Singapore – Synology has launched ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 (APM 2.0), a software update for its ActiveProtect data protection appliances that expands platform coverage and introduces enhanced security features.
According to the company, the update also lays the groundwork for future AI-driven threat mitigation capabilities.
The new version extends protection to Amazon EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox VE, Nutanix AHV, and Google Workspace.
In addition, APM 2.0 introduces cross-platform recovery, allowing workloads to be backed up and restored across different environments. Synology says this supports both disaster recovery scenarios and seamless workload migration between platforms.
Backup destination options have also expanded under the update. ActiveProtect Vault now supports a wider range of Synology NAS models, while Azure Blob Storage has been added to the list of supported copy and tiering targets.
Furthermore, backups stored in Amazon S3 Storage or Azure Blob Storage can now be restored directly into Amazon EC2 or Azure VM.
Synology notes that this cloud disaster recovery approach bypasses on-premises hardware, which the company says significantly reduces recovery times.
On the security front, APM 2.0 adds software-based storage encryption at the volume level to protect data at rest.
As a result, backup data and system configurations remain inaccessible in the event of drive theft or hardware loss, according to the company.
“Managing fragmented backup infrastructure drives up costs and slows recovery. The ActiveProtect appliance unites purpose-built storage with powerful data management software into a single, predictable investment”, said Jia-Yu Liu, Executive Vice President of the Synology Data Protection Group.
“APM 2.0 builds on that value, enabling organisations to safeguard their entire hybrid infrastructure through one centralized, scalable solution,” Liu added.
Looking ahead, Synology has outlined plans for an upcoming APM 2.1 update that will introduce AI/ML-based anomaly detection.
This feature will track each backup version for shifts in change rate, file modifications, mass deletions, and entropy, the company said.
Suspicious backup copies will then be moved to quarantine for administrators to investigate, a measure Synology says will limit the risk of backup contamination.
The company adds that the underlying model will learn from those outcomes over time, with the aim of improving accuracy and reducing false positives.
APM 2.1 will also scan backups for malware prior to restoration, drawing on integrated third-party antivirus software such as Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender, and ESET.
Should malware be detected in the most recent backup, an Auto Fallback function will restore the latest clean version instead, according to Synology.
