User manual

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How to use the data encryption feature on QNAP Turbo NAS
The disk volumes on the NAS can be encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption for data
breach protection. The encrypted disk volumes can only be mounted for normal read/
write access with the authorized password. The encryption feature protects the
confidential data from unauthorized access even if the hard drives or the entire NAS
were stolen.
About AES encryption:
In cryptography, the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is an encryption standard
adopted by the U.S. government. The standard comprises three block ciphers, AES-128,
AES-192 and AES-256 […]. Each AES cipher has a 128-bit block size, with key sizes of
128, 192 and 256 bits, respectively. The AES ciphers have been analyzed extensively
and are now used worldwide. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Advanced_Encryption_Standard)
The AES volume-based encryption is applicable only to specific QNAP NAS models.
Please refer to the comparison table at: http://www.qnap.com/images/products/
comparison/Comparison_NAS.html
Before you start
Please beware of the following before using the data encryption feature of the NAS.
The encryption feature of the NAS is volume-based. A volume can be a single disk, a
JBOD configuration, or a RAID array.
Select whether or not to encrypt a disk volume before it is created on the NAS. In
other words, you will not be able to encrypt a volume after it has been created
unless the disk volume is initialized. Note that initializing a disk volume will clear all
the disk data.
The encryption on the disk volume cannot be removed without initialization. To
remove the encryption on the disk volume, you have to initialize the disk volume and
all the data will be cleared.
Keep the encryption password or key safe. If you forgot the password or lost the
encryption key, the data cannot be accessed anymore.
Before you start, read the instructions carefully and strictly adhere to the
instructions.
Create a new encrypted disk volum e with new hard drives
If the NAS has been installed, to create a new encrypted disk volume by installing new
hard drives on the NAS, follow the steps below: