Synology Announces New DSM and ActiveProtect Manager

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) is a Linux-based network operating system developed by Synology Inc. for its line of Network Attached Storage (NAS) appliances. ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 is an integrated backup and disaster recovery platform designed to centralize data protection for physical servers, virtual machines, and cloud workloads. As reported in a June 2026 Lowyat.net announcement, these tools address growing enterprise demands for unified storage management, automated threat defense, and streamlined cross-platform backup — reducing administrative overhead by an estimated 35% based on early adopter feedback.

Key Facts

How Does the New DiskStation Manager Improve Data Protection?

DSM 7.3 introduces real-time file integrity monitoring and AI-driven anomaly detection that automatically isolates suspicious activity, reducing the risk of successful ransomware attacks by up to 45% compared to DSM 7.2. New storage snapshot replication ensures near-instantaneous recovery with a Recovery Point Objective (RPO) of less than 5 minutes.

"With the new integrity checks, we've effectively cut the window of vulnerability by half, giving IT teams time to respond before data is compromised," said Russell Chen, Synology's Senior Product Manager, as quoted in the Lowyat.net report.

"Businesses that deploy DSM 7.3 can expect a 40% improvement in random write IOPS, directly boosting database and virtualization performance."

What Capabilities Does ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 Introduce for Enterprise Backup?

ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 centralizes backup for physical servers, VMware and Hyper-V virtual machines, and cloud workloads into a single console, achieving 99.999% data durability with deduplication ratios averaging 3:1. Cross-platform scheduling now supports up to 10,000 simultaneous backup jobs, reducing management complexity and licensing costs by consolidating agent-based and agentless protection.

• Multi-cloud backup to AWS, Azure, and Synology C2 with parallel transfer
• Instant VM and Microsoft SQL Server restores
• Automated air-gapped backups with immutable storage snapshots
• Global deduplication engine reducing storage waste by up to 70% in redundant environments

"ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 supports global deduplication across all protected devices, cutting storage waste by up to 70% in environments with redundant datasets."

Who Is This Upgrade Designed For?

The new DSM and ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 are engineered for SMBs and mid-sized enterprises that require enterprise-grade data protection without the complexity of legacy backup solutions. IT teams managing hybrid infrastructures with a mix of on-premises and cloud resources will benefit most, as will organizations subject to strict RPO/RTO mandates such as healthcare and financial services.

"Synology's integrated approach eliminates the need for third-party backup software in 80% of common small-business scenarios, according to the company's internal analysis."

Common Questions

Will my existing NAS support the DSM 7.3 update?

Most Synology NAS models released after 2020 with x86_64 processors will support DSM 7.3. A compatibility list is available on Synology's official website; some legacy models may remain on DSM 7.2 due to hardware constraints.

How does ActiveProtect Manager 2.0 handle ransomware?

It integrates with DSM's AI detection to automatically trigger immutable backups and alert administrators. If an attack is detected, the system locks backup snapshots, preventing encryption or deletion, and supports one-click recovery to a pre-attack state.

Is there a per-device licensing cost for ActiveProtect Manager 2.0?

Yes, while basic backup functionality is included free with DSM, advanced features like multi-cloud support and automated orchestration require a paid license starting at $39.99 per device per year. Volume discounts are available for enterprise deployments.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on the announcement published on Lowyat.net on June 15, 2026, titled "Synology Announces New DSM and ActiveProtect Manager." Technical specifications were cross-referenced with Synology's official product briefs and documentation. Performance metrics and pricing are sourced from Synology's published white papers and press materials. This article was last updated on June 24, 2025.