Synology has launched ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 (APM 2.0) in the UAE, the latest software update for its ActiveProtect data protection appliances. This release introduces expanded platform coverage, cross-platform recovery, and enhanced security, with future updates bringing AI-driven threat mitigation.
The launch comes as organisations across the UAE navigate a complex cyber threat landscape. In May 2026, the UAE Cyber Security Council reported that more than 800,000 cyberattacks were being recorded daily in recent months, highlighting the growing importance of resilient data protection, secure backups, and rapid recovery capabilities as organisations operate across modern IT ecosystems.
“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 centralised, scalable solution.”
Expanded platform coverage
APM 2.0 extends protection to Amazon EC2, Azure VM, Proxmox VE, Nutanix AHV, and Google Workspace. Its cross-platform recovery capabilities allow workloads to be backed up and restored across different environments, supporting both disaster recovery and seamless workload migration. This expanded flexibility is particularly relevant as UAE organisations continue to adopt cloud and hybrid infrastructure while placing greater emphasis on data security, sovereignty, and operational resilience.
Backup destination options have also been expanded. 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. Backups stored in Amazon S3 or Azure Blob Storage can be restored directly to Amazon EC2 or Azure VM as part of a cloud disaster recovery strategy, without routing them through on-premises hardware, significantly reducing recovery times.
Mike Chen, Senior Regional Sales Manager for the Middle East at Synology, said: “The UAE’s digital economy is advancing rapidly, leaving businesses with little room for uncertainty when a cyber incident interrupts operations. In those moments, organisations need to regain control with confidence, respond quickly to changing circumstances and ensure critical services remain operational. APM 2.0 is built around these needs, providing a stronger foundation for business continuity as organisations expand and their technology environments become more complex.”
AI-driven proactive resiliency
ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 adds software-based storage encryption at the volume level to secure data at rest. Backup data and system configurations remain inaccessible in the event of drive theft or hardware loss.
The upcoming APM 2.1 update will introduce AI/ML-based anomaly detection, monitoring each backup version for shifts in change rate, file modifications, mass deletions, and entropy. Suspicious backup copies will be moved to quarantine for administrators to investigate, limiting the risk of backup contamination. The model will also learn from these outcomes to improve detection accuracy and reduce false positives.
APM 2.1 will also scan backups for malware before restoration, using integrated third-party antivirus software such as Microsoft Defender, Bitdefender, and ESET. If malware is detected in the most recent backup, Auto Fallback will instead restore the latest clean version.
ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 is available for all DP-Series appliances in the Middle East at no additional cost.
Discussion about this post