Acronis Data Cloud 7.8 Makes Cyber Protection More Secure

Acronis International GmbH announced an update to its Data Cloud platform.

The Data Cloud 7.8 update introduces cloud-to-cloud Microsoft Office 365 protection, DR orchestration, enhanced ransomware protection, and a blockchain-powered data notarization and e-signature solution for service providers.

Among service providers, the company’s Data Cloud is already known for supporting native integration with popular hosting automation platforms, Professional Services Automation (PSA) systems, and Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools and offers service monitoring and reporting. The platform enables service providers to easily take the new services to the market through their existing client management infrastructure.

With today’s update, the firm also incorporates the previously announced integration with Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure Cloud Services, which follows the company’s strategy to protect all data, applications, and systems, while giving users complete control and flexibility over their protected data.

Through this native integration, service providers will be able to send backups to Google Cloud Storage and Microsoft Azure Storage without requiring complicated configurations or agreement processing.

MSPs will be able to leverage Google and Azure data centers with a click under their existing Acronis contract.

The integration will improve the ability of partners and customers to choose the storage and provider they prefer, while simplifying contract maintenance for smaller MSPs.

“Everybody needs cyber protection and we make it easy to sell and to use. We listened to our partners’ feedback and introduced new features that make it easier for them to meet the needs of their customers,” said John Zanni, president, Acronis.

Improvements and features
Data Cloud has become easier to use, more secure and more effective for all partners and customers. The latest update brings significant reliability and performance improvements and the following features:

• Microsoft Office 365 protection. Cloud-to-cloud backup for Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, and SharePoint Online. Backups are performed directly between Microsoft and one of Acronis’ secure cloud data centers. Service providers are able to select the specific country and location of the data center. With Acronis Backup Cloud, users can also search their backup to find and recover individual files or messages.

• DR orchestration. This release simplifies and automates complex DR plans with runbooks. The runbooks feature simplifies and speeds up the failover of multiple machines to a cloud recovery site. It ensures systems are recovered in the correct order to preserve the interdependencies of applications on different machines.

• Active Protection’s enhanced ransomware detection. The firm’s Active Protection monitors for malicious activity, stops questionable behaviour, and automatically recovers damaged files. This release introduces improved machine-learning technology to better recognize known and unknown threats and reduce false positives. The new version also protects network shares and removable devices.

• Notary Cloud. This service is introduced in this release, adding to the existing Backup Cloud, DR Cloud, and Files Cloud. It is a blockchain-based service for file notarization, e-signing and data verification. The service creates a digital fingerprint for files and stores it in a public blockchain ledger, enabling independent validation of a file’s authenticity and existence at a specified point in time.

• Physical data shipping. Users can perform the initial backup seeding faster by saving the first backup to a local HDD on the customer’s premises and then shipping it to an Acronis data center. The data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access during the transfer.

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SAPAS – Five vectors of cyber protection
With every enhancement, the company looks to address the five vectors of cyber protection – safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) – which ensures the firm’s Backup Cloud is an easy, efficient, and secure solution suitable for service providers and customers.

Today’s update is no exception. Customer data is safer and more accessible with the the company’s DR Cloud features, cloud-to-cloud protection of Microsoft Office 365 workloads, and integration of the Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure storage options. The addition of Notary Cloud ensures users can verify the authenticity of their data. Plus the enhanced functionality of the firm’s Active Protection increases the security of their data, apps and systems.

For service providers and users, they also benefit from the ease of use, since all of these capabilities are directed through an intuitive management console, with comprehensive reporting.

Marketing support for service providers
This update is accompanied by a range of sales and marketing materials to help service providers earn more by selling more managed data protection services to their new and existing clients. The company invites partners to contact their sales representatives to request the latest datasheets, battlecards, and email templates to assist them with the launch.

Ressources:
A Single Solution for Offering Multiple Modern Data Protection Services to Your Customers
What’s New in Acronis Data Cloud 7.8 
Video:Introducing Acronis Data Cloud   
Blog: Acronis Data Cloud 7.8 Enhances Cyber Protection with 80+ New Features and Improvements