Synology has launched ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 (APM 2.0), a software update for its ActiveProtect data protection appliances that expands platform coverage, adds cross-platform recovery capabilities and introduces additional security features.
APM 2.0 extends data protection to Amazon EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox VE, Nutanix AHV and Google Workspace. The update also enables workloads to be backed up and restored across different environments, supporting disaster recovery and workload migration.
The update expands backup destination options as well. ActiveProtect Vault now supports a wider range of Synology NAS models, while Azure Blob Storage has been added as a supported destination for copying and tiering.
Backups stored in Amazon S3 Storage and Azure Blob Storage can be restored directly to Amazon EC2 or Azure VM environments. Synology said this cloud-based recovery capability can reduce recovery times by eliminating the need to route workloads through on-premises hardware.
“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, Synology Data Protection Group.
“APM 2.0 builds on that value, enabling organisations to safeguard their entire hybrid infrastructure through one centralised, scalable solution,” Liu added.
AI-based threat detection planned
APM 2.0 also introduces software-based storage encryption at the volume level, designed to protect data at rest and prevent access to backup data and system configurations in cases such as drive theft or hardware loss.
Synology said the upcoming APM 2.1 update will add AI/ML-based anomaly detection to identify unusual changes in backup versions. The system will monitor factors including change rates, file modifications, mass deletions and entropy.
When a backup is identified as potentially suspicious, it will be moved to quarantine for administrator investigation. Synology said the model will learn from these outcomes to improve detection accuracy and reduce false positives.
APM 2.1 is also expected to introduce malware scanning before restoration, using integrated third-party antivirus software including Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender and ESET.
If malware is detected in the most recent backup, the planned Auto Fallback feature will restore the latest clean version instead.
Synology said ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 is available for all DP-Series appliances at no additional cost.