Acronis has released Acronis True Image 2020, an updated version of its personal cyber protection solution that allows users to replicate local backups in the cloud automatically. Aimed at home users, “prosumers”, and home-based businesses, the system includes more than 100 enhancements and new capabilities designed to improve performance, control, and security.
“Considering how much we rely on data today, our digital assets have never been more valuable. But that use also means we’re dealing with more data and more devices than ever before. Protecting it all from the ever-growing risk of cyberthreats presents a few challenges – such as increased complexity, security, and cost concerns,” said Acronis founder and CEO Serguei Beloussov in a press statement. “By making comprehensive cyber protection easy, efficient and secure, Acronis can help individuals ensure all of their data is protected.”
True Image 2020 is the latest manifestation of Acronis’s cyber protection vision, which combines traditional data protection and cybersecurity in a bid to address what the company calls the five vectors of cyber protection: safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security of data.
Existing True Image cyber protection features include full image backups, the ability to clone a Windows or Mac system disk, and blockchain-based data authenticity, certification, and verification functionality. An integrated anti-malware technology powered by artificial intelligence called Acronis Active Protection, which debuted in 2017, stops ransomware and cryptojacking attacks in real time based on behaviors that indicate attacks, rather than malware signatures, and then automatically restores affected files. According to Acronis, Active Protection blocked more than 400,000 ransomware attacks last year. The True Image 2020 edition of the technology includes enhanced machine learning models designed to make the system even more effective at stopping cyberthreats.
In addition, the newest True Image release introduces a new backup format designed to deliver better overall performance, including faster backup and recovery speeds, and enables users to browse files in their cloud backups faster. A new Tray Notifications Center provides up-to-the-moment updates about the status of backups so users can resolve issues quickly. Users can select which Wi-Fi networks they allow backups to run on as well, to avoid the metered connections and unsecure public networks that can put their data at risk. To prevent backups from draining laptop batteries, the new system lets users prevent backups from running altogether when devices are on battery power or allow backups to run only if remaining battery life is above a customized threshold, such as 40%.
“Year-over-year, the demand for cyber protection solutions from Tech Data partners is growing exponentially and Acronis is the fastest growing brand in the segment with over 1 petabyte of data that is now CyberFit thanks to their solutions,” said Daniel Isidro, commercial product manager for electronic software delivery at Tech Data, in prepared remarks. “With Acronis True Image 2020, we can deliver easy, effective, and secure cyber protection to our Prosumer customers, giving them peace of mind whether their data is stored locally or in the cloud. We see steady growth with our ESD platform Digital On-Demand with more than 50% growth year-over-year.”
Three versions of Acronis True Image are available:
- The Standard edition is a perpetual license designed for customers who store their data on local drives only. It includes local backup of an unlimited number of mobile devices, but not cloud storage or cloud-based features. Pricing starts at $49.99 for one computer.
- The Advanced edition is a one-year subscription that includes 250 GB of Acronis Cloud Storage and access to all cloud-based features, including both local and cloud backups of an unlimited number of mobile devices. Pricing starts at $49.99 per year for one computer.
- The Premium edition is a one-year subscription that includes blockchain-based data certification and electronic signature capabilities, as well as 1 TB of Acronis Cloud Storage. Starts at $99.99 per year for one computer.
All versions include Acronis Active Protection and cover an unlimited number of mobile devices. Subscription customers can purchase additional cloud storage as needed.
“Most home users understand the value and need to backup their digital information to prevent data loss. But many are unaware of the growing breadth and complexity of malicious attacks like ransomware. Acronis has developed a comprehensive approach to cyber protection, which marries both backup and cyber security features in a single, cloud-integrated platform for personal use,” said Andrew Smith, research manager for the infrastructure systems, platforms, and technologies group at IDC, in a media statement. “The updates to True Image will help users ensure their backups are automated and secure, while also enhancing the user’s ability to detect and prevent monder cyber threats.”
Acronis plans to launch Total Protect, an all-new, all-in-one “cyber-protection” platform for commercial users featuring anti-malware and anti-ransomware capabilities backed by artificial intelligence in October.
