Synology NAS

[Enquiries]

I help a small business with their IT. I am self taught over the last 30 years or so. Company uses Microsoft 365 for its email and applications. I am trying to convince them to ensure they have a suitable backup, so looking at getting them an Synology NAS and using Active Backup for Microsoft 365.

I am torn between getting a DS925+ or a DS1525+ with 2 Synology HAT3310-8T 8TB drives. I am not concerned about being locked to Synology drives, for me it makes things simpler and I wish it was like that when I got my DS723+ as I spent far too long trying to work out what was the best drive.

Is the extra drive on the DS1525+ worth the extra £170 over the DS925+ as I could get 2 Synology HAT3310-12T 12T instead

I was thinking of using SHR as I could then add an additional drive(s) at a later date.

IT expenditure isn't a high priority, so getting this set up and then adding an additional drive won't look like it is breaking the bank at a later date.

Keep up the good work on YouTube

[ed]

You’re on exactly the right track in terms of what this small business needs. Using a Synology NAS with Active Backup for Microsoft 365 is a smart, low-maintenance way to protect their cloud data without ongoing licensing costs. Both the DS925+ and DS1525+ support this application well and will easily handle Microsoft 365 backups for multiple users.

Regarding your main question — whether the DS1525+ is worth the extra £170 over the DS925+, here are the key things to consider:
1. Drive Bays and Expandability
The DS1525+ gives you that fifth drive bay, which is especially useful when using SHR (as you mentioned) since it allows for easier capacity upgrades down the line. You can start with 2 drives now and add more later without needing to rebuild or start over. The DS925+ is limited to 4 bays, and once they’re full, you’re done unless you also purchase the expansion unit (DX517).
2. Alternative: Fewer Bays, Larger Drives
You’re right to weigh this against the idea of just buying larger drives (e.g., 2 x 12TB) and using a DS925+. If storage capacity is the main concern and you don’t anticipate adding more drives anytime soon, that can be the more cost-effective route for now.
3. Futureproofing
The DS1525+ offers slightly better long-term flexibility. Even if the business’s storage needs are small today, that extra bay provides reassurance in a few years if things grow. It also means you can scale redundancy (e.g., SHR with 2-drive protection across 5 bays) without replacing drives.
4. SHR and Upgrades
Since you plan on using Synology Hybrid RAID, having a 5-bay unit allows SHR to really shine. You’ll get a better balance of redundancy and usable capacity as you scale up. With 2 drives in SHR, it acts the same as RAID 1 — but once you add a third and fourth, you’ll gain capacity while still keeping redundancy.

My take:
If the business is truly cost-sensitive and you’re confident 2 x 12TB is enough for the next few years, then the DS925+ with larger drives is fine and keeps things simple.
But if you want more breathing room and better long-term value, especially with SHR flexibility, the DS1525+ is worth the extra investment.