Security of ReadyCLOUD vs. Offline, and mobile app

Dear  TJP8121,

Thank you for your interesting in NETGEAR ReadyNAS. I understand you have some concerns regarding the security of our ReadyCLOUD service. Let me answer your questions inline.

TJP8121 wrote:

-- Should I be concerned with the security of my data/photos using ReadyCLOUD, especially given the hack of Synology a while back? I've read in the manuals that no data is stored on ReadyCLOUD servers, but I'm curious as to how ReadyCLOUD can control data transfer on the ReadyNAS without accessing the data.

 

The Synology attack was very alarming to the NAS community. It was very specific to their configuration. Our ReadyCLOUD service is designed proprietarily for keeping your data secure. It creates a client to box VPN connection from your PC or MAC to your NAS. The ReadyCLOUD service brokers the connection initially and authenticates the ReadyCLOUD Owner/User but that is the extent of the involvement from the service. If you view the data on your nas through the ReadyCLOUD portal site, the viewing of the data is metadata only so there is no actual upload of data to ReadyCLOUD.

 

-- Will ReadyNAS be fully functional using ReadyCLOUD in the event that my internet service stops, as long as I maintain connectivity to my wi-fi network?

 

In order for your NAS device to stay connected to ReadyCLOUD it will require that internet access be available to the NAS. There is a local admin page that can be access even when internet access is not available. You can share data through the chrome web browser to your NAS using the Admin page.

-- If I initially set up the ReadyNAS using ReadyCLOUD, can I then manually turn off ReadyCLOUD to use my ReadyNAS locally-only if I wish?

 

In short, Yes. ReadyCLOUD is not required to manage the NAS locally.

-- If using the Local Setup Wizard for offline-use only, is RAIDar or the PC app used as the primary software to operate ReadyNAS?

 

RAIDar would be recommended to discover the NAS on the network. It does have some administrative functions but its very minor. The only option for offline use is the local admin page.

-- Does RAIDar have all of the same functionality as ReadyCLOUD?

 

No, RAIDar has very basic set of controls such as: Browse to shares, Admin Page, Download Logs, Diagnostic, Restart.

-- Will the ReadyCLOUD mobile app still backup photos to the ReadyNAS directly via the wi-fi connection if the ReadyNAS is working in local-only (offline) mode?  In other words, does the ReadyCLOUD mobile app connect directly to the ReadyNAS via the home wi-fi network, or are the photos sent via the internet to external Netgear ReadyCLOUD servers before being sent back to my ReadyNAS?

 

The mobile application will backup photos only if you are able to authenticate to the NAS through the ReadyCLOUD service. The service requires that you have an internet connection. If you do not have an internet connection to broker the connection to your NAS, the photos will cue up until it has a connection to broker a connection to the NAS.

-- Does the automatic backup of photos from mobile devices using the mobile app require any action/steps other than turning on the mobile app?

 

Yes you will need to specify the location you want to back up the photos too. Other than this initial configuration thats all that should be required.

-- What company provides the free anti-virus protection used on ReadyNAS? Is it possible to use protection from a different company?

 

Right now we use Commtouch, it is not possible to change vendors.

https://www.cyren.com/press-release/netgear-secures-readynas-with-commtouch-antivirus.html

-- Has ReadyNAS proven to work flawlessly with Windows 10 from initial setup onward?

 

There was an issue with Windows 10 when it was first released and this has been resolved since. So far there are no reported issues directly for Windows 10 and our NAS devices.

 

AlexPe

Community SME

 

 

 

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