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Forum Discussion
Encrypting to Amazon Sync
So I finally got my Amazon Sync working and it's currently uploading my first 1TB. Yay!!
However, I got to thinking about security. There's a clause in the amazon terms of use that says they can look at and retain my data. (i'm paraphrasing). This got me thinking that maybe I should be encrypting the data to store it at Amazon so they cant' get to it. However I don't seem to see any options for doing that. Am i right in saying that's not currently an option?
Is anyone else using amzon for storage and concerned about lack of encryption?
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We do have other backup options e.g. backing up to another ReadyNAS, a USB disk etc.
Concerns about Cloud services T&Cs is a major reason to consider using a NAS instead.
As a matter of interest, what do you mean by Amazon Sync?
I have a laptop with admin access to my ReadyNas NVX and use it to backup using the Amazon Drive app on Windows, it supposedly copies my whole 3.8Tb data, but I keep finding things missing online wth no errors in the app logs. For me thats a bigger reason not to use it, than worrying that one day Amazon will look at my files, or more likely hand them over to some government organization to review.
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/home
cathcam wrote:
As a matter of interest, what do you mean by Amazon Sync?
Newer OS 6 NAS have an amazon cloud sync integrated - http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/30670/~/how-do-i-use-readynas-os-6.5-with-amazon-cloud-drive
cathcam wrote:
For me thats a bigger reason not to use it, than worrying that one day Amazon will look at my files, or more likely hand them over to some government organization to review.
Not sure what's going there, but if you can't get it to work then it makes sense to find something else.
Amazon might not ever want to look at your files, but anyone who figures out how to access your Amazon Account (either guessing the password or as a result of an amazon security breach) would have full access to everything you have backed up. And Amazon is a tempting target for any cybercriminal.
You might be willing to take that risk, but I'd much rather the files were encrypted using a key that Amazon didn't have.
Once I have my primary NAS resynced, and backup via rsync to a secondary NAS it certainly makes sense to backup offsite, and the amazon price is great. I'll need to get on the phone with them and debug why it's not working. It's not an permissions problem as I can cause those to happen and they are logged.
Next time I have a NAS failure I'll invest in a new model and this will be an interesting addition.
- lots to reply to.
I want to use a cloud backup because it's offsite. I'm backing up important family things like photos and family documents. Nothing hugely interesting to someone specifically targeting me, but valuable to someone who gets my data as let of a larger breach.
I'm not a business, this is just for home use so I do not really want to buy another nas and put it in a data center on the other side of the country. I'm confident in my local backup solution, but what if my house burns down, I would hate to lose all that stuff.
I would just use readynas vault, but I'm looking for a more cost effective solution. 2tb with the vault is $40 per month where Amazon is $60 per year. Huge difference.
Maybe I just need to be less of a cheap **bleep** and pony up for readynas vault....Sync isn't really a backup anyway, since any problem with the NAS files ends up being applied in the Amazon Cloud
Crashplan would also cost $60 per year for a single device (unlimited storage). It is encrypted.
It is possible to to install it on x86 NAS with ssh, or you can install it on a PC or Mac and map the NAS data volume to a network drive. The latter is simpler of course.
Crash plan looks interesting. My only hesitation is that I'm super lazy. I tend to prefer out of the box solutions that don't require me to instlal weird software. I can't really rely on installing it on a desktop so I'd have to install it on the NAS directly. I'm sure it's not supper difficult, but still not out of the box and so nobody will want to fix it if it's not working. where as if i keep everythign with netgear, they're insentivized to get it all working since it's all their product. It is tempting though.
Just wanted to respond to the post comparing the ReadyNAS Vault (RNV) and the Amazon Cloud Drive and pricing (felt obliged to hop in when RNV was brought up)...
1. These aren't exactly apples to apples solutions, though both can be used for many similar purposes. One key difference, highlighted in this thread, is that the data is encrypted at rest with RNV. Meaning, the files are all encrypted on your device and never decrypted until they are returned to an authenticated device. Additionally, you have the option of using Personal Keys that the RNV service does not have access to (warning: if you use this option and lose/forget the passphrase, RNV cannot help you recover the data). There are several other features/function (e.g. granular control over backup rules, versioning/archiving, appropriate handling of attached devices, etc...) but those may not even matter for this use case.
2. We hear you loud and clear on the price . Amazon's one price fits all is designed to attract many users, likely with the knowledge that some users (like those with very large data sets, say NAS users) will be loss leaders. RNV has a variety of different plans that are built to cater to specific needs - perhaps one of our Personal plans will work for? Or maybe our sales team can provide a discount - please check in at support@vault.readynas.com and reference this link. The team will try to find the most economical plan for your use case and may be able to save you money.
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