Acronis Adds DR Protection for Cloud Data

Data backup and recovery specialist Acronis has introduced a new version of its frontline product that adds the automated protection of cloud-stored data alongside that of virtual and physical on-site systems.
Acronis Backup & Recovery 11, announced May 3 for availability in June, is aimed at midrange and smaller businesses and remote offices within larger enterprises. It features its own integrated disk-imaging IT to go with purpose-built data protection and backup features that include catalog and search.
Most enterprises have separate point products to handle disaster recovery and data storage, thus requiring two sets of controls and tools — and, in some systems, even separate administrators. Acronis claims to be the first to release a package that provides file-based backup and system-level recovery in a single package designed for business users, not necessarily IT staff.
Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 automates backup and recovery of unstructured data, including images, documents and virtual machines. For structured data, it supports Microsoft Exchange; SQL Server support will become available later, Acronis Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Americas Izzy Azeri told eWEEK.
When it becomes available later this quarter, Azeri said, the new unified Acronis platform will provide a data-centric view independent of the entire backup archive, enabling users to control their data wherever it is held — whether it be in a physical, virtual or a cloud world.
New features in Acronis Backup & Recovery 11, according to Azeri, will include catalog and search; improved disaster recovery plans (step-by-step plans to make recovery easier); support for tape drives and tape libraries; simplified workflows; the ability to restore and migrate to dissimilar hardware for Linux environments; and simultaneous backups of multiple virtual machines for VMware ESX(i) and Microsoft Hyper-V.
Acronis also offers increased capacity options based on customer demand for storage space, Azeri said.
“Unlike other solutions, Acronis offers a flat pricing structure for the cloud rather than pricing per gigabyte,” Azeri said. Go here for details.
Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 will be available at $1,399 per server from Acronis channel partners worldwide, Azeri said.