Fondation Jacques Chirac: Centralising, Securing, and Simplifying Data Management with Synology

With the IT estate growing from around thirty computers in 2005 to more than 400 today, the introduction of a fully digitised unified user record, and the widespread adoption of digital tools across all professions, the needs for storage, security, remote access, and access rights management became critical.

Until 2020, each facility operated with small NAS devices and basic backup solutions, which no longer met the Foundation’s requirements. The limitations became clear: fragmented access control, difficulty in monitoring systems, lack of centralisation, and heavy administrative overhead for a small IT team.

“In 2005, all office data was stored on the secretary’s computer. If that machine failed, everything was lost. We were operating in a completely makeshift setup,” explains Christophe Vassal, Information Systems Coordinator at Fondation Jacques Chirac.

As the Foundation migrated to Microsoft 365, management decided to completely rethink the digital architecture to make it secure, modern, high-performing, and manageable by a small internal team.

In 2025, the Foundation embarked on a comprehensive modernisation of its information system and chose to standardise its infrastructure around Synology solutions, deployed across key facilities and at headquarters.

The implemented infrastructure includes:

• 15 Synology DS and RS systems providing fast file access and centralised backups
• Full integration with hybrid Active Directory
• A subscription-free solution with no recurring fees, leveraging Active Backup for Business and Active Backup for Microsoft 365 at no additional cost

This new architecture addresses three key objectives:

• Local storage of sensitive or large datasets (scans, multimedia content) for immediate access, while ensuring full data sovereignty
• Centralised backup of NAS systems and Microsoft 365 at headquarters, with secure retention
• Unified management of access rights and file sharing via Active Directory, essential for a multi-site organisation

As part of its modernisation and data governance strategy, the Foundation now relies on Synology data management systems for local scan storage, management of videos and photos produced in workshops, backup of all Microsoft 365 mailboxes, backup of remote NAS systems, and business continuity in the event of an internet outage.

“Installing a Synology NAS at a site takes only a few minutes: the NAS connects to Active Directory, folders are created, permissions applied, the agent installed—and the system is immediately operational,” explains Mr. Vassal.

The Foundation was particularly impressed by the depth and complementarity of the Synology ecosystem, which provides full control over data while significantly simplifying day-to-day management:

• Active Backup for Business: reliable, automated backups protecting all critical data
• Snapshot Replication: ensuring file immutability and preventing accidental or malicious data loss
• Central Management System (CMS): easy administration of all NAS systems from a single interface for efficient, centralised monitoring

The adoption of Synology products and solutions delivered immediate and measurable benefits for the Foundation.

1. Security tailored to the medico-social sector

• Highly sensitive user data is now protected through a comprehensive set of measures:
• Automated Microsoft 365 backups securing cloud-based documents and communications
• Centralised NAS backups enabling fast and reliable recovery in the event of an incident
• Planned immutability policies to prevent accidental or malicious deletion or modification while ensuring auditability
• Strict access control via Active Directory, precisely managing who can view or modify data

2. Unified and simplified management

• With only two IT staff supporting 40 sites, the Foundation has achieved significant productivity gains:
• Centralised NAS administration from a single console for fast and efficient control
• Fully automated backups, reducing manual intervention and the risk of human error
• Complete infrastructure standardisation, ensuring consistency and reliability across all sites

3. Significant cost reduction

The Foundation was able to replace an expensive third-party backup solution with a more cost-effective and high-performance model. All Synology software tools are included, delivering a comprehensive solution without additional licensing fees. This transition not only generated immediate savings but also simplified long-term budget management.

4. A future-proof, scalable architecture

The infrastructure is designed to grow alongside the Foundation’s needs. New sites can be added gradually, and additional features—such as immutability, intranet services, and shared drives—can be activated without requiring a complete redesign. This flexibility ensures a sustainable and adaptable solution over the long term.

Thanks to Synology, Fondation Jacques Chirac now operates a reliable, consistent, and easy-to-manage storage infrastructure, perfectly suited to multi-site operations and the sensitive data requirements of the medico-social sector. The solution delivers tangible gains in security, efficiency, and operational peace of mind, while remaining cost-effective and scalable.