1. Large Storage Capacity Needs

• Multiple Drive Bays: With five drive bays, the DS1522+ provides ample storage capacity, making it suitable for users with significant data storage needs, such as businesses or media professionals.

• RAID Support: Supports various RAID configurations (RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10), allowing for data redundancy and improved performance.

2. High Performance and Scalability

• Powerful Hardware: Equipped with an AMD Ryzen R1600 dual-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM (expandable up to 32GB), the DS1522+ delivers robust performance for multitasking and handling intensive applications​ (Synology)​ .

• Scalability: Supports expansion units (up to 15 additional drives with two DX517 expansion units), allowing you to scale your storage as your needs grow.

3. Advanced Features for Businesses

• Virtualization Support: Capable of running virtual machines, making it suitable for development, testing, and production environments.

• Comprehensive Software Suite: Includes Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) software, which offers a wide range of applications for file management, backup, collaboration, and security.

4. Data Protection and Security

• Data Backup and Recovery: Provides robust backup solutions, including Hyper Backup, Snapshot Replication, and Active Backup for Business, ensuring your data is safe and can be easily recovered in case of an incident .

• Encryption and Security: Supports AES 256-bit encryption to protect sensitive data and includes advanced security features like two-factor authentication and firewall management.

5. Media and Content Creation

• Multimedia Capabilities: Ideal for media enthusiasts and content creators who need to store, manage, and stream large volumes of multimedia content. The DS1522+ can transcode 4K videos and stream content to various devices.

6. Remote Access and Collaboration

• Personal Cloud: Allows you to create your own personal cloud storage, providing secure remote access to your data from anywhere.

• Collaboration Tools: Integrated applications like Synology Drive, Office, and Chat facilitate collaboration and file sharing among team members.

Conclusion

The Synology 5-bay DiskStation DS1522+ is necessary if you require a high-capacity, high-performance NAS solution with advanced features for data protection, business applications, multimedia management, and scalability. It is particularly suited for small to medium-sized businesses, content creators, and power users who need a robust and versatile storage solution.

However, if your storage needs are modest or you do not require advanced features, a simpler and more cost-effective NAS model might suffice. Assess your specific requirements to determine if the DS1522+ is the right fit for you.