Synology provides HPDRONES with a scalable, collaborative, and centralized solution to accommodate the company's rapid growth and digital needs

The Synology solution has dynamically transformed our team's capabilities, fostering a more collaborative, efficient, and multitasking environment. Collaboration in previously challenging aspects of the production workflow has become significantly easier, thanks to the capacity to share information swiftly and cohesively.

The Challenge

Necessitating a robust IT infrastructure

The commercial department at HPDRONES oversees critical company operations, necessitating a robust IT infrastructure that facilitates seamless collaboration and adheres to a 3-2-1 data backup strategy across various departments, such as sales, logistics, finance, and management. While this requirement extends to multiple divisions, it was particularly pressing for the Services Department. This department comprises a dedicated team of seven professionals engaged in the development of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) projects, a process that involves the transformation of data into actionable insights.

GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, is a comprehensive framework for creating, managing, analyzing, and mapping diverse data types. It marries geographic information (i.e., spatial data) with detailed descriptive data, enabling advanced mapping and analytical capabilities. GIS finds applications in numerous sectors, fostering a profound understanding of spatial patterns, relationships, and contextual insights. The associated advantages include enhanced communication, efficiency, effective management, and informed decision-making.

The nature of Remote Sensing and GIS projects handled by the Services Department demands the handling of substantial image and data files. Collaborative work on these projects necessitates an infrastructure capable of efficiently collecting, storing, managing, and archiving data volumes that frequently reach hundreds or even thousands of gigabytes per project.

A concurrent challenge involved the flow of projects and data sharing among teams. The existing system's limited storage capacity created bottlenecks in the production process, often requiring data to be transferred to different cloud services. This scattered data and made organization a cumbersome task. During times of simultaneous projects, the storage constraints further exacerbated the problem, causing production slowdowns or even halts. This inefficient workflow jeopardized project timelines. Furthermore, since data had to be shared among team members and was often handled physically, data transfers were cumbersome and complicated, often involving duplication to minimize the risk of data loss.

Recognizing the necessity of addressing these challenges, HPDRONES identified Synology NAS as an indispensable component of its solution. The NAS system plays a pivotal role in managing and processing the large images and data integral to the development of projects. These outputs empower clients with invaluable information for their decision-making processes.

To surmount these challenges effectively, HPDRONES required a swift and adaptable local data storage solution, enabling seamless collaboration, data storage, and temporary archiving. This solution had to be scalable and compatible with cloud integration, providing the agility required for their dynamic workflows.

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The Solution

Network Attached Storage

After thorough market research, HPDRONES arrived at the resolute decision that a Network Attached Storage (NAS) solution would optimally cater to their needs. In their quest for the perfect fit, they encountered Synology, a solution that offered the trifecta of easy implementation, intuitive operation, and comprehensive capabilities encompassing storage, collaboration, and potential future expansion.

The choice of Synology as the ideal solution was grounded in the company's robust presence in the NAS market. ‘The presence of Synology in the NAS market, both through their extensive knowledge base and several case studies, forums and in social media comments like YouTube, made trust in Synology as the best solution available'.

The HPDRONES team designated the Synology DS1522+ equipped with 16 terabytes of storage as the NAS solution of choice. This selection was underpinned by the DS1522+'s capacity to handle their high data transfer speed requirements while affording the flexibility for future expansion. Importantly, it guaranteed the perpetual security of data through the implementation of Synology Hybrid RAID and Synology's OS and backup solutions. The latter aspect facilitated seamless integration with their existing cloud storage solution for cold storage requirements.

In the words of Leonardo Fernandezs, GIS Specialist at HPDRONES, "Synology's fast, secure, and reliable hardware allows us to work without ever encountering storage-related interruptions. Their highly customizable and dynamic OS and software solutions make collaboration and data management as effortless as possible."

To elucidate the infrastructure's composition:

On the hardware front, a single Synology DS1522+ is utilized, enhanced by three Synology HAT5310-8T drives, configured in a Synology Hybrid RAID setup. This configuration results in a substantial 16 terabytes of accessible storage. HPDRONES commended the choice of the DS1522+ and its 16TB capacity in SHR configuration, aligning perfectly with their current needs while maintaining the scalability to accommodate additional HAT Drive series from Synology and even an expansion unit, such as a DX517, in the near future.
The NAS is seamlessly linked to the Ethernet router and a 10-gigabit Ethernet switch, creating a robust network that connects the NAS to the three workstations situated in the processing department. Other computers, whether within the office and connected via WiFi or outside the office premises, maintain connectivity to the NAS through QuickConnect.
On the software side, HPDRONES leverages a suite of Synology applications to streamline their operations. These include Cloud Sync, Synology Drive, which efficiently organizes their work into accessible files for the entire team and clients, and Hyper Backup, which systematically generates regular backups of the NAS.

For the Services Department's specific use case, the NAS serves as hot storage and a repository for short-term archives. Long-term archives and backup procedures are efficiently managed via a dedicated folder, which is programmed to automatically back up data to a cloud storage service through Cloud Sync. Rather than following a rigid schedule, these backups are initiated upon the completion of specific tasks, reflecting a meticulous approach to data preservation.

Lastly, when working on projects remotely, HPDRONES capitalizes on Quick Connect services and Synology Drive, granting them the capability to manage the NAS and access data seamlessly through their smartphones and share data with clients safely.

After the set up and over a year running Synology in their infrastructure, Leonardo Fernandes agreed "Our primary challenge before adopting Synology NAS was the management of the exponentially growing volume of geospatial data generated by our data processing projects. With each successive project, we grappled with data organization, accessibility, and, above all, data security. As a company deeply immersed in the Remote Sensing and GIS field, data integrity is paramount to us. In retrospect, embracing Synology NAS was a transformative decision for our business. It not only addressed our immediate challenges but also future-proofed our data storage and management requirements. Our capacity to deliver exceptional services to clients has markedly improved, and we've secured a competitive edge in our industry. Looking ahead, we're enthusiastic about the potential Synology NAS brings to our business. We have full confidence in its ongoing pivotal role in our pursuit of excellence in the Remote Sensing and GIS data processing sector."

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Advantages

Centralized data repository

The DS1522+ serves as the heart of our data operations today. It acts as a centralized data repository where all geospatial data is stored and the department accesses the data directly from the NAS, utilizing powerful software tools to conduct spatial analysis, image processing, and data modeling. The high-speed data access provided by the NAS ensures that these processes are completed efficiently and accurately.

The new Synology solution has enabled the team to be more dynamic and collaborative, to multitask being more efficient in general. Before it was hard to collaborate in some specific tasks of the production workflow - The capacity to share information in a connected and fast manner made collaboration in these tasks easier.

Synology provides to HPDRONES with a scalable, collaborative, and centralized solutions to accommodate the company's rapid growth and digital needs:

‘The Synology NAS has become a linchpin in our business operations, revolutionizing how we manage, process, and safeguard geospatial data. Its centralized storage, collaboration capabilities, scalability, and data security features have greatly enhanced our efficiency, productivity, and data integrity. This transformation enables us to provide exceptional services to our clients and maintain our competitive edge in the industry. Now this DS1522+ serves as the epicenter of our data operations, housing all geospatial data and enabling department-wide access via robust software tools for spatial analysis, image processing, and data modeling. Swift data access ensures the efficiency and precision of these processes.'

Thanks to Synology Drive and Cloud Sync, each collaborator of the team can access to their projects from anywhere and collaborate with the documents at the same time avoiding data duplication:

‘Synology Drive plays a pivotal role, facilitating data synchronization and seamless collaboration among our teams. This secure and efficient platform empowers us to access, share, and collaborate on critical files and documents, whether we're working in the office or remotely. Its robust security features enable secure file sharing with clients, partners, and stakeholders, safeguarding sensitive data through features like secure links with expiration dates and password protection. Synology Cloud Sync is a vital component of our data management strategy, allowing seamless data synchronization between our on-premises Synology NAS and cloud storage providers, granting us the best of both local and cloud storage resources.'

The implementation of this DS1522+ with compatible disks HAT5300 that allows the highest optimization data performance with a NAS Synology allowed to maximize the use of the data storage and allowed the IT team to achieve more efficient results:

‘The implementation of Synology NAS has enabled a remarkable reduction in our physical storage requirements, slashing them by approximately 50%. Previously, files required for collaborative projects were duplicated due to the necessity of simultaneous storage on two workstations. The NAS now serves as a centralized hub for these files, facilitating seamless data backup and archiving. This pivotal shift ensures increased storage availability on workstations and redirects valuable work hours towards more critical tasks.'

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Lucas Escamez, IT Manager HPDRONES concluded summing up the key advantages of using Synology in this project:

‘We hold Synology's products and software in high regard, warranting a commendable rating of 9 out of 10. Three prominent advantages have significantly benefited our operations. Firstly, the unwavering reliability of Synology's hardware and software ensures the security and availability of our data. Secondly, the user-friendly interfaces, particularly the OS of DiskStation Manager (DSM), have streamlined configuration and management, reducing the learning curve for our team. Lastly, Synology's versatility, spanning data storage, backup, collaboration, and remote access, aligns seamlessly with our diverse needs. Overall, we are highly pleased with Synology's products and anticipate continued collaboration.'

For the continuous implementation in the actual infrastructure the IT Manager foresees developing several solutions of Synology in the early future that are optimal for their work:

We're poised to leverage an array of business-oriented applications such as Active Backup for Business, Active Backup for Google Workspace, as well as a selection of third-party and self-developed Docker packages. Furthermore, we are harnessing the built-in features within Synology NAS to streamline the health and security management of our systems.

The Customer

HPDRONES, a specialized UAV company, stands as a prominent player in the retail and service sectors of the Iberian drone market. The company not only offers a wide range of drones for sale but also provides specialized services, including professional training. Moreover, HPDRONES presents comprehensive solutions, encompassing both hardware and software tailored to meet the unique requirements of clients.

At the heart of HPDRONES' approach is the innovative "360º Concept, a personalized and exclusive framework for delivering continuous support to businesses empowered by drone solutions. This concept encompasses expert guidance in selecting the right drone, comprehensive training in its operation, proactive and reactive maintenance services, and a seamless pathway to upgrading to the latest models. With the 360º Concept, our customers are assured of continuous support, their drones are maintained in peak condition, and they have easy access to cutting-edge models.

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