Synology to Make Certified Drives Mandatory for 2025 Plus Series NAS Devices

In a significant shift, Synology has announced that its new Plus series NAS devices, set to roll out in 2025, will require users to utilize proprietary hard drives or third-party drives that have been certified by Synology for full functionality. A report from the German site HardwareLuxx indicates that this change is positioned as a means to enhance system reliability and performance. According to Synology’s own press release, the company claims that utilizing their certified solutions allows for better security and support. This move follows a similar restriction previously applied to Synology's enterprise-grade models, now extending to consumer and prosumer markets. Users looking to deploy third-party hard drives in the upcoming Plus models will lose critical features such as hard drive health reports, deduplication capabilities, lifespan analysis, and automatic firmware updates. While users can technically still utilize unapproved drives, they do so at their own risk, as many useful features will be disabled, and support will be severely limited. Notably, Synology does not manufacture its own hard drives but instead licenses and rebrands drives from established manufacturers like Toshiba and Seagate. This raises questions about the actual benefit of using Synology-branded drives when they are fundamentally not much different from their OEM counterparts, aside from potentially stricter testing. The company has indicated that this step aims to provide a more integrated ecosystem while also reducing compatibility issues. However, it may also effectively limit choices for consumers, who could see increased costs or find themselves locked into purchasing from a limited supplier. Given the trend of rising hardware prices and the fact that Synology drives can cost significantly more than competing models, many users—especially DIY enthusiasts or smaller businesses—might be frustrated by this development. This policy change is expected to provoke backlash from loyal customers who appreciate the flexibility of choosing their own components, particularly during a time when supply chain issues and hardware availability can fluctuate dramatically. The push towards a more contained ecosystem may serve Synology’s business interests but risks alienating their consumer base, particularly in an increasingly competitive market. This especially holds true for those who favor building customized storage solutions tailored to their specific needs. In light of this announcement, many Synology users may reconsider their investment or seek alternatives that allow for greater flexibility and compatibility. As the push for proprietary hardware continues in the tech industry—echoing practices seen in the printer market, for instance—consumers face increasing challenges in balancing reliability and choice. The potential erosion of user autonomy in favor of vendor-locking practices raises ethical considerations in the tech community, making it essential for customers to advocate for their rights to choose how they build their storage solutions.