University of Cambridge Streamlines Research Efficiency with Scalable Local Storage

The institute faced challenges due to limited storage capacity and slow data transfer speeds on each microscopy workstation, coupled with microscopy time being used for data transfer which could be used for acquisition. As a result, the high-cost, state-of-the-art imaging systems often sat idle for extended periods while data was being moved or storage was being cleared. This significantly reduced overall microscope availability.

Additionally, reliance on centralised IT infrastructure introduced risks of unavailability, where downtime can make systems inaccessible and disrupt critical research. This operational risk combined with an expanding data library, which has increased by nearly 3 orders of magnitude over a decade, necessitated a more streamlined approach to data management.

To address these challenges, the institute integrated Synology Plus series NAS units as dedicated local storage for each workstation. Each microscope workstation connects to its NAS via a dedicated 10GbE peer-to-peer link, which ensures instant data transfer from the microscopes. A secondary 10GbE port links the NAS to the institute’s network, allowing users to quickly and easily access their data remotely via Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) web portal. This enables the microscopes to capture and transfer data at the same time, effectively eliminating downtime for data transfer.

In addition to local storage, the institute deployed multiple Synology systems, running Active Backup for Business, which enables the backup of both Windows and Linux systems, as well as critical third-party server infrastructure. By centralising these backups on these servers, the institute ensures data protection and operational continuity in case of hardware or system failure.

Data security is a top priority for the institute, as the university is a prime target for unauthorised access attempts due to its profile. Robust measures are required to protect sensitive research data and maintain operational continuity.
The institute selected Synology systems designed with security at their core, supported by Synology's dedicated Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT), with timely patches and long software lifecycles including updates to keep the systems resilient against evolving threats.

• Increased efficiency with greatly reduced downtime for microscopes, allowing for optimal utilisation.
• DSM provides a user-friendly web interface for scientists to download or work with their datasets without requiring connecting storage directly to the microscopy PCs.
• Comprehensive data protection with Synology Active Backup for Business supporting critical infrastructure.
• Increased resiliency, with redundancy built in to the storage with RAID

After finding success in the Gurdon Institute, the solution is currently being trialled in the School of Biological Sciences Microscopy Biosciences Platform, which provides Microscopy support for 12 further departments across the university. This trial expands the user-friendly solution to well over 1,000 scientists across the university.