The update adds broader platform support, cross-platform restoration, new cloud backup targets, and stronger data-at-rest protection, with AI-driven security features coming in APM 2.1.
Synology has launched ActiveProtect Manager 2.0, the latest software update for its ActiveProtect DP-Series data protection appliances, expanding support across cloud, virtualization, and productivity platforms.
The update adds protection for Amazon EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox VE, Nutanix AHV, and Google Workspace, and introduces cross-platform recovery that lets organizations back up and restore workloads across different environments. This gives organizations more flexibility for disaster recovery and workload migration across hybrid infrastructure.
Broader backup and recovery options
ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 also expands the range of supported backup destinations.
ActiveProtect Vault now works with a wider selection of Synology NAS models, while Azure Blob Storage joins the list of supported copy and tiering targets. Backups stored in Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage can also be restored directly into Amazon EC2 or Azure VM without first passing through on-premises hardware.
That direct cloud-to-cloud recovery path can help reduce recovery time when organizations need to restore services quickly after an outage or infrastructure failure.
“Managing fragmented backup infrastructure drives up costs and slows recovery,” said Jia-Yu Liu, executive vice president of the Synology Data Protection Group.
“APM 2.0 builds on that value, enabling organizations to safeguard their entire hybrid infrastructure through one centralized, scalable solution.”
Stronger protection for data at rest
APM 2.0 introduces software-based storage encryption at the volume level, helping protect backup data and system configurations if storage hardware is stolen or lost.
The added encryption layer strengthens protection for data at rest and makes sensitive backup content less accessible outside the managed environment.
AI-driven anomaly detection coming in APM 2.1
Synology is also preparing a significant security update with ActiveProtect Manager 2.1.
The upcoming version will introduce AI/ML-based anomaly detection that monitors each backup version for unusual shifts in change rate, file modifications, mass deletions, and entropy. Backup copies flagged as suspicious can be moved into quarantine for administrator review, helping reduce the risk that compromised data is preserved across multiple backup generations.
The detection model will also learn from administrator decisions over time, with the aim of improving accuracy and reducing false positives.
Malware scanning before recovery
APM 2.1 will also add malware scanning before restoration using integrated third-party antivirus tools including Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender, and ESET.
If malware is detected in the most recent backup, Auto Fallback can restore the latest clean version instead. This adds another safeguard against restoring infected data during recovery, particularly in ransomware or malware-related incidents.
Available at no additional cost
ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 is available now for all Synology DP-Series appliances at no additional cost.
The current release focuses on broader platform support, cloud recovery, and encryption, while the planned 2.1 update will extend the platform further into proactive threat detection and recovery validation.