloud solution. The flexibility of Synology solutions is a key component, offering businesses in the Middle East options for data protection, file sharing, and backup.
With the rising demand for flexible, multi-layer data protection solutions in the Middle East, Synology ensures that solutions like Synology NAS and Backup emphasize data privacy, protection against ransomware, and compliance with local data protection laws.
Through these strategies, Synology is well-prepared to accommodate enterprise user solution demands. However, based on the inquiries and feedback from our customers, we still find on-premise servers appealing to businesses due to data privacy and compliance with regional data sovereignty regulations.
Data security is always a pressing concern. Could you walk us through how Synology’s offerings at GITEX may enhance data protection and cybersecurity for enterprises?
At GITEX 2024, Synology highlighted its ActiveProtect series, which simplifies the deployment and management of backup systems across multiple environments. Scalable to protect up to 2,500 servers, this solution is ideal for large enterprises. The upcoming ActiveProtect Appliance enhances backup speeds and introduces advanced features to combat ransomware, offering real-time protection and automated backups to minimize data loss and ensure business continuity.
Synology’s Data Protection solutions combine hardware storage and software, streamlining backup processes while reducing downtime. These systems ensure that critical data is securely backed up and easily recoverable, providing reliable disaster recovery for enterprises.
Additionally, Synology showcased its surveillance solutions, featuring high-definition video management systems that enhance physical security. The seamless integration of video management with data security enables businesses to safeguard both digital and physical assets.
In summary, Synology’s GITEX 2024 offerings focused on strengthening enterprise data security through advanced backup technology, efficient data management, and strategic partnerships, helping businesses protect their critical assets and remain resilient against cyber threats.
What role does AI play in Synology’s current product offerings, and how do you see it shaping the future of data management?
Synology has actively integrated AI technologies into its product offerings, enhancing data management, protection, and surveillance capabilities. One notable application is in AI-powered video surveillance, where Synology’s Deep Learning NVR series uses AI for advanced video analytics such as facial recognition, people counting, and vehicle detection. This allows businesses to monitor more precisely, improving security across multiple locations.
In the broader context of data management, Synology’s integration of AI helps handle vast amounts of data generated by businesses. AI-driven tools in Synology’s products aid in managing big data, optimizing storage, and enhancing data protection, making it easier for businesses to meet high-performance demands while securing their data. Furthermore, Synology introduced Generative AI features in our Office Suite, a productivity tool designed to improve collaboration across teams and improving overall workflow efficiency.
Looking ahead, Synology is poised to further expand the role of AI in its solutions, particularly in areas such as big data analytics, machine learning, and predictive maintenance, shaping the future of data management with more automation and efficiency.
With the increasing importance of remote work, how is Synology helping companies ensure seamless collaboration and access to data across global teams?
With the rise of remote work, Synology has developed several solutions to ensure seamless collaboration and data access across global teams. Synology Drive plays a crucial role by offering centralized file access, allowing team members to share, edit, and collaborate on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets in real-time, regardless of their location. Teams can access files through web browsers, desktop agents, or mobile apps, ensuring flexibility in working environments.
For larger organisations, Hybrid Share combines cloud-powered synchronisation with the speed of local storage, allowing data to be stored in a centralised cloud and cached on local Synology systems for faster access. This ensures that teams in distributed locations can collaborate without facing the limitations of traditional file servers or public cloud services, which can result in data silos and high costs.
Synology’s solutions also integrate seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure, supporting Windows AD, Azure AD, and LDAP, allowing easy migration and file permissions management.
Sustainability is a growing focus for tech companies. How is Synology ensuring that its data storage solutions are energy-efficient and eco-friendly?
Synology ensures energy efficiency and eco-friendliness through the power supply efficiency standards of the EU. Synology complies with the newest ERP regulations by offering scheduled power on/off and hard drive hibernation to lower power consumption when devices are not in use, complying with power supply server regulations (EC617/2023 and EC424/2019). Businesses can save energy and operational costs by putting devices in low-power modes during downtime.
Aside from management features, since November 2018, Synology has adopted “Post Consumer Recycled” (PCR) plastic as one of the materials used in our NAS products, with the DS218 and DS218+ being the first models to incorporate 27% recycled plastic. By combining these approaches, Synology is helping businesses lower their carbon footprint while still providing robust and scalable data management solutions.
Synology has a strong reputation in network-attached storage (NAS). How do your NAS solutions cater specifically to the needs of businesses in the Middle East?
Businesses in the Middle East often face rapid data growth, and Synology’s NAS devices are built to scale. Solutions like the HD6500 offer petabyte-level storage, enabling companies to start with small setups and expand as data demands increase without the need for costly overhauls. We provide localized data protection that cater to organizations to ensure critical data is continuously protected, which is essential in a region with growing cybersecurity concerns.
By addressing regional data management, security, and compliance requirements, Synology’s NAS solutions cater to the evolving needs of businesses in the Middle East, from small enterprises to large organizations across diverse sectors.
What strategic partnerships is Synology focusing on in the region, and how do these collaborations support your broader growth ambitions?
Synology is partnering with regional distributors and system integrators to strengthen its reach across different markets. These collaborations help Synology tap into the expertise of local partners who understand the specific challenges of regional businesses, including infrastructure limitations and compliance needs.
Synology’s participation in industry events such as GITEX GLOBAL has allowed the company to forge new partnerships with regional tech leaders. These collaborations help Synology expand its footprint in key Middle East verticals like finance, healthcare, and government.
These strategic partnerships are essential to Synology’s growth ambitions. They allow the company to not only enter new markets but also deliver more region-specific solutions, improve service quality, and ultimately build long-term relationships with businesses in the Middle East.
Finally, what were your expectations for Synology at GITEX this year, and how do you foresee the event shaping the future of digital transformation in the Middle East?
Synology recognises GITEX GLOBAL as a pivotal event for connecting with industry leaders, strategic business partners, and potential customers. As a key platform for exploring emerging opportunities, particularly in the MEA region, this marked Synology’s third consecutive year at the event post-COVID. Synology showcased the latest innovations and gained insights into evolving market demands while leveraging the event to strengthen our presence and expand our regional business footprint.
