Acronis unveils archival storage to aid data compliance
Acronis has launched Acronis Archival Storage, a long-term data storage service for managed service providers and small and medium-sized businesses that need to retain data for extended periods.
The company has positioned the product at IT teams and service providers working with regulated customers. Acronis said these organisations face pressure to keep data for years and still retrieve it quickly when required for audits, investigations or recovery work.
Acronis built the service into Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. It offers encrypted and immutable storage. Acronis said the system provides millisecond access to stored data.
Product details
Acronis said Acronis Archival Storage uses an S3-compatible object storage interface. The company said it integrates with its billing and management system.
Acronis said the service provides “11×9 durability” and “99.5% availability”. The company also said it offers predictable pricing and does not apply egress or API fees.
The product includes immutability controls based on write once, read many principles. Acronis described this as WORM. The company said it also uses encryption.
Acronis said the service includes preconfigured plans and integrated controls. It also said it supports the S3 API.
Compliance focus
Acronis framed the launch around long retention periods and compliance requirements. It contrasted the approach with tape storage and with public cloud storage charges.
The company said tape systems can be slow and difficult to search. It also said that public cloud services can generate variable costs through egress and API charges.
“For many customers, regulations and industry best practices require data to be retained for years,” said Gaidar Magdanurov, President, Acronis. “With Acronis Archival Storage, MSPs can now provide their clients with long-term storage built for compliance readiness, cost predictability and ease of use. Native integration with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud makes using archival storage effortless.”
Partner involvement
Acronis cited Seagate as a partner in the offering. It referenced Seagate Lyve Cloud in relation to data protection and access.
“Data's true value is realized when organizations can securely preserve, access, and harness it for innovation and insight,” said Melyssa Banda, SVP, Edge Enterprise Storage and Services, Seagate. “Our partnership with Acronis ensures archival data is protected and accessible for compliance, AI and more, with economic predictability and peace of mind-secured by Seagate Lyve Cloud.”
Acronis also linked the service to its broader cyber protection portfolio. It said service providers can pair archival storage with warm backup storage and add a cold storage tier as part of a wider data management approach.
Infrastructure footprint
Acronis said it delivers the service through its global infrastructure. The company said it operates seven data centres and described them as “strategically located”. It said this footprint improves connectivity and coverage for compliance requirements.
The company has described its customer base as including MSPs, SMBs and enterprise IT departments. It has also stated that Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 150 countries and used by more than 21,000 service providers.
“Our partnership with Acronis ensures archival data is protected and accessible for compliance, AI and more, with economic predictability and peace of mind-secured by Seagate Lyve Cloud,” said Banda.