# ZEBR.ai > ZEBR.ai (ZEBRA SYSTEMS) is a value-added distributor of IT security, data protection and AI, connecting the world’s leading vendors with IT partners and companies in Czechia, Slovakia and South-East Europe. For more than 30 years we have been connecting the world’s leading security technology vendors with partners and companies in Czechia, Slovakia and South-East Europe. We do not sell licences, we deliver solutions that work. This document is the full text of the site: solutions, vendors, services, every knowledge base term, events and the most recent articles (20). The complete list of articles: [All articles](https://zebr.ai/en/llms-blog.txt). ## Solutions ### AI Enablement Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/ai-enablement AI assistants, AI automation, digital twins and copilot scenarios. From the AI Adoption Program and AI4MSP to custom ZEBR.AI solutions, we implement artificial intelligence securely and with measurable benefits. Artificial intelligence is no longer an experiment or a toy for IT departments. When implemented correctly, AI can automate routine work, speed up communication, make company know-how accessible and provide employees with digital assistants that work 24/7. However, the key is not simply to “have AI”. What matters is identifying specific processes where it delivers a measurable effect and implementing it securely, so the company remains in control of its data, knowledge and results. ZEBR.AI · MyPersonas · Eloquens AI · Adminio AI · Impossible Cloud AI · Virtuozzo AI ZEBRA SYSTEMS helps companies and MSPs throughout the entire journey, from initial use cases to real-world deployment. Solutions may include AI assistants and copilots, automation of business communication, work with an internal knowledge base, digital twins of key employees and the infrastructure required to run modern AI workloads. However, AI also requires suitable infrastructure and secure data. Our goal is not to deliver another isolated AI tool to the customer. We look for a specific process that can be accelerated, automated or fundamentally transformed – and connect technology with real economic benefits. ### MSP Management & Automation Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/msp-management-automation RMM, UEM, monitoring, remote support, and IT operations automation. Everything a managed service provider needs to effectively manage clients, including PSA and help desk as subtopics. A successful managed service provider cannot grow by adding another administrator with each new customer. The foundation of a scalable MSP business is centralized management, standardization, and automation. The more routine tasks technology can handle without manual intervention, the more time technicians have for higher-value work, and the better the quality and margin of the services provided can be managed. N-able N-sight & N-central · Halo · GFI Helpdesk · Acronis RMM · GFI AppManager ZEBRA SYSTEMS offers a complete technology stack for MSPs – from RMM and endpoint management through remote support, monitoring, patch management, and automation to PSA, help desk, and customer request management. The result is fewer standalone consoles, less manual work, and more services that can be delivered repeatedly, in a standardized way, and with a healthy margin. ### Endpoint & Threat Protection Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/endpoint-threat-protection Endpoint protection with EDR/XDR/MDR detection, antimalware, anti-ransomware, and zero-day protection. We stop an attack before it becomes an incident. Laptops, workstations, and servers are among the most common entry points for cyberattacks. That is why a traditional antivirus based primarily on a database of known threats is no longer enough. Modern endpoint protection must monitor process behavior, recognize unknown and fileless attacks, block ransomware, and enable rapid isolation of an infected device, incident investigation, and remediation of its consequences. Acronis Cyber Protect · Adlumin · AST ZEBRA SYSTEMS offers multi-layered protection ranging from prevention to EDR, XDR, and fully managed MDR services. There is no single technology that is ideal for every organization. We therefore help you select the right level of protection based on the size of your environment, the availability of an in-house security team, regulatory requirements, and the desired degree of automation. - **IT administrators: Fewer consoles, fewer false positives** — We consolidate endpoint, network, and email protection into clear tools with centralized management. We provide documentation in Czech, help with deployment, and are available by phone in the event of an incident, even on weekends. - **CEO & CFO: A risk that can be quantified and managed** — An hour of downtime for a manufacturing company costs hundreds of thousands of Czech crowns; NIS2 fines can reach up to EUR 10 million. We will prepare materials that transform security from a cost item into a managed risk with a clear return on investment. - **Partners: Security as a business opportunity** — Demand for cybersecurity is growing at double-digit rates. We will provide you with exclusive technologies, pre-sales support for every opportunity, and a demo environment that will help you convince the customer. #### Frequently asked questions **Our company is small. Does NIS2 apply to us at all?** The NIS2 Directive also affects medium-sized companies in regulated sectors and suppliers of larger entities. Even if it does not apply to you directly, your customers may contractually require compliance from you. We will be happy to help you assess your situation during a brief consultation. **We have antivirus software. Why is that not enough?** Traditional antivirus compares files against known threats. Modern protection monitors behavior, detects attacks that do not use any malicious files, and can automatically isolate an infected device before the attacker spreads further. **How long does deployment take, and what does it involve for our IT team?** We can typically deploy endpoint protection within two weeks, including a pilot operation. We handle most of the work; your IT team takes part in the initial workshop and takes over a fine-tuned environment with training. **Do you provide support after deployment as well?** Yes, technical support is at the core of what we do. Partners have access to certified engineers in Czech and Slovak, with 24/7 support for critical incidents. **Can we try the technology first?** Of course. We can prepare trial licenses and a demo environment within 48 hours; for more complex deployments, we offer pilot operation on part of the infrastructure. ### Detection, Response & Log Management Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/detection-response-log-management Log management, MDR, threat detection, incident response and ITDR. Security event analysis enhanced with AI log analytics, so you know about an attack before the attacker knows about you. Security tools generate enormous volumes of logs, events and alerts. Simply collecting them, however, does not protect an organization. The real value lies in the ability to connect information from endpoints, identities, servers, cloud services and network infrastructure, recognize the relationships between them, and quickly determine what constitutes a real attack and what is merely operational noise. AST · Adlumin · Acronis MDR · ZEBR.AI AI log analytics ZEBRA SYSTEMS offers technologies for SIEM, XDR, ITDR, log management, threat detection and Managed Detection and Response. The goal is not to create another dashboard. The goal is to reduce the time between the first signal of an attack, its correct assessment and a specific response – and to give internal IT teams or MSPs clear answers to the questions: What is happening right now? How serious is it? And what do we need to do? ### Backup, Recovery & Business Continuity Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/backup-recovery-business-continuity Backup, disaster recovery and business continuity, including Microsoft 365 and SaaS backup, immutable backups, ransomware recovery and regular recovery testing. When everything fails, you keep going. A backup only has value when you can restore operations from it. A modern data protection strategy therefore does not end with creating a copy of files. It must cover physical and virtual servers, workstations, Microsoft 365, cloud environments and critical applications. At the same time, it must account for ransomware, infrastructure failure, human error and scenarios where the entire environment needs to be restored in the shortest possible time. Acronis · N-able Cove · Impossible Cloud · Virtuozzo ZEBRA SYSTEMS builds business continuity solutions primarily on **Acronis, N-able Cove and Impossible Cloud** technologies. We will help you design not only the backup itself, but the entire recovery process: required RPO and RTO, separation of production and backup data, immutable storage, retention policy, regular recovery tests and disaster recovery. Because when an incident occurs, there is no time left to find out whether your backup really works. ### E-mail & Secure Communication Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/e-mail-secure-communication E-mail security, antispam, mail server and groupware, e-mail archiving, e-mail continuity and fax. Secure corporate communication from delivery to archiving. E-mail remains one of the most important corporate communication tools – and at the same time one of the most common channels for phishing, malware, fraud and credential theft. Organizations need to address not only the protection of incoming and outgoing mail, but also the mail server itself, communication continuity, archiving, compliance and, in some environments, electronic faxing as well. GFI MailEssentials · GFI Archiver · Kerio Connect · FaxMaker · N-able Mail Assure · Perception Point · Acronis The ZEBRA SYSTEMS portfolio covers the entire lifecycle of corporate communication. We do not address e-mail in isolation. We help connect its security, archiving, availability and backup depending on whether the customer operates its own mail server, Microsoft 365, a hybrid infrastructure or provides e-mail services to its clients. ### Vulnerability, Patch & Compliance Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/vulnerability-patch-compliance Patch management, vulnerability scanning, network auditing and hardening. Compliance and GDPR reporting including immutability, Object Lock and WORM storage. Attackers often do not need to discover a revolutionary new way to attack. A known vulnerability, outdated software, a misconfigured device or an account with excessively high privileges is enough. Effective vulnerability management therefore means constantly knowing what is running in the infrastructure, where the weak points are and which of them pose the greatest real risk. GFI LanGuard · N-able · Acronis · Impossible Cloud Object Lock ZEBRA SYSTEMS offers tools for vulnerability assessment, patch management, inventory management, network auditing and continuous attack surface reduction. The result should not be just a long list of CVEs. The goal is a continuous process in which organizations discover vulnerabilities, prioritize them, remediate them, verify the remediation and can demonstrate this process during a security audit or when meeting regulatory requirements. ### Cloud, Virtualization & AI Infrastructure Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/cloud-virtualization-ai-infrastructure IaaS, PaaS, Kubernetes, virtualization, and private, hybrid, and multi-cloud. S3 object storage, a sovereign European cloud, and GPU infrastructure ready for AI workloads. Modern infrastructure no longer has to mean choosing between your own server and a single public cloud. Organizations today combine virtualization, private clouds, containers, Kubernetes, object storage, and specialized infrastructure for demanding application or AI workloads. The key question is how to create an environment that is technically open, economically sustainable, and does not create unnecessary vendor lock-in. Virtuozzo · Impossible Cloud · Cloudflare · Acronis Cloud Storage ZEBRA SYSTEMS delivers cloud and virtualization technologies for service providers, MSPs, and enterprise customers. We can help you design an architecture ranging from a single virtualization cluster through a private cloud to service provider infrastructure or an environment ready for modern data and AI applications. ### Network, Web & Application Security Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/network-web-application-security Firewall, UTM, DNS security, DDoS protection, WAF, API security and CDN. Secure Web Gateway, remote access, and network and application monitoring. Network security has long gone beyond a simple firewall at the edge of the office. Users work from different locations, applications communicate with numerous external services, and an ever-increasing share of traffic takes place outside the organization's traditional perimeter. Effective protection must therefore combine firewall, VPN, network traffic management, secure DNS, monitoring, and device protection regardless of where they connect from. Cloudflare · Kerio Control · GFI Exinda · GFI ClearView · N-able DNS Filtering · AST We build the resulting solution according to the customer's actual environment – from protecting a single office to distributed infrastructure with branches, remote users, and critical applications. ### Human Risk, Awareness & Identity Security Source: https://zebr.ai/en/solutions/human-risk-awareness-identity-security Security awareness, VR training, protection against phishing and social engineering, password management, and identity risks. Because the most common entry point for an attack is a person, not technology. Even the best security technologies can fail if an attacker convinces an employee to open the door for them. Phishing, social engineering, stolen credentials, and the abuse of privileged accounts are therefore among the key risks of modern cybersecurity. Protection must combine identity security technologies with systematic work with people. Company (Un)Hacked · N-able Passportal · Adlumin ITDR · Acronis Security Awareness The goal is to transform people from a potential weak link into an active part of the defense – while also creating technical security layers that limit the consequences if an attacker nevertheless manages to obtain credentials or compromise an identity. ## Vendors ### GFI Software Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/gfi-software Network security, communication, and IT management tools designed for small and medium-sized businesses. We make managing your networks, security, and communications easier. The best IT solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. **GFI Software** is a long-standing manufacturer of software solutions focused on communication, management, and security of IT infrastructure, primarily for small and medium-sized organizations. Its portfolio includes products for email communication, network security, vulnerability and patch management, archiving, email protection, electronic faxing, and network traffic monitoring. GFI solutions are characterized by relatively simple deployment and management, as well as the option to run them within the customer's own infrastructure. Its best-known products include **GFI KerioControl**, a firewall and UTM solution combining firewall, VPN, IPS, content filtering, and internet traffic management, and **GFI KerioConnect**, an email and groupware server serving as an alternative to cloud platforms such as Microsoft 365. The portfolio also includes **GFI LanGuard** for vulnerability assessment and patch management, **GFI Archiver** for electronic communications archiving, **GFI MailEssentials** for email protection, GFI FaxMaker, and Exinda. GFI is also gradually expanding its products with artificial intelligence capabilities. The **GFI AppManager AI** platform enables users to ask questions in natural language about the GFI environment and products and obtain information, for example, about configuration, security status, or operational issues. GFI thus combines proven on-premises solutions with new AI features and cloud services. #### KerioControl for MSP Solutions for MSPs Flexible Firewall as a Service licensing, with payment based on actual usage. Available as a software appliance or hardware appliance. #### KerioConnect for MSP Solutions for MSPs Secure email without upfront costs. 2FA and AD integration are available for each domain. Hosting on your own server, in a data center, or even in the cloud is fully managed by our MSP partners, who provide the service to end users. #### LanGuard for MSP Solutions for MSPs Complete network audit under a “Pay-Per-Scan” model. All GFI LanGuard features, including regulatory compliance reports. #### GFI App Manager Solutions for MSPs Multi-tenant cloud platform for centrally managing all GFI products from a single web interface, fully extensible with non-GFI products through an open API. Includes RADAR – a system for correlating incidents across all appliances within a given network and subsequently creating measures to prevent them. #### Eloquens Solutions for MSPs Eloquens AI is an intelligent tool for automating email communication that uses advanced artificial intelligence to process emails efficiently. It enables companies of all sizes to handle intensive email communication with greater efficiency and lower costs. #### KerioControl Solutions for SMBs KerioControl is a next-generation firewall and unified threat management product designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking a comprehensive solution for their security needs. #### KerioConnect Solutions for SMBs Email, calendars, contacts, tasks, chat, and more #### GFI MailEssentials Solutions for SMBs Anti-spam and email security for mail servers #### GFI Archiver Solutions for SMBs Archive emails, calendars, faxes, and files with protection against unauthorized tampering. #### GFI FaxMaker Solutions for SMBs Send faxes securely from anywhere using a computer, tablet, or smartphone #### GFI LanGuard Solutions for SMBs Patch management, vulnerability scanning, and network auditing #### GFI ClearView Solutions for SMBs Prevent downtime while simplifying network management ### Acronis Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/acronis Cyber protection combining backup, data recovery and endpoint security in a single platform. The global leader in cyber protection, combining backup, data recovery and security in a single platform. We have been working with Acronis since 2003, and as a distributor for the CEE region, we know its technologies down to the last setting. **Acronis** is one of the world's leading providers of data protection and cybersecurity solutions. Its **Cyber Protection** concept brings together the traditionally separate areas of backup, disaster recovery, endpoint security and IT environment management into integrated platforms. From a single environment, organizations can protect physical servers, workstations, virtual infrastructure, cloud environments, Microsoft 365 and other workloads. For enterprise customers, Acronis primarily offers the **Acronis Cyber Protect** platform, which combines advanced backup with endpoint protection, vulnerability management, patch management and EDR capabilities. Managed service providers can use the cloud-based **Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud** platform to deliver backup, disaster recovery, EDR, XDR, MDR, email security, DLP, RMM, PSA and other services from a single multi-tenant environment. Acronis's strength lies in its integration of data protection and cybersecurity. Security technologies based on AI and behavioral analysis can, for example, protect backed-up data from ransomware, while integrated EDR, XDR and MDR services enable security incidents to be detected and resolved. Acronis is therefore suitable both for companies looking for comprehensive protection of their own infrastructure and for MSPs that want to deliver a broad portfolio of security and data services under a single platform. For home users and small offices, Acronis also offers **Acronis True Image** – a comprehensive solution that combines backup, data recovery and cyber protection in a single application. It enables users to back up an entire computer, individual disks, files and folders locally or to the cloud, create a complete system image, or clone a disk, for example when moving to a new computer. It also includes AI-powered malware and ransomware protection, vulnerability assessment and, in the current version, patch management for Windows. Acronis True Image supports Windows, macOS, iOS and Android, providing a simple “all-in-one” solution for users who want to protect their data and devices without having to combine several different products. - **One platform instead of two tools** — Backup and security from a single console mean lower costs, simpler management and no gaps between products from different vendors. - **Active ransomware protection** — It detects an attack based on its behavior, stops it, and automatically restores encrypted files. No ransom payments and no data loss. - **Built for service providers** — Multi-tenant management, flexible consumption-based licensing, and integration with RMM and PSA tools make Acronis the ideal foundation for an MSP business. - **Recovery anywhere** — A physical server, virtual machine, cloud or completely different hardware. Recovery works across environments, including instant launch from backup. #### Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud For MSPs A platform for managed service providers: backup, security and endpoint management for all clients from a single multi-tenant console. #### Acronis Cyber Protect For businesses Protection for enterprise infrastructure, physical servers, virtual machines and workstations, with built-in ransomware protection. #### Acronis Disaster Recovery Continuity Instant launch of critical systems in the cloud when your own infrastructure fails. Operations continue while the cause is being resolved. #### Frequently asked questions **Can Acronis replace both our backup software and antivirus?** Yes, Cyber Protect combines both roles in a single platform. We have documented migrations from common backup and security solutions and will help you with them. **Does Acronis also protect Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace?** Yes, it backs up emails, documents and shared drives on both platforms, including granular recovery of individual items. **Can we try Acronis in our environment?** We will prepare a 30-day trial license for you within 48 hours, including assisted deployment to a pilot group of workstations. **What Acronis certifications do your engineers hold?** We hold the highest partner level, including certifications for deployment, management and disaster recovery. We provide support in Czech and Slovak. ### N-able Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/n-able A platform for remote management and monitoring of IT environments (RMM) for managed service providers. With N-able solutions, you gain comprehensive, secure, and easy-to-use tools for IT management. **N-able** is a global provider of technology primarily intended for managed IT service providers (MSPs) and internal IT teams. Its solutions help remotely monitor, manage, secure, and back up customers’ IT infrastructure. The portfolio is designed to enable MSPs to serve dozens to thousands of end customers from a single technology ecosystem and automate as much of their day-to-day administrative work as possible. The core of the portfolio consists of the **N-central** and **N-sight** platforms, which provide RMM capabilities for device monitoring, remote management, patch management, automation, inventory management, and troubleshooting. Another key product is **Cove Data Protection**, a cloud-first platform for backup and disaster recovery of servers, workstations, and Microsoft 365 data. N-able also offers tools for endpoint security, password management, remote access, DNS protection, PSA and ticketing, and security operations. N-able is particularly suitable for MSPs looking to standardize, automate, and gradually scale their services without a corresponding increase in operating costs. The individual products are integrated with one another—for example, Cove backup status can be monitored directly through an RMM solution. The portfolio also enables partners to combine remote IT management, data protection, and cybersecurity into comprehensive monthly subscription services. #### N‑able N‑sight Take advantage of extensive remote monitoring and management capabilities, secure remote access, and integration with ticketing and billing systems in a solution that provides best-in-class functionality for everything you need to manage IT. #### N-able N‑central The larger your IT business, the more efficient it needs to be. N-able N-central delivers performance, extensive customization and automation options, and everything else you expect from a leading RMM. #### N-able Cove Data Protection N-able Cove Data Protection is a cloud solution designed to make data backup and recovery as simple as possible for you, regardless of the source. #### N-able EDR N-able Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is the best defense for your devices against all types of malware. It uses AI to protect against nearly all types of attacks without requiring updates and also offers deep visibility. #### N-able MDR N-able Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is fully managed cybersecurity. The service provided by N-able includes continuous monitoring, threat hunting, threat containment, and remediation, without the need for your own SOC team. It also helps you easily meet regulations and cyber insurance requirements. #### N-able Passportal A secure and efficient solution for password and documentation management. #### N-able DNS Filtering DNS Filtering provides stronger protection against internet threats, greater network visibility, and detailed reports on activity and requests. #### N-able Mail Assure Mail Assure protects users from email threats such as phishing and malware by leveraging data from our user base of 1.8 million domains. It also includes tools for ensuring business continuity and an encrypted email archive. #### N-able MSP Manager A tool for managing requests, tracking the time spent on them, recording the costs of resolving them, and creating supporting documents for billing. #### N-able Take Control Simple and secure connectivity to remote devices, with the option to connect over a local network, transfer files, access registries, and use many other features. ### Impossible Cloud Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/impossible-cloud European S3-compatible cloud storage with no data download fees, ideal for backup and archiving. High-performance and secure next-generation cloud storage. **Impossible Cloud** is a European cloud platform focused on secure and cost-effective data storage. Its core service is high-performance object storage compatible with the Amazon S3 API, making it easy to use with a wide range of backup, archiving, and other applications without requiring major changes to existing infrastructure. The solution is particularly suitable for backup, long-term archiving, multimedia data storage, data analytics projects, and other scenarios involving large volumes of data. A key advantage of Impossible Cloud is its focus on **European data sovereignty**. Data is stored in certified European data centers, and the platform is designed with the requirements of GDPR and European organizations in mind that want to maintain control over the geographic location of their data. Features such as **Object Lock, immutable storage, IAM, MFA, encryption, and geo-fencing** help protect stored data, including against ransomware and unauthorized interference. MSPs and IT service providers will also appreciate the transparent business model. Impossible Cloud does not charge traditional egress or API operation fees, making costs easier to predict and enabling the creation of competitive backup and cloud storage services. Thanks to S3 compatibility, it can be combined with many popular backup and data management platforms. - **Secure and reliable backup** — 100% file resilience and ransomware protection thanks to immutable data (immutable storage). Easy integration with leading backup software providers ensures optimal RPO and RTO metrics. - **Outage resilience** — Decentralized infrastructure eliminates a single point of failure, ensuring continuous data availability. Security is enhanced by IAM (Identity & Access Management), triple encryption, immutable buckets, and object lock. - **Enterprise-grade compliance** — Data is stored in leading European data centers with SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, NIST 800-53/FI, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 22301 certifications, ensuring the highest data protection standards. - **High performance and broad range of use cases** — Impossible Cloud Storage is ideal for backup, media management, web content, AI, data analytics, and telemetry applications. ### AST Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/ast Patented distributed protection that stops known and unknown attacks, including zero-day attacks, with response times in milliseconds. Distributed cyber protection. A patented solution for preventing unknown and zero-day attacks. **Advanced Security Technologies (AST)** is a specialized provider of advanced cybersecurity solutions focused on detecting and preventing modern and previously unknown attacks. The company uses its own research in the areas of Adaptive AI, Threat Intelligence, deception technologies, and IoT and industrial device security. Its portfolio covers both products intended for enterprise and critical infrastructure environments as well as managed security services. The **NanoFirewall** solution is AI-driven protection focused on IoT and IIoT devices, using adaptive AI, threat intelligence, and deception mechanisms to detect attacks directly at the device and network level. The **CAITIS** system provides centralized adaptive Threat Intelligence tailored to the specific environment of an organization. **ASPEN** is a Next Generation SIEM platform designed for collecting, correlating, and evaluating security events in highly demanding environments, including critical infrastructure. The portfolio is further complemented by solutions such as Preventive DNS. AST also offers **24×7 SOC, corporate and national Threat Intelligence, MSSP services for SMBs**, and security assessments of systems using machine learning. An interesting area of the company's specialization is research into Adaptive and Adversarial AI—meaning not only the use of artificial intelligence to detect threats, but also the protection of AI and ML systems themselves against manipulation and targeted attacks. ### Eloquens AI Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/eloquens-ai An AI assistant for business email communication that saves time and maintains a consistent brand tone. An AI tool that handles business emails automatically or as drafts for your review, in more than 160 languages. **Eloquens AI** is an AI platform designed to automate business email communication. It works as a virtual email employee that can read incoming messages, understand their meaning and context, prepare replies, respond independently, or forward a message to the right person. This enables organizations to automate a large part of routine communication without having to replace their existing email system. Eloquens can learn company knowledge, rules, and the desired communication style. It adapts replies to the nature of the conversation and can maintain a defined tone and style of communication. It supports more than **160 languages**, so the same solution can be used, for example, in customer support, sales, administration, or internal helpdesk processes across countries. At the same time, the AI can determine when automation is no longer sufficient and escalate the conversation to a human specialist. Organizations can choose the level of autonomy, from simply creating reply drafts with human approval to automatically handling defined types of communication. Features include intelligent routing, sentiment analysis, knowledge base integration, audit trails, and analytics. Eloquens is therefore not merely a text generation tool, but an **AI agent for complete email workflows**, designed to reduce response times, lower the amount of manual work, and enable employees to focus on more complex tasks. ### MyPersonas Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/mypersonas AI-powered digital twins of key employees that handle repetitive inquiries 24/7 in more than 160 languages. Your digital twin, speaking 160 languages and responding 24/7. **MyPersonas** is an AI platform that enables the creation of digital twins of real employees and experts within an organization. Unlike a regular chatbot or anonymous AI avatar, MyPersona can represent a specific person – for example, a CEO, product specialist, HR manager, sales representative, or IT expert – including their appearance, voice, knowledge, and communication style. The digital twin can be given access to the company knowledge base, documentation, websites, or intranet. Based on this information, MyPersona can then continuously answer questions from employees, customers, or partners and communicate in more than **160 languages**. Through their digital counterpart, a single expert can serve a large number of users simultaneously while personally focusing on activities with higher added value. An important element is the **human-in-the-loop** principle. If the AI is not sufficiently confident in its answer, it should not make up information, but can escalate the question to a real expert. Once the correct answer is added, the knowledge base continues to develop. MyPersonas primarily addresses the so-called knowledge bottleneck – a situation in which a large amount of company know-how is concentrated in a few key people who are constantly interrupted by recurring questions. At the same time, it helps capture, standardize, and make organizational knowledge available 24/7. ### Company (Un)Hacked Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/company-un-hacked Cybersecurity training in virtual reality, where employees get a close-up look at hackers' tricks. Practical virtual reality training that increases employees' awareness of cybersecurity and data protection. **Company (Un)Hacked** is an innovative platform for educating employees about cybersecurity through virtual reality. Instead of traditional presentations, videos, or mandatory e-learning courses, it is based on an experiential approach: the participant takes on the role of a hacker and experiences firsthand the techniques attackers use to gain access to company systems, passwords, or sensitive information. VR scenarios introduce users to practical security threats such as **phishing, ransomware, spoofing, social engineering, and attacks exploiting human inattention**. As a result, employees do not merely hear what they should not do, but see the specific consequences of individual decisions. This learning method aims to improve training retention and bring security rules into everyday practice. The platform supports individual participant profiles, result tracking, and certification of completed training. Individual scenarios are short and can be used progressively as part of a long-term security awareness improvement program. Company (Un)Hacked is intended for businesses, public institutions, and schools, and can suitably complement traditional technical cybersecurity tools. Its main idea is to address one of the most common causes of successful attacks – **the human factor – through a powerful personal experience**. ### Cloudflare Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/cloudflare Website and application performance and protection: DDoS protection, web application firewall, and a Zero Trust approach. Security, reliability, and speed – everywhere. Cloudflare's goal is to build a better internet. Its platform protects and accelerates any internet application online, without the need for additional hardware, software installation, or code changes. With Cloudflare support, all web traffic is routed through an intelligent global network that continuously improves with every request. The result is a significant increase in performance and a reduction in spam, DDoS, and other attacks. Cloudflare is a global company headquartered in San Francisco. ### Virtuozzo Source: https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/virtuozzo Virtualization and cloud platform for hosting and cloud service providers. Virtuozzo Cloud: a service for virtualization and cloud infrastructure management. **Virtuozzo** is a technology platform for building cloud infrastructure, designed primarily for cloud providers, MSPs, hosting companies, and organizations operating their own private cloud. It enables the creation of a full-featured cloud service on your own infrastructure and under your own brand, without dependence on major hyperscalers. Virtuozzo builds on more than two decades of experience with virtualization, containers, and cloud technologies. The current portfolio covers several technology layers. **Virtuozzo Infrastructure System** provides a hyperconverged platform for compute, networking, and storage. **V/Storage** delivers software-defined block, file, and S3-compatible storage. **V/Server** provides virtualization for virtual machines and containers, while **V/AM** enables the operation of elastic PaaS environments for automated application deployment and scaling. The platform also supports Kubernetes as a Service, Database as a Service, multi-cloud management, and modern AI/GPU workloads. For service providers, multi-tenancy, white-labeling, metering, and billing integrations are key benefits. Virtuozzo can also serve as an alternative to VMware or as a technological foundation for a sovereign cloud. The platform's goal is to enable providers to operate infrastructure with lower TCO, high workload density, and greater control over hardware, data, and the business model. ## Services ### Services Source: https://zebr.ai/en/services As a value-added distributor, we do more than sell licenses. We stand by your side from the initial solution design through technical support to training your people. #### Technical support Support Certified engineers are available to assist you from solution design and deployment through incident resolution. In critical situations, we operate 24/7, and a 99.7% SLA is not a promise to us, but a long-term measured result. Support also includes regular consultations to fine-tune deployed technologies, assistance with upgrades, and direct escalation to vendors, which we handle for you. You communicate with one person who knows your environment. #### Training Education We prepare partner technicians for official certifications from the vendors we represent, while offering product and security training tailored to the environments of end-customer IT teams. We provide in-person training in Ostrava, Prague, and Bratislava, or online, always in a hands-on format: participants work in a real environment, not just with a presentation. Graduates receive a certificate and access to our study materials. #### Webinars & roadshows Events Every month, we host webinars on vendor updates, practical attack demonstrations, and defenses against them. Twice a year, we set out on a roadshow through Czech and Slovak cities, where we demonstrate the latest developments live. Events are free and open to both partners and end customers, though capacity for in-person meetings is usually limited. We send invitations in our newsletter and publish them on our blog. #### AI adoption program AI We will guide your company through implementing artificial intelligence: from a readiness audit and tool selection to security policy setup and training individual teams. #### Frequently asked questions **Is technical support included in the license price?** The scope of support varies depending on the vendor and license type. When preparing an offer, we will always tell you what is included in the price and what is an optional additional service, so there are no surprises. **Do you train end customers as well, or only partners?** Both. We prepare partner technicians for official vendor certifications, while offering product and security training tailored to the environments of end-customer IT teams. **How do I register for a webinar or roadshow?** We send invitations in our newsletter and publish them on our blog; you can register via the link in the invitation. Events are free, though capacity for in-person meetings is usually limited. **Who is the AI adoption program intended for?** For companies that want to implement artificial intelligence securely and with measurable benefits, as well as for partners who want to build their own customer offering around it. ## Knowledge base ### Acronis supports the Windows 10 operating system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/acronis-windows-10-support Since July 2015, the new Microsoft Windows 10 operating system has been available for sale. Since then, we have been receiving questions about whether Acronis works under the Windows 10 operating system and whether full compatibility is guaranteed. In this article, we will try to clarify any uncertainties. | Product | Windows 10 support | | --- | --- | | Acronis True Image 2015 and later | Yes | | Acronis Disk Director 12 and later | Yes | | Acronis Disk Director Server | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Workstation 11.5 and later | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Advanced Workstation 11.5 and later | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Advanced Server 11.5 and later | Yes | | Acronis Backup for Windows Server Essentials | – | | Acronis Cyber Backup Cloud/Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Advanced Server Virtual Edition | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Advanced Server for Windows | Yes | | Acronis Cyber Backup Advanced Server for Linux | – | | Acronis Snap Deploy 5 for Workstation | Yes | | Acronis Snap Deploy 5 for Server | – | Acronis True Image 2014 and earlier versions of this program do not support the Windows 10 operating system. Acronis Disk Director 11 and earlier versions of this program do not support the Windows 10 operating system. ### Anti-Ransomware Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/anti-ransomware Anti-Ransomware is a software tool designed to protect users primarily against attacks by malicious [ransomware](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/ransomware/). **Acronis Active Protection** Acronis Active Protection monitors system processes in real time to detect and stop attacks that other solutions fail to identify. In the event of a ransomware attack, it blocks the malicious process and alerts the user through a pop-up window. If files are damaged during an attack, it enables the immediate recovery of the affected files. - provides an additional layer of defense that can be used alongside other data protection solutions already installed on your device, such as antivirus and backup software Acronis Cloud Storage The cloud backup option allows users to protect important files not only against ransomware, but also against hardware failures, natural disasters, and other causes of data loss. ### Anti-Malware Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/anti-malware Anti-malware is protective software that protects against infection by [malware](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/malware/) and its unwanted effects. **Antivirus and anti-malware protection in Acronis Cyber Protect** The [Antivirus and anti-malware protection](https://www.acronis.cz/web-help/Acronis_Cyber_Protect_15/index.html#52382.html) module helps protect Windows and macOS computers against the latest malware. Please note that the Active Protection feature, which is part of anti-malware protection, is not supported on macOS computers. The Acronis Cyber Protect service is supported and registered in the Windows Security Center. If your computer is already protected by a third-party antivirus solution when using the Antivirus and anti-malware protection module, the system generates an alert and stops on-access protection to avoid potential compatibility and performance issues. To enable all antivirus and anti-malware protection features of Acronis Cyber Protect, you will need to either disable or uninstall the third-party antivirus program. ### Anti-virus Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/anti-virus Antivirus is a type of computer program designed to detect and remove computer viruses that infect computer devices. It can also prevent the system from becoming infected with new viruses. **Antivirus and anti-malware protection in Acronis Cyber Protect** The [Antivirus and anti-malware protection](https://www.acronis.cz/web-help/Acronis_Cyber_Protect_15/index.html#52382.html) module helps protect Windows and macOS computers against the latest malware. Please note that the Active Protection feature, which is part of anti-malware protection, is not supported on macOS computers. The Acronis Cyber Protect service is supported and registered in the Windows Security Center. If your computer is already protected by a third-party antivirus solution when you use the Antivirus and anti-malware protection module, the system generates an alert and stops on-access protection to avoid potential compatibility and performance issues. To enable all antivirus and anti-malware protection features of Acronis Cyber Protect, you will need to either disable or uninstall the third-party antivirus program. ### API Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/api An application programming interface (API) is a set of functions used for programming applications and software in many areas. It primarily ensures communication and data exchange between two interconnected applications. An API interface enables a particular product or service to communicate with other products and services without needing to know how they are implemented. This can significantly simplify application development and thus save time and money. When designing new or existing tools or products, APIs primarily offer flexibility, simplicity, management, and also provide opportunities for innovation. An API is a simplified way to connect your own infrastructure through cloud applications or to enable data sharing with customers themselves. **Acronis Cyber Cloud API** **Versions:** - APIv.1 was available in Acronis Backup Cloud 7.0 and earlier versions - APIv.2 was introduced in Acronis Backup Cloud 7.5 - Acronis Backup Cloud 7.5 and later support both APIv.1 and APIv.2 **Documentation**\ API documentation is available through the RAML console. Opening the documentation: 1. Sign in to your partner account. 2. Copy the URL address containing the data center name (for example, [https://eu-cloud.acronis.com](https://eu-cloud.acronis.com/)) and add: - for APIv.1: https: // \ .acronis.com / **api / 1 / doc /** - for APIv.2: https: // \ .acronis.com / **api / 2 / doc /** Documentation for APIv.1 is also available on the **Settings** -> **Integration** -> **API** tab **Functionality** - 1 provides only the features available in version 7.0 and earlier. For example, backup quotas are available, while file synchronization and shared quotas are not available because these are new features introduced in version 7.5. - 2 extends APIv.1 with multi-service management features. In future versions, it will be expanded to fully replace 1.0. Both versions are currently used (for example, use APIv.1 to sign in using the API, then you can use both versions). ### Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/backup **Disk backup**\ A disk backup means backing up the contents of an entire disk – including the installed operating system, installed applications, and all data stored on the disk. Unlike a file backup, a disk backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a disk backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). **Partition backup**\ A disk partition backup means backing up the contents of an entire partition – including the installed operating system (if the partition contains one), installed applications, and all data stored on that disk partition. Unlike a file backup, a system partition backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a system partition backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). **System backup**\ A system backup usually means a backup of the functional state of a system that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that enables system backups is Acronis True Image. It creates a system backup by backing up the entire disk partition on which the system is installed using a sector-by-sector method. The backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored in that partition. True Image allows backups to be burned directly to CD and DVD, stored on other disks / partitions, and stored on network storage. In addition, True Image also enables a system to be brought back into operation by restoring a system backup to a blank disk – using Acronis boot media. It is advisable to store the operating system and work data separately. This ensures that if a system failure occurs and it needs to be deleted, you will not lose your data at the same time. If there are two hard drives in the computer, it is advisable to use one as the system drive and the other to store work data. If there is only one drive in the computer, it is advisable to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. Acronis Disk Director Suite software will help you partition the disk. It is important to separate the operating system and data located on the same partition – the disk should properly have 2 partitions (for the system and for data, i.e. system and data). Why: the OS may become corrupted and you could lose everything on that partition; however, if it contains only the operating system, it is not such a problem because you only need to reinstall the system. If data is also on the same partition, it will be lost. When backing up with Acronis, you do not need to worry about backups being duplicated – it identifies a backup on the partition itself and then does not include it in the backup. Power Nap mode for MAC OS, where backups can run in the background while in sleep mode. **Directory backup**\ A directory data backup can be created in many different ways – by simply copying contents through scheduled synchronization, backing up a directory with content compression, etc.\ Acronis True Image Home offers directory backups that you can schedule. Backup contents are compressed according to your settings, reducing storage space requirements. You can burn backups to CD and DVD, store them on local and external disks, and save them to network storage. Acronis True Image can also create system backups, disk backups, and much more. **Outlook backup**\ When people refer to an Outlook backup, they usually mean archiving messages into an Outlook backup file and possibly copying the backup files to another directory. This principle is suitable for long-term archiving of email messages. However, the disadvantage of this method is that messages not included in the backup archive are not backed up. And if you move all messages to the backup archive, working with them will be difficult. What is the solution? You can either use an alternative email client that directly supports email message backups, or use software for backing up Outlook and Outlook Express. There are several tools that can create an Outlook backup. One of them is Acronis True Image Home, which can back up Outlook down to the level of individual email messages. Acronis True Image can also create system backups, disk backups, and much more. A new feature is backing up **Office 365** to the cloud, including content in OneShare and Outlook.com. **Mobile backup to PC** 1. Install the application 2. Verify that the PC and mobile device are on the same Wi-Fi network 3. Scan the QR code Backing up to selected Wi-Fi networks allows users to choose which connection will be used for backups. **NEW IN VERSION 2020**: dual protection, meaning that if we have the cloud variant, local backups can be replicated to the cloud in this edition - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to set email notifications about backups · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Agentless Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/agentless-backup Virtualization spreading across data centers, requiring an agent on every physical and virtual machine in the network, is becoming less cost-effective, more difficult to manage, and less capable of providing scalability and flexibility. If an agent is installed on every virtual machine, it can ensure temporary suspension of writes during backup. Agentless backup has its advantages as well as disadvantages, and sometimes backup using agents may prove to be faster and produce more consistent backups. Agentless backup itself requires only one agent on the given host for backup across the entire network. A centralized management design with a single agent offers many benefits for dynamic virtualized networks with a large and changing number of virtual machines: - **Lower costs:** mainly related to lower processor and bandwidth consumption, eliminating the need to obtain additional licenses or permissions from the software vendor – facilitating scalability and simplifying budget planning - **Simplified management:** agentless systems are usually implemented using a centralized management approach. The centralized approach provides a network view that enables administrators to control every virtual machine from a single point - **Greater flexibility**: agentless backup architectures support almost all operating systems, databases, and email formats used today ### Boot CD - bootable CD Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/boot-cd A Boot CD, or bootable startup CD, is a CD that makes it possible to boot / launch an application or environment contained on the CD independently of the installed operating system – even on a computer that does not contain any operating system. A classic example of a bootable CD is Windows operating system installation media. **What is a Boot CD used for?**\ A Boot CD is always intended for a specific purpose. There is no universal Boot CD. The most commonly used bootable CDs are those intended for installing operating systems. There are also various Boot CDs containing diagnostic tools, utilities, and disk tools. For example, Acronis True Image software makes it possible to create a bootable CD that can be used to create and restore a system backup. Acronis Disk Director software makes it possible to create a bootable CD that can be used to partition, merge, create, and delete disk partitions. Bart-PE CDs and Live CDs are a separate category. A Bart-PE CD contains a standalone Windows installation that can be run independently of the installed operating system. The term Live CD usually refers to a CD that contains a standalone Linux distribution that can be run independently of the installed operating system. What other types of removable media can be bootable?\ The most common bootable media are boot CDs, boot DVDs, and bootable USB flash drives. To boot from bootable media, the system boot device must be set to the desired device in the BIOS. **What Acronis bootable media can do** Acronis Disk Director bootable media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and delete disk partitions and resize disk partitions without data loss. This bootable media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis Disk Director license. Acronis True Image bootable media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data, and to clone basic (MBR) disks using the disk-to-disk method. The bootable media makes it possible to restore a backup to hardware that differs from the original machine. This bootable media supports desktop operating systems only (Windows 7 – Windows 10 and Mac). This bootable media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis True Image license. Acronis Backup bootable media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data. The bootable media makes it possible to restore a backup to hardware that differs from the original machine. This media supports both desktop and server operating systems. This bootable media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing the relevant Acronis Backup license. ### Boot DVD - bootable DVD Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/boot-dvd A Boot DVD, or bootable DVD, is a medium that makes it possible to boot / launch an application or environment contained on that medium independently of the installed operating system – even on a computer that does not contain any operating system. A classic example of bootable media is Windows operating system installation media. **What is boot media used for?**\ Boot media is always intended for a specific purpose. There is no universal boot medium. Probably the most commonly used boot media are those intended for operating system installation. There are also various boot media containing diagnostic tools, utilities, and disk tools. For example, Acronis True Image software makes it possible to create bootable media that can be used to create and restore a system backup. Acronis Disk Director Suite software makes it possible to create boot media that can be used to split a disk partition, merge disk partitions, create disk partitions, and delete disk partitions. Bart-PE CDs and Live CDs are a separate category. A Bart-PE CD contains a standalone Windows installation that can be run independently of the installed operating system. The term Live CD usually refers to a CD containing a standalone Linux distribution that can be run independently of the installed operating system. What types of portable media can be bootable?\ The most common boot media are bootable CDs, bootable DVDs, and USB flash drives. To boot from boot media, the BIOS or UEFI must be configured to boot the system from the required device. **What Acronis boot media can do** Acronis Disk Director boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and delete disk partitions and resize disk partitions without data loss. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis Disk Director license. Acronis True Image boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data, and clone basic (MBR) disks using the disk-to-disk method. The boot media makes it possible to restore a backup even to a machine with different hardware. This boot media supports desktop operating systems only (Windows 7 – Windows 10 and Mac). This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis True Image license. Acronis Backup boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data. The boot media makes it possible to restore a backup even to a machine with different hardware. This medium supports both desktop and server operating systems. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing the relevant Acronis Backup license. ### Boot Manager and System Booting Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/boot-manager A boot manager is a tool that enables booting an operating system from various devices, or defining the operating system that is currently to be booted, and setting rules for booting operating systems on a given computer – such as defining the default operating system and more. The main use of a boot manager is the dual boot function, where the boot manager makes it possible to install and run multiple operating systems on a single computer. A boot manager works by changing the boot loader information during its installation/configuration so that the boot manager itself loads first when the computer starts. The next action depends on the boot manager settings or on user input – in the case of more advanced boot managers. **Multiple Windows operating systems on one PC without a boot manager**\ If you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer, first install the older system and then install the newer system on another disk partition. The opposite procedure – installing an older system over a newer one – would result in the original system being unable to start. The older version of the system does not recognize the boot method of the newer system and overwrites it, which makes it impossible to start the original system. For other options for running multiple operating systems on one computer, it is best to use a boot manager. **How to protect booting**\ Whether you use operating system multiboot or another boot manager, it is a good idea to protect the booting of operating systems. The booting of one of the operating systems or even the booting of the multiboot tool can become damaged. In that case, it will not be possible to start the given operating system or any of the operating systems. You can protect the booting of operating systems, including multiboot, by backing up the disk using the disk image method. For this purpose, you can use the backup solution [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) (for home backups) or [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) (for backups in an organization). ### Boot medium - bootable media Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/boot-media A boot medium, or bootable medium, is a medium that makes it possible to boot / launch an application or environment contained on that medium independently of the installed operating system—even on a computer that does not contain any operating system. A classic example of bootable media is Windows operating system installation media. **What is a boot medium used for?**\ A boot medium is always intended for a specific purpose. There is no universal boot medium. The most commonly used boot media are probably those intended for installing operating systems. There are also various boot media containing diagnostic tools, utilities, and disk tools. For example, Acronis True Image software makes it possible to create bootable media that can be used to create and restore a system backup. Acronis Disk Director software makes it possible to create boot media that can be used to split a disk partition, merge disk partitions, create disk partitions, and delete disk partitions. Bart-PE CDs and Live CDs are a separate category. A Bart-PE CD contains a standalone Windows installation that can be run independently of the installed operating system. The term Live CD usually refers to a CD containing a standalone Linux distribution that can be run independently of the installed operating system. What types of removable media can be bootable?\ The most common boot media are bootable CDs, bootable DVDs, and USB flash drives. To start boot media, you need to set the system boot device to the desired device in BIOS or UEFI. **What Acronis boot media can do** Acronis Disk Director boot media\ After booting from this media, you can create and delete disk partitions and resize disk partitions without data loss. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis Disk Director license. Acronis True Image boot media\ After booting from this media, you can create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data, and clone basic (MBR) disks using the disk-to-disk method. The boot media allows you to restore a backup even to hardware that is different from the original machine. This boot media supports only desktop operating systems (Windows 7 – Windows 10 and Mac). This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis True Image license. Acronis Backup boot media\ After booting from this media, you can create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data. The boot media allows you to restore a backup even to hardware that is different from the original machine. This media supports both desktop and server operating systems. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing the relevant Acronis Backup license. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume, and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From boot media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a functioning OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware that is different from the original machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside them (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk-to-Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk-to-Backup-to-Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes - Additional software information ### Boot diskette - startup diskette Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/boot-floppy-disk A boot diskette, or startup diskette, is a diskette that makes it possible to boot / launch an application or environment contained on the diskette independently of the installed operating system – even on a computer that does not contain any operating system. A classic example of a boot diskette is a Windows startup diskette. **What is a boot diskette used for?**\ A boot diskette is always intended for a specific purpose. There is no universal boot diskette. There are various boot diskettes containing, for example, diagnostic tools, utilities, and disk tools. For example, Acronis True Image software makes it possible to create boot diskettes that can be used to create and restore a system backup. Acronis Disk Director software makes it possible to create boot diskettes that can be used to partition disk volumes, merge disk volumes, create partitions, and delete disk volumes. **What other types of removable media can be bootable?**\ The most common boot media are bootable CD, bootable DVD, and bootable USB flash drive. To start bootable media, you need to set the system boot device to the desired device in the BIOS. **What can Acronis boot media do?** Acronis Disk Director boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and delete disk partitions and resize disk partitions without data loss. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis Disk Director license. Acronis True Image boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data, and clone basic (MBR) disks using the disk-to-disk method. The boot media makes it possible to restore a backup even to hardware-dissimilar machine. This boot media supports desktop operating systems only (Windows 7 – Windows 10 and Mac). This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing an Acronis True Image license. Acronis Backup boot media\ After booting from this media, it is possible to create and restore backups of disks, disk partitions, and data. The boot media makes it possible to restore a backup even to hardware-dissimilar machine. This media supports both desktop and server operating systems. This boot media (CD, DVD, or USB) can be created after purchasing the relevant Acronis Backup license. ### Booting - starting the system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/booting Booting is a procedure that is performed every time a computer is switched on, when the operating system finishes its work, or when the reset button is pressed. Simply put, booting is the loading (starting) of the operating system. **Booting a computer consists of the following phases:**\ – Hardware diagnostics\ – Memory check\ – Initialization of the built-in BIOS\ – Initialization of additional hardware components and their BIOSes\ – Booting the operating system **Booting into Windows**\ For the advanced operating system startup menu, press the F8 key when starting the computer. You can choose to start normally, start the system in safe mode, start the system with diagnostics, and more. **Choosing from multiple Windows operating systems**\ If you want to install multiple operating systems on your computer, first install the older system and then install the newer system on another disk partition. The reverse procedure – installing an older system over a newer one – would result in the original system being unable to start. An older version of the system does not recognize the boot method of the new system and overwrites it, which prevents the original system from starting. **Boot manager**\ The option to install an older operating system alongside a newer one (a classic example is installing Windows 10 alongside Windows 7) is provided by the boot management utility – Boot Manager. The main function of the boot manager is to allow you to select the system or drive from which booting will take place at startup. **What if the machine does not boot into the operating system?**\ It may happen that after installing updates, installing software, or being infected by a virus, the boot section of the operating system becomes damaged and the machine is unable to boot. In such a case, you need to use the operating system's repair tools and perform startup repair or repair the entire operating system installation. These situations can be effectively prevented by backing up. The backup tools [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) (for households) and [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) (for organizations) allow you to create backups from which both the necessary data and partitions and entire disks, including the boot sector, can be restored. After a failure, simply boot from the [Acronis rescue media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/) and perform the recovery. ### Cluster Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/cluster ###### Disk cluster An allocation unit, a set of hard disk sectors used to store files in a given file system – it is therefore the smallest logical part of a hard disk. The number of sectors on larger disks is much greater than operating systems can use, so they are grouped into clusters. The size of individual clusters can be set – the size significantly affects the efficiency of data storage on the disk: - smaller clusters enable efficient storage of small files because they reduce the proportion of unused disk space - however, larger files are more fragmented on such a volume, which increases the time needed to access them. For illustration, **FAT32** uses 32 bits for cluster addressing, so it is possible to address 232 clusters, i.e. the maximum size of a file being written is 4 GB and the logical disk size is limited to 128 GB. With **exFAT**, 64 bits are used for cluster addressing, so we can address 264 clusters and the logical disk size is 128 EB. ### Data Protection Map Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/data-protection-map The Acronis data protection map feature provides detailed information about stored data, such as classification, location, protection status, and more, on devices. It can determine whether data is protected and perform actions to protect it. Data is considered protected if it is protected by a backup. ### Data center Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/data-center A data center (Data Centre) is a space (a room, floor, or entire building) intended for the continuous operation of computer servers and other information technologies. This space is professionally designed and managed to ensure data security—especially against natural disasters and access by unauthorized users. Data center: - **Private –** provides services for a specific owner—for example, a bank that arranges its own data center and operates its own applications or services - **Public –** includes the rental of part of the hardware and computing infrastructure in the form of space for running virtual servers Acronis products offer the option to select a data center for the fastest connection or due to legal requirements regarding the physical location of data. You can find a map of Acronis data centers here: ### Disk defragmentation Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-defragmentation Disk defragmentation is the reorganization of file storage on a hard disk partition. Disk defragmentation is the process of eliminating file fragmentation; file fragmentation causes files to become “scattered” after disk operations. File fragmentation significantly reduces the performance of PCs and servers, especially during intensive input/output operations. In contrast, file defragmentation can improve performance because the read head does not have to move across the disk as often to load the next part of a file. This applies to traditional platter hard drives (HDDs). With newer SSD drives, fragmentation is not a problem. There is no read head jumping from place to place across platters, and it makes no difference in which cell the given information is located. Therefore, defragmentation makes no sense for SSD drives. On the contrary, defragmentation is not beneficial for SSD drives because the number of writes to individual disk cells is limited. The more often data in the cells is overwritten, the shorter the lifespan of the SSD drive will be. **How are disk defragmentation and backup related?**\ For data backup (using the file-based method), defragmentation has no effect. However, if backup is performed using the disk image method, defragmentation fundamentally affects the size and therefore also the speed of creating subsequent incremental and differential backups. This is because occupied data blocks and information about where (on which disk blocks) the data is located are stored in the backup. This then makes it possible to restore the entire disk or disk partition. The first backup created is called a full backup. Subsequent backups linked to this full backup are called incremental backups or differential backups. You can read about the difference between these backup types [here, for example](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/inkrementalni-zaloha/). The problem occurs when defragmentation is performed after a backup has been created. The subsequent backup (whether incremental or differential) will then contain 100% of the changes, because all blocks on the disk are moved during defragmentation. The backup is then as large as a full backup. Without defragmentation, the changes might account for only 10% or 15%, for example. ### Deployment Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/deployment In the context of imaging, deployment is the process of deploying an image to the required machine. For deploying individual machines and mass deployment of groups of machines, we recommend using Acronis Snap Deploy software. Acronis Snap Deploy is a flexible, efficient software solution for installing a fully configured operating system (with or without applications and other data) on multiple computers. Because this product uses disk imaging technology, it is suitable for rapid installations on new computers without an operating system and flexible centralized provisioning. **Newer version 5**: With Acronis Snap Deploy, you can redeploy an image to running Windows machines without having to manually reboot individual systems. You can also manage settings on the specified machines (including machine names, IP addresses, domain membership, and more). Acronis Snap Deploy also lets you manage Windows settings after the installation is complete. ### Devices auto-discovery Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/devices-auto-discovery The devices auto-discovery feature enables the following: - automating the process of securing agent installation and device registration through automated detection of devices in your Active Directory domain or local network - installing and updating agent protection on multiple devices - reducing resource requirements and device management in larger Active Directory environments through synchronization with Active Directory Device discovery can only be performed by agents installed on Windows devices. Currently, not only Windows devices can be detected, but remote software installation is only possible on Windows devices. For devices without any installed agent, the Auto-discovery feature is hidden – the Multiple devices section is also hidden in the new device wizard. How it works: During scanning on a local network, the agent uses the following technologies for discovery: - NetBIOS discovery - Web Service Discovery (WSD) - ARP table (Address Resolution Protocol) The agent attempts to obtain the following parameters for each computer: - Name (short/NetBIOS hostname) - FQDN - Domain/workgroup - IPv4/IPv6 addresses - MAC addresses - Operating system (name/version/family) - Device category (workstation/server/domain controller) When AD scanning is performed, the agent attempts to obtain almost the same parameters for individual computers as those listed above. The difference is that it additionally obtains the organizational unit (OU) parameter, more information about the name and the operating system itself, and does not obtain IP address and MAC address information. ### Differential backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/differential-backup A differential backup, also known as a difference backup, is a backup that contains only the data that has changed since the full backup. Unlike an incremental backup, where each created backup file is part of a "chain," a differential backup creates an independent file containing all changes since the original full backup was created. In general, a differential backup should restore faster than an incremental backup because it does not need to process a long chain of previous backups. **Full backup**\ \+ Each full backup is standalone and independent\ – A full backup takes up the most space **Incremental backup**\ \+ Incremental backups take up minimal space. An incremental backup records changes that have occurred since the previous incremental backup.\ – The entire backup chain must be available for restoration\ – If one incremental backup is damaged, backups following that damaged backup cannot be restored either **Differential backup (difference backup)**\ Differential backups do not take up much space. A differential backup records changes that have occurred since the full backup.\ The relevant differential and full backup are required for restoration. Differential backups are not dependent on each other.\ If one of the differential backups becomes damaged, it does not affect any other differential backup. **Fig.: Diagram of different backup types** Please note in the image that if incremental backup no. 2 is damaged, incremental backup no. 3 cannot be restored either. In contrast, if differential backup no. 2 is damaged, this has no effect on the other differential backups. ![4639v0_rozdilova_prirustkova_zaloha_1](https://www.acronis.cz/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4639v0_rozdilova_prirustkova_zaloha_1.jpg) - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is controlled - Backup is controlled directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories simultaneously · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a functioning OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a machine with different hardware · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a replacement ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes - Additional software information ### Disk partition Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-partition A disk partition, also known as a partition, is a separate area on a hard drive where a file system can be located. Its function is to enable a physical disk to be divided into so-called logical partitions. Logical partitions operate primarily within a given operating system. The division of disks into logical disks is included in the partition table, which is located in the first sector of the disk and stores information about how the individual physical disks are divided. The table is divided into a primary partition (usually drive C) and an extended partition (all other drives). A disk partition can be either primary or logical, depending on its position in the disk partition structure. One of the primary partitions on a hard drive can be active. A disk partition has the following attributes: type, start, and size. In addition, some disk partition management and boot management software allows disk partitions to be hidden. Information about disk partitions is stored in the disk partition table. ### Endpoint Detection and Response Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/endpoint-detection-and-response EDR is used to protect endpoints against malicious code and attacker intrusion. It differs from standard antivirus products through the logging of important endpoint activities and extensive incident response capabilities. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) is a category of tools and technologies used to protect computer hardware devices—called endpoints—from potential threats. EDR platforms consist of tools focused on detecting potential malicious activity on endpoints, typically through continuous monitoring—ideally, EDR provides an organization with endpoint visibility through data collection **Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud** It is a unique integration of backup with next-generation full-stack antimalware protection and a comprehensive range of endpoint management features. This synergy eliminates unnecessary complexity, enabling service providers to protect customers exceptionally well while keeping costs under control. - Next-generation full-stack malware protection, along with AI-based ransomware and cryptomining malware detection ### Fail-safe patching Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/fail-safe-patching This is an application in which backup is the tool that enables rapid data recovery. It provides automatic endpoint backups before installing an update or patch, so the original configuration can be quickly restored if the update attempt fails for any reason. ### URL Filtering Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/url-filtering The URL filtering feature helps protect machines from threats such as malware or phishing. It blocks users from accessing websites that may contain malicious content. The URL filtering database also contains information about fraudulent and phishing URLs. Such websites are therefore automatically blocked by the system as soon as a user attempts to open them. URL filtering also makes it possible to control web usage in compliance with external regulations and internal company policies. URL filtering currently supports 44 website categories, enabling access to be managed. URL Filtering – how it works: - The user enters a URL link into the browser - The interceptor obtains the link and sends it for protection - The agent obtains the URL, analyzes it, and then checks the result - The interceptor redirects the user to a message page and allows them to manually proceed to the requested page ### Disk Formatting Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-formatting Disk formatting is the process of preparing a hard drive or other storage medium for use. A hard drive is usually divided into several sections (partitions), which are formatted with their own file system. **How to format a disk partition in Windows**\ Go to “This PC,” right-click the relevant disk partition, and select the format option. If it is a system partition, it must be formatted outside Windows. Remember that all data on this disk partition will be lost during formatting. **I connected a new disk, but it is not visible; I need to format it**\ If you have purchased a new disk and it does not appear after connecting it to your computer, neither in File Explorer nor in “This PC,” select Control Panel – Administrative Tools – Computer Management. Go to Disk Management. Your unformatted disk should appear here. Right-click it and select the format option. **How to format a partition using Windows installation media**\ Insert the Windows installation media into the drive. Start the computer and make sure that booting from the CD/DVD drive is set in the BIOS. The Windows installation graphical interface will start. Follow the wizard as if you wanted to install the operating system. In one of the following steps, you will have the option to format individual disk partitions. Remember that all data on this disk partition will be lost during formatting. **How to easily format a partition using the Acronis Disk Director utility**\ Start the [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) program. Select the disk partition that needs to be formatted. Right-click the selected disk partition and select the format option. Remember that all data on this disk partition will be lost during formatting. Please note that the trial version of Acronis Disk Director only allows you to work with partitions up to 100 MB in size. **Which file system to choose for a formatted partition**\ For Windows 2000, XP, and Windows Vista operating systems, it is best to choose the NTFS file system. For older operating systems, FAT32 is the best choice. We do not recommend that regular users use other file systems. **File system limitations**\ FAT32 – allows working with files up to 4 GB in size\ FAT16 – allows working with files up to 2 GB in size\ exFAT – allows working with files up to 16 EB in size ### GPT Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/gpt It is a type of partition structure. GPT is a newer standard than MBR. GPT (GUID Partition Table) takes advantage of BIOS UEFI to support storage devices larger than 2 TB and allows for easy configuration of as many partitions as needed (Microsoft Windows supports up to 128 partitions on a GPT disk). Windows 10 and Windows 8 or 8.1 can use UEFI BIOS, which can speed up startup and operation times and provides additional security benefits. To boot a computer in UEFI mode, you will need to use a drive formatted with the GPT drive format. ### Hybrid cloud Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/hybrid-cloud A hybrid cloud is a combination of a private and public cloud. In a hybrid cloud, data and applications can move between private and public clouds to provide greater flexibility and additional deployment options. Advantages of hybrid clouds - Control – an organization can maintain private infrastructure for sensitive assets. - Flexibility – you can use additional resources in the public cloud as needed - Cost efficiency – thanks to the ability to scale to the public cloud, you only pay for additional computing power as needed - Simplicity – distributing the migration of workloads into phases over time **Acronis Cyber Backup** Offers a hybrid cloud architecture – it manages all forms of data protection within a single workflow through centralized management and a unified control interface. It backs up to any type of storage and easily restores any data. ### Hyperconverged infrastructure Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/hyperconverged-infrastructure Hyperconverged infrastructure is a software system that combines a server, storage, network hypervisor, and controller, usually into a single commodity server or endpoint device. Hyperconverged infrastructure is a comprehensive solution providing not only computing power and the necessary disk capacity, but above all highly effective tools for easy deployment, simple management, and expansion of the entire environment. **Acronis Cyber Infrastructre** It is an intelligent IT infrastructure that transforms standard hardware into a secure hyperconverged system. It offers simplicity, security, efficient utilization, and a scalable IT infrastructure solution running on standard hardware that combines computing, software-defined networking, and block, file, and object storage, enabling the most efficient operation possible. ### Disk image - how to create one Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/creating-a-disk-image **Disk image**\ or disk image is a file, or several files, containing an exact copy of the hard drive from which the image was created, including a working operating system (if one was present on the disk from which the image originates), installed programs, user settings and data. Other commonly used terms for a disk image are: disk image, drive image. **Disk partition image**\ or disk partition image is a file, or several files, containing an exact copy of the disk partition from which the image was created, including a working operating system (if one was present on the disk partition from which the image originates), installed programs, user settings and data. It is best to use dedicated software to create a disk image. A disk image is usually stored as one file or several files. Different disk imaging software uses different disk image formats. A disk image created with Acronis True Image has the \*.tib extension. A disk image is not created by storing individual files in a backup file; instead, disk sectors are stored. **What do I need a disk image for?**\ A disk image allows you to restore the disk contents to their original state (the state they were in when the image was created). If you have a working image of your system disk, you can restore it to the original disk when necessary and get, for example, a crashed system running again. For creating images, we recommend using software that enables bare metal restore – that is, recovery to bare hardware (for example, Acronis True Image). Some image creation and recovery tools allow you to restore this backup only if you have working Windows with that image creation and recovery software installed. This is very unfortunate when the system crashes and you need to get it running again as quickly as possible. You would first have to install Windows, then the recovery software, and only then perform the recovery. Acronis True Image allows you to restore a disk image using Acronis bootable media even when the operating system has crashed, when there is no operating system on the disk, or when the disk is completely empty without any data. The disk can even be formatted; nevertheless, you can restore the system within a few minutes using Acronis bootable media. **Disk image – how large will it be?**\ With Acronis True Image, only occupied sectors on the disk are stored in the backup, making the resulting backup file smaller than if all sectors on the disk were stored. Some disk imaging programs offer only the option of creating uncompressed backups and back up all sectors on the disk, meaning that the backup file will be as large as the area being backed up. The ratio of the backed-up area size to the resulting image size is 1:1. However, when creating backups (disk images), Acronis True Image lets you choose from four compression levels. The resulting size of a disk image created with Acronis True Image software depends on how much space is occupied on the backed-up disk, what type of data it contains, and which compression level is selected. If you create an image of a data disk where most of the data consists of files such as MP3 or JPG, then because these files are already compressed, the image of such a disk will only be slightly smaller than the occupied area of that disk. On the other hand, if you create an image of a Windows XP system disk with 10 GB of occupied data and select a medium compression level, the resulting image can be expected to be 5 to 6 GB. **How long does it take to create a disk image using Acronis True Image?**\ The time required to create a disk image depends on several factors. The most important factor is how much data is on the disk – that is, how large the area to be backed up is. Other factors include read, write and transfer speeds between the backed-up drive and the storage location. From this perspective, backing up one internal disk to another internal disk is the fastest option. The final factor affecting backup time is computer performance. Simply put, backup duration = time needed to transfer data + approximately 10%. For example, creating an image of a system disk with 50 GB of occupied data, where the backup is saved to a second internal disk on an average-performance computer, may take between 7 and 20 minutes. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment is the product suitable for? - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported? - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up? - Full machine backups (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How is backup managed? - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be saved to several storage locations at once · Yes - Where can backups be stored? - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How can backup recovery be performed? - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware that is different · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup? - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a secondary ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside them (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Disk partition image - how to create one Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/creating-a-partition-image A partition image, or disk partition image, is a file that contains an exact copy of a disk partition. A partition image contains everything included in the disk partition from which the image was created. If the partition contains an operating system and data, the image of this partition will also contain the operating system, data, and user settings. Specialized software is designed for creating partition images. A classic example of software for creating partition images is Acronis True Image Home. **What is a partition image used for**\ A partition image is usually used as a backup. If data is lost, restoring the image returns the data to the partition. Some software also enables bare-metal recovery – recovery to bare metal – and can restore a partition image even when the hard drive does not contain an operating system, making it possible to get the operating system running again and restore the data. A classic example of software that enables bare-metal recovery is Acronis True Image Home. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up backup email notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-different machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Incremental backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/incremental-backup An incremental backup is a backup that contains only the data that has changed since the last full or incremental backup was created. It is therefore smaller than a full backup and takes less time to create. However, because it does not contain all data, recovery requires all previous incremental backups and the original full backup. **Full backup**\ \+ Each full backup is standalone and independent\ – A full backup takes up the most space **Incremental backup**\ \+ Incremental backups take up minimal space. An incremental backup records changes made since the previous incremental backup.\ – Recovery requires the entire backup chain to be available\ – If one incremental backup is damaged, it is not possible to restore backups following that damaged backup **Differential backup**\ Differential backups do not take up much space. A differential backup records changes made since the full backup.\ Recovery requires the relevant differential and full backup. Differential backups are not dependent on each other.\ If one of the differential backups becomes damaged, it does not affect any other differential backup. **Fig.: Diagram of different backup types** Please note in the image that if incremental backup no. 2 is damaged, it is not possible to restore incremental backup no. 3 either. In contrast, if differential backup no. 2 is damaged, this has no effect on the other differential backups. ![4639v0_rozdilova_prirustkova_zaloha_1](https://www.acronis.cz/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/4639v0_rozdilova_prirustkova_zaloha_1.jpg) - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Whole-machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories simultaneously · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database parts · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside them (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### iSCSI Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/iscsi **iSCSI** (Internet Small Computer System Interface) is a technology for communicating with network storage devices. Messages originally used for local communication between a server and a disk are transmitted over IP SCSI. iSCSI performance depends quite significantly on transmission technologies, such as 10 Gb Ethernet, and on bridging technology in the data center. **SCSI** (Small Computer System Interface) It is a standard interface that can connect a PC with other peripheral devices, such as hard drives, printers, etc. In a way, SCSI functioned as a kind of “universal bus” long before USB as we know it today existed. ### Disk cloning - how to clone a disk Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-cloning Disk cloning is a process aimed at obtaining two hard drives with identical contents. Disk cloning makes it possible to copy all data from the source disk to the target disk, including a working operating system, installed applications, settings, and all data. **Disk cloning or disk copying?**\ If you want to have two hard drives with identical contents, this can be achieved in two ways. If the source hard drive contains only data and does not contain an operating system or system boot loader, simply copy the contents of the source disk to the target disk. However, if the source disk contains an operating system, you will need to use a tool designed for disk cloning. Simply copying the data is not enough in this case. Although you transfer all data to the target disk, you will not be able to ensure that the new disk correctly starts the operating system. This is because the operating system boot loader is not a file, but is stored in the disk's boot sector. **What can a cloned disk be used for?**\ Disk cloning can be useful in many cases. For one thing, a clone of the original disk can be used as a backup disk. You can therefore create a clone of the original disk, store it away, and in the event of a failure of the original disk, replace the failed disk with its clone and get the computer running again. Another option is when you purchase a new disk (for example, a larger HDD or a faster SSD) and want to use your old system on this new disk. Or if an organization needs to replicate a finely tuned system from one computer to other computers. **The original disk is a different brand, has a different size, is connected differently, is an SSD disk—will it work?**\ Yes, if you use Acronis software, disks of different brands will not be a problem. Cloning an IDE disk to a SATA disk or an HDD to an SSD and vice versa will not be a problem. Acronis can also handle different sizes of the original and new disk and allows you to “extend” the disk contents to the full disk size. Acronis can even handle the case where you want to use the cloned disk in another computer, a computer with different hardware (a different motherboard, processor, or disk controllers). This topic is covered in more detail in the section Disk cloning versus computer cloning. **Do not confuse disk backup with disk cloning**\ Yes, a clone of the original disk can be used as a backup, but it is not a backup as such. A disk backup is usually a file, or several files, containing the packaged contents of the backed-up disk or disk partition. However, such a backup file is not called a clone. Disk clone = a disk whose contents are identical to the original – source disk\ Backup = a file, or several files, containing the packaged contents of the backed-up area (entire disk or disk partitions) **Direct disk cloning (disk to disk)**\ This method can only be used for basic (MBR) disks. Simply connect both disks to the computer and use Acronis software (see the table below) to perform cloning. You will be able to choose between simple cloning and cloning with advanced configuration options (you will be able to set the layout of disk partitions, adjust or remove free space before and after partitions). After cloning, always disconnect one of the disks. Leaving both disks in one computer would result in booting being disabled on one of the disks (Windows simply cannot work with two identical disks and therefore disables booting from one of them when the operating system starts). For this cloning method, you can choose from several Acronis tools; see the table below. All these tools allow cloning either within the operating system—when Acronis software is installed on the given computer—or without installation, by booting the computer from Acronis bootable media. **Disk cloning using a backup (disk to image to disk)**\ This method must be used for dynamic (GPT) disks. GPT disks cannot be cloned directly using the disk-to-disk method. Therefore, start Acronis software (see the table below) and create a backup (image) of the entire hard disk or only a selected disk partition (the choice is yours). The backup can be stored on local disks, external disks including USB disks and USB flash drives, network disks, and other network storage including NAS. Then restore the backup to the target disk. For this cloning method, you can choose from several Acronis tools; see the table below. All these tools allow cloning either within the operating system—when Acronis software is installed on the given computer—or without installation, by booting the computer from Acronis bootable media. **How to find out whether your computer has an MBR disk or a GPT disk**\ In Windows, go to Control Panel – Administrative Tools – Computer Management – Storage – Disk Management. If you see the type “Basic” for the disk, it is a basic, i.e. MBR, disk. If you see the type “Dynamic” or “GPT” for the disk, it is a GPT disk. Disk cloning versus computer cloning A frequently asked question is:\ Can I clone the hard disk from one computer to the hard disk of another computer and thus obtain two computers with identical contents? Answer:\ Yes, this is possible. If both computers have identical hardware (the same motherboard, the same processor, and the same disk controllers), simply cloning the disk is sufficient. If the computers have different hardware (a different motherboard, processor, or disk controllers), the necessary drivers will also need to be replaced after cloning (so that the operating system works with the correct drivers). This is enabled by Acronis Universal Restore, which is part of the backup solutions [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) (for desktop OS) and [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) (for desktop and server OS). Acronis Universal Restore is launched from bootable media, which can be created at any time in Acronis software. **What would happen if you started the disk in a computer with different hardware without replacing the drivers?**\ The operating system simply would not start. Booting would end before Windows starts because the operating system would not be able to communicate with the hardware. Windows would be unable to read data from the hard disk and therefore could not start. Even repairing the operating system boot process would not help. The only solution would be to start Acronis Universal Restore and replace the drivers. More about [Acronis Universal Restore in the Acronis True Image product](https://www.acronis.cz/web-help/Acronis_True_Image_PC_2012/#32449.html)\ More about [Acronis Universal Restore in Acronis Backup products](http://dl.managed-protection.com/u/backup/help/12.5/user/cs-CZ/index.html#36543.html) **Overview of Acronis tools for cloning disks and computers** - Disk type · Cloning method · Supported OS · Number of machines · Time limit · Product · Product code · Price excluding VAT · Order - MBR disks · Disk to Disk · Desktop OS · 1 · No limit · [Acronis Disk Director Home](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · DDUNL1ENS · 1 056 Kč · [Online](https://www.acronis.cz/kosik/?item=3487) - Desktop · 1 · No limit · [Acronis Disk Director Workstation](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) · D1WYLPZZS21 · 1 664 Kč · Email - Server OS · 1 · No limit · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) [Server](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) · D1SYLPZZS21 · 6 240 Kč · Email - All · Unlimited · For 1 year · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) [Server Technician License](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) · D2SAEBLOS21 · 13 494 Kč · Email - GPT disks · Disk to image to Disk for GPTDisk to Disk for MBR · Desktop OS · 1 · No limit · [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) [1 Computer](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · TIH2L1LOS · 1 321 Kč · [Online](https://www.acronis.cz/kosik/?item=5529) - Desktop OS · 3 · No limit · [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) [3 Computer](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · TI32L1LOS · 2115 Kč · [Online](https://www.acronis.cz/kosik/?item=5531) - Desktop OS · 5 · No limit · [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) [5 Computer](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · TI52L1LOS · 2644 Kč · [Online](https://www.acronis.cz/kosik/?item=5532) - All · 1 · No limit · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup-windows-server/) [Standard Server](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup-windows-server/) · B1WYLPZZS21 · 18 954 Kč · Email Notes: • Desktop OS = Machines running Windows 7, 8, and 10 operating systems are supported\ • Server OS = Machines running Windows Server operating systems are supported\ • Number of machines = The maximum number of machines for which one program license can be used (also applies when working from bootable media)\ • No time limit = The product can be used in the given version for an unlimited period of time\ • For 1 year = After the subscription expires, it is not possible to create new bootable media with current drivers ### HDD Cloning – How to Clone a Disk Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/hdd-cloning **HDD cloning – how to clone a disk** Disk cloning is a process intended to create two hard drives with identical contents. Disk cloning makes it possible to copy all data from the source disk to the target disk, including a working operating system, installed applications, settings, and all data. **Disk cloning or disk copying?**\ If you want to have two hard drives with identical contents, this can be achieved in two ways. If the source hard drive contains only data and does not contain an operating system or a system bootloader, simply copy the contents of the source disk to the target disk. However, if the source disk contains an operating system, you will need to use a tool designed for disk cloning. Simply copying the data is not enough in this case. Although you transfer all data to the target disk, you will not be able to ensure that the new disk starts the operating system correctly. The reason is that the operating system bootloader is not a file, but is stored in the so-called boot sector of the disk. **What can a cloned disk be used for?**\ Disk cloning can be useful in two cases. First, a clone of the original disk can be used as a backup disk. You can create a clone of the original disk, store it away, and in the event of a failure of the original disk, replace the failed disk with its clone and get the computer running again. The second option is when you purchase a new disk (for example, a larger HDD or when switching to an SSD) and want to use your old system on this new disk. You then clone the old disk to the new one, and it is done. **The original disk is a different brand, has a different size, is connected differently, or is an SSD—will it work?**\ Yes, if you use [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) software, disks from different brands will not be a problem, nor will cloning an IDE disk to a SATA disk. Acronis True Image can also handle different sizes of the original and new disk. Acronis True Image allows you to “stretch” the disk contents to the full size of the disk. A problem would arise if you used the disk clone in a computer with different hardware from the original computer. See the section Disk cloning versus computer cloning. **Do not confuse disk backup with disk cloning**\ Yes, a clone of the original disk can be used as a backup disk, but it is not a backup as such. A disk backup is usually a file, or several files, containing the packaged contents of the backed-up disk or disk partition. However, such a backup file is not called a clone. **Disk clone** = a disk whose contents are identical to the original – source disk\ Backup = a file, or several files, containing the packaged contents of the backed-up area (the entire disk or disk partitions) **How do you perform disk cloning using Acronis True Image?**\ As already mentioned, if it is a data disk—a disk that does not contain an operating system—simply copy its contents to the target disk. If the source disk contains an operating system, you will need to use a software tool designed for disk cloning. Acronis True Image enables disk cloning in two ways. **Direct disk cloning (disk to disk)**\ Connect both disks to the computer, start [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/), and select the disk cloning option. A simple wizard will guide you through the entire cloning process. This method is only possible for basic (MBR) disks. However, it is not possible for dynamic disks. In the case of dynamic disks, you need to create a backup (image) of the source disk and restore this backup to the target disk. **Disk cloning using a backup (disk to image to disk)**\ With [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/), you can create a backup of the original disk or disk partition and then restore this backup to a new disk. This method is used, for example, when you do not want to transfer the entire disk contents with all disk partitions to the new disk, but only want to transfer the system partition to the new disk. **Disk cloning versus computer cloning**\ A frequently asked question is: Can I clone a hard drive from computer number one to a hard drive from computer number two and thus obtain two computers with identical contents? **Answer**: Yes, this is possible. If both computers have identical hardware, Acronis True Image is sufficient. You can do this by direct disk cloning (in the case of an MBR disk), or you can restore a backup created on computer number one to computer number two. If the computers have different hardware (a different motherboard, processor, or disk controller), cloning must be performed by creating a backup of the hard drive in computer number one and restoring this backup to the hard drive in computer number two. You will need to use the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. This add-on makes it possible to replace hardware drivers when restoring a backup, ensuring that the system can be started and used after restoration. The [Acronis Universal Restore](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/universal-restore/) add-on is part of Acronis True Image. ### Continuous data protection Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/continuous-data-protection Continuous data protection is a system that backs up data in a computer system every time a change is made. At the same time, it maintains a continuous database of data changes and makes it possible to restore the system to any previous point in time. Continuous data protection can record and back up the following types of data: - Files in the file system - Application data and files - Databases **The Acronis True Image 2020 product** offers continuous backup that runs in the background without significantly affecting computer performance. Continuous backup can be performed locally or to the cloud, capturing changes every 5 minutes. ### Converged infrastructure Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/converged-infrastructure Converged infrastructure consists of hardware from multiple manufacturers that is certified and pre-integrated. In addition, it includes servers, disk storage systems, network devices, and basic management software. The goal of converged infrastructure is to consolidate everything so that the hardware provides as many communication and computing services as possible. A software-defined infrastructure solution transforms standard customer hardware into a converged system for the cyber protection of business data, applications, and systems. **Product supporting converged infrastructure:** Acronis Cyber Infrastructure Appliance is a cyber protection solution that integrates proven and tested hardware and software into a single unit that is easy to install and operate. Using a fast and highly available Acronis appliance, you can immediately deploy back-end cyber protection solutions such as Acronis Backup, Acronis Cloud Cyber Backup, Acronis Cloud Cyber Files, or other applications, or use it as shared storage for general needs such as documents, graphics, and video files. ### Disk copy - how to create a disk copy Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-copy A copy of the original disk can be created by disk cloning. Disk cloning is a process aimed at creating two hard drives with identical contents, allowing all data to be copied from the source disk to the target disk, including a working operating system, installed applications, settings and all data. **Disk cloning or disk copying?**\ If you want to have two hard drives with identical contents, this can be achieved in two ways. If the source hard drive contains only data – it does not contain the operating system and system boot loader – simply copy the contents of the source disk to the target disk. However, if the source disk contains an operating system, you will need to use a tool designed for disk cloning. Simply copying the data is not sufficient in this case. Although you transfer all data to the target disk, you will not be able to ensure that the new disk boots the operating system correctly. This is because the operating system boot loader is not a file, but is stored in the disk's boot sector. **What can a cloned disk be used for?**\ Disk cloning can be useful in two cases 1. A clone of the original disk can be used as a backup disk. You can create a clone of the original disk, store it away, and if the original disk fails, replace the failed disk with its clone to get the computer running again. 2. The second option is when you purchase a new disk (for example, a larger HDD or when switching to an SSD) and want to use your old system on the new disk. Simply clone the old disk to the new one and you are done. **The original disk is a different brand, has a different size, is connected differently, or is an SSD – will it work?**\ Yes, if you use [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) software, disks from different brands will not be a problem, and you can even clone an IDE disk to a SATA disk. Acronis True Image can also handle different sizes of the original and new disk. Acronis True Image allows you to extend the disk contents to the full size of the disk. A problem would arise if you used the disk clone in a computer with different hardware from the original computer. See more in Disk cloning versus computer cloning. **Do not confuse disk backup with disk cloning**\ Yes, a clone of the original disk can be used as a backup disk, but it is not a backup as such. A disk backup is usually a file or several files containing the packaged contents of the backed-up disk or disk partition. However, such a backup file is not called a clone. Disk clone = a disk whose contents are identical to the original – source disk\ Backup = a file or several files containing the packaged contents of the backed-up area (entire disk or disk partitions) **How to clone a disk using Acronis True Image?**\ As already mentioned, if it is a data disk, i.e. a disk that does not contain an operating system, simply copy its contents to the target disk. If the source disk contains an operating system, you will need to use a software tool designed for disk cloning. Acronis True Image allows you to clone a disk in two ways: 1. Direct disk cloning (disk to disk)\ Connect both disks to the computer, start [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/), and select the disk cloning option. A simple wizard guides you through the entire cloning process. This method is possible only for basic (MBR) disks. However, it is not possible for dynamic disks. For dynamic disks, you must create a backup image of the source disk and restore this backup to the target disk. 2. Disk cloning using a backup (disk to image to disk)\ With [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/), you can create a backup of the original disk or disk partition and then restore this backup to a new disk. This method is used, for example, when you do not want to transfer the entire disk contents with all disk partitions to the new disk, but only want to transfer, for example, the system partition. **Disk cloning versus computer cloning**\ A frequently asked question is: Can I clone the hard drive from computer number one to the hard drive from computer number two and thus obtain two computers with identical contents? Answer: Yes, this is possible. If both computers have identical hardware, Acronis True Image is sufficient. You can do this by direct disk cloning (in the case of an MBR disk) or by restoring a backup created on computer number one to computer number two. If the computers have different hardware (different motherboard, processor or disk controller), you need to clone them by creating a backup of the hard drive in computer number one and restoring this backup to the hard drive in computer number two. You will need to use the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. This add-on allows you to replace hardware drivers when restoring a backup, ensuring that the system can be started and used after restoration. The [Acronis Universal Restore](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/universal-restore/) add-on is part of Acronis True Image. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is running · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a machine with different hardware · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database parts · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a replacement ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Acronis maintenance and maintenance renewal Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/acronis-maintenance-renewal **The following licensing models are offered for Acronis enterprise solutions** 1. Perpetual licenses (perpetual licenses including maintenance) 2. License subscriptions (subscriptions for 1, 2, or 3 years) 3. Service rental (a pay-per-use model with monthly billing) **What is maintenance?** It is a maintenance and technical support program. Valid maintenance entitles the user to use technical support and receive free upgrades to new versions. Therefore, if you have valid maintenance, you can upgrade to the current version of the Acronis product free of charge at any time and contact Acronis technical support. **How do I obtain maintenance?** By purchasing a perpetual license for Acronis enterprise solutions. Maintenance for 12 months is an integral part of new licenses and upgrades. **Can I purchase a product with multi-year maintenance?** Yes, if you wish to obtain a license including maintenance for multiple years, order the product and maintenance for an additional period. For example, purchasing a license and maintenance for 4 years ensures the product has maintenance for a total of 5 years (the first year is included with the license). **What should I do when my maintenance is ending, and how can I renew it?** Contact your Acronis software supplier and ask for a maintenance renewal quote. If you have your licenses registered in your Acronis account, you will receive an email in due time (60 days and then 30 days before maintenance expires) notifying you of the approaching end of maintenance. Maintenance can be renewed for one year or for a longer period. You can purchase a renewal for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years. **Do I have to renew maintenance – is it mandatory?** It is not mandatory. It is entirely up to you whether you renew maintenance or not. However, without valid maintenance, you lose entitlement to free upgrades and technical support. **How much does a maintenance renewal cost?** Maintenance for 1 year is approximately 18% of the purchase price of a new license. **What are the timing options for maintenance renewal?** 1. During the validity period of maintenance, it is possible to purchase a maintenance renewal without penalties 2. During the grace period (up to 30 days after maintenance expiration), it is possible to purchase a renewal without penalties 3. After 30 days from maintenance expiration, it is possible to purchase a renewal with a 20% price increase 4. After 365 days from expiration, it is no longer possible to renew maintenance (but it is possible to purchase an upgrade) The new maintenance will seamlessly continue from the expiration date. **I have multiple products / licenses purchased at different times. Is it possible to unify the expiration dates?** Yes. Ask your Acronis software supplier for a quote for maintenance renewal and unification of the expiration date. ### MBR - Master Boot Record repair Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/mbr-repair The MBR (Master Boot Record) is the main boot record in the first sector of a hard drive, which identifies the location of the operating system so that it can be loaded into the computer's main memory. It contains a table describing the disk partitioning, which is the first place, immediately after the BIOS, that the computer checks during startup. This record is 512 bytes in size – making it the smallest addressable size of a single hard drive sector in Windows OS. It is not compatible with UEFI (*Unified Extensible Firmware Interface).* **Partition table**\ This is a table that contains information about disk partitions and references to other partition tables. A partition table cannot contain more than four entries. The primary partition table is located in the MBR of the hard drive, and the other partition tables are called extended. Partition tables are usually stored in the first sector of a cylinder. **Master boot code**\ Code that is loaded by the BIOS into the computer's memory when the computer starts. All subsequent operations depend on the contents of this code. **Repairing the boot process in Windows 7 and newer OS versions**\ When starting the system, press the F8 key\ Select the Repair your computer option\ Follow the system repair wizard\ You will need Windows installation media to perform the repair **Be prepared**\ Computer startup problems can be effectively prevented by backing up. Modern backup tools such as [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) can back up data, disk partitions, and entire drives, including boot information. If the computer fails to boot, you can use [Acronis rescue boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/) (a CD, DVD, or USB drive that you create yourself) to start the computer in the Acronis environment. You can then restore the bootloader, data, a disk partition, or a disk. ### NAS Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/nas **NAS** (Network Attached Storage) is a data storage solution that can generally be smaller – in a home environment, users prefer shared storage because there is not much data, so storing it on another PC is impractical. NAS is a device independently connected to the network, capable of providing a wide range of file-related services, allowing data to be stored or shared from multiple computers. [RAID](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/raid/) technology is often used in NAS storage – especially mirroring, and in the case of larger volumes, other techniques may also be used. NAS storage is available for two or four hard drives, providing highly available storage with a large data capacity. Files are stored locally on the network, meaning no data passes through the internet. Data is shared within the local network. ### NFS Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/nfs **Network File System (NFS)** is a client-server service that allows a computer user to view and freely store or update files on a remote computer as if they were located on the user's own computer. The NFS protocol is one of several distributed file system standards for network-attached storage **([NAS](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/nas/)).** To access data stored on another computer, the server implements NFS processes to make the data available to clients. The server administrator determines what to make available and recognizes authenticated clients. Files are most commonly managed in a hierarchy that allows users to view files in the current directory and then navigate to any subdirectories. ### NIST Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/nist **NIST** (National Institute of Standards and Technology) is a U.S. institution, and its main functions include the standardization of cryptographic algorithms such as AES, SHA-2, and SHA-3. Link to the NIST website: ### Object storage Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/object-storage Object storage, sometimes also referred to as an object database, is used to store data by dividing it into separate units or objects – elementary structures that represent the file itself, additionally extended with metadata. Why use object storage? Object storage solves the main problem related to scalability. The speed at which we create data is constantly increasing, which means that this problem will worsen over time. Users gain a number of advantages with object storage: - High transaction performance and parallelism, massive scalability - Data mobility across the entire world - Backup-less solution (data volumes in the range of hundreds of TB and PB can no longer be backed up using traditional mechanisms, and security is based on the geographical distribution of data and multiple copies) **Acronis Storage product** is a software-defined storage solution that allows you to easily and quickly transform standard hardware into secure enterprise-class storage. Universal, cost-effective, and scalable, Acronis Storage combines block, file, and object data storage in a single solution built on a proven architecture that has protected more than 100 petabytes of production data in Acronis data centers for over six years. It includes Acronis CloudRAID for reliable data protection and Acronis Notary to ensure data integrity. ### Disk recovery - restoring a disk from a backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-recovery You need to consider which situation (see the options below) applies. A different procedure should be chosen for each situation. 1. **Recovery of a lost disk or disk partition** Especially when working with disk partitions (expanding, shrinking, moving), but also in other cases (for example, after installing updates), a disk partition may suddenly disappear. This is usually caused by an incorrect entry in the MBR, which means that the disk partition still exists but appears invisible to the system. In such a case, you can try to revert the changes that led to this situation (for example, moving the partition). Another option is to use tools that can find and fix errors in the MBR. Search, for example, for “mbr partition repair tool”. 2. **Recovery of lost data (accidental deletion, overwriting, damaged disk)** If a file or directory is accidentally deleted, there is no need to despair. Until the part of the disk where the data is stored is physically overwritten, there is hope that the lost data can be recovered. You can try free tools that allow deleted data to be recovered, such as Recuva, or use paid tools such as Get Data Back. Paid tools usually show you whether and what data they can recover, but they do not allow recovery to be performed without payment. Always restore data to a location other than its original location. Otherwise, you risk overwriting the original data and further recovery will not be possible (for example, if the recovery fails on the first attempt). If you cannot see the disk in BIOS or UEFI, it is necessary to send the disk for assessment to a specialized company that deals with lost data recovery (you can find many of them online). The price is usually based on the amount of data and the degree of disk damage (extracting data from damaged platters is usually the most expensive). Prices therefore start at several thousand Czech crowns and can reach tens of thousands of Czech crowns. One of our unnamed customers paid CZK 120,000 for recovery, and even then the entire disk content could not be recovered. Before taking specific steps, try requesting a recovery quote with no obligation. It often works so that diagnostics are free of charge if you use the recovery services. 3. **Recovery of a disk, partitions and data from an Acronis backup** If you have a disk backup or data backup available, it is easy. Whether you use a backup solution for home use (Acronis True Image) or a backup solution for organizations (Acronis Backup), you can perform a recovery at any time. Files and directories, or a data disk, can be recovered directly from the application while the operating system is running. To recover a system disk (when the computer does not boot into the operating system), use [Acronis rescue boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/). Boot the computer from this media and perform the recovery from the backup. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is controlled - Backup is controlled directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is operational · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an internal agent (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to expand or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Partition recovery using a backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/partition-recovery The safest way to protect your data is through backups. For backing up disks and partitions, we recommend using Acronis True Image software, which allows you to recover a partition when needed. **Partition recovery using True Image software**\ **1) Partition recovery** – the system is working, but I need to restore the original state\ If the system is working and Acronis True Image Home is installed on the computer:\ – Launch True Image\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a partition\ – Select the relevant backup\ – Select the partition to be recovered\ – Start the recovery **2) Partition recovery** – the system does not start\ If the system is damaged to the extent that it will not start:\ – Start the computer – boot from Acronis True Image bootable media\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a partition\ – Select the relevant backup\ – Select the disk to be recovered\ – Start the recovery **3)Partition recovery** – the disk is physically damaged\ If the hard disk is physically damaged:\ – Replace the hard disk with a new one\ – Start the computer – boot from Acronis True Image bootable media\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a partition\ – Select the relevant backup\ – Select the disk to be recovered\ – Start the recovery - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organisations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organised into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be saved to several storage locations at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a replacement ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted to ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### System recovery from backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/system-recovery If no backup exists, there is nothing to restore from. In such a case, you can try to recover lost files yourself using software such as Acronis Revive, Recuva, or Get Data Back. It is important not to overwrite the area of the disk where the deleted data is located. If you do not feel confident doing this, entrust data recovery to professional service providers. The cost of recovery (and it is not always possible to recover everything) ranges from thousands to tens of thousands of Czech crowns, depending on the type of problem (recovering data from physically damaged disks is the most expensive). The safest method of protecting data and the system is backup. For backing up data, systems, disks, and disk partitions, we recommend [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) software (for home backup) and [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) software (for backup in an organization). It is a good idea to ensure that the operating system and working data are stored separately. This ensures that if the system crashes and needs to be erased, you will not lose your data at the same time. If the computer has two hard disks, it is advisable to use one as the system disk and the other to store working data. If the computer has only one disk, it is advisable to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. Acronis Disk Director software will help you partition the disk. **System recovery using True Image software** **1) System recovery** – the system works, but I need to restore the original state\ If the system works and Acronis True Image is installed on the computer:\ – Start True Image\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a disk partition\ – Select the relevant disk backup\ – Select the disk to be recovered\ – Start recovery **2) System recovery** – the system does not start\ If the system is damaged to the extent that it does not start:\ – Start the computer – boot from [Acronis rescue boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/)\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a disk partition\ – Select the relevant disk backup\ – Select the disk to be recovered\ – Start recovery **3) System recovery** – the disk is physically destroyed\ If the hard disk is physically destroyed:\ – Replace the hard disk with a new one\ – Start the computer – boot from [Acronis rescue boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/)\ – Select the option to recover a disk / recover a disk partition\ – Select the relevant disk backup\ – Select the disk to be recovered\ – Start recovery - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Ability to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Ability to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Ability to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Ability to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### System and data backup recovery Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/system-and-data-restore If you have a disk backup or data backup available, it is easy. Whether you use a backup solution for home use (Acronis True Image) or a backup solution for organizations (Acronis Backup), you can perform a recovery at any time. Files and folders, or a data disk, can be recovered directly from the application while the operating system is running. Simply choose where the data will be recovered – either to the original location or to a newly selected one. If you are recovering a system disk (the computer does not boot into the operating system), use the [Acronis rescue boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/). Boot the computer using this media and perform the recovery from the backup. If you have the cloud version of True Image and a backup of at least a disk partition, disk, or the entire computer has been made with local storage as the destination – the so-called replica option is available (backups will gradually accumulate in the cloud) = dual protection. Read in Czech – instructions for recovering a backup in Acronis True Image:\ Read in Czech – instructions for recovering a backup in the Acronis Backup solution:\ - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are centrally managed from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is operational · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a functioning OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an internal agent (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Disk image Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-image **Disk image**\ or disk image is a file, or several files, containing an exact copy of the hard drive from which the image was created, including a functioning operating system (if one was on the drive from which the image originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. Other commonly used terms for a disk image are: disk image, drive image. **Disk partition image** or disk partition image is a file, or several files, containing an exact copy of the disk partition from which the image was created, including a functioning operating system (if one was on the disk partition from which the image originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. It is best to use dedicated software to create a disk image. A disk image is usually stored as one file or several files. Different disk imaging software uses different formats. A disk image created by Acronis True Image has the \*.tib/.tibx extension. A disk image is not created by storing individual files in a backup file; instead, disk sectors are stored. **Why a disk image is important**\ A disk image allows you to restore the disk contents to their original state (the state they were in when the image was created). If you have a functional image of the system disk, you can restore it to the original disk when needed and, for example, get a crashed system running again. For creating a disk image, we recommend using software that supports bare metal restore – i.e., recovery to bare metal (for example, Acronis True Image). Some disk imaging and recovery tools only allow you to restore this backup if you have functioning Windows with the disk imaging and recovery software installed. This is highly unfortunate when the system crashes and you need to get it running again as quickly as possible – you would first have to install Windows, then the recovery software, and only then perform the recovery. Acronis True Image lets you restore a disk image using Acronis bootable media even when the operating system has crashed, when there is no system on the disk, or when the disk is completely empty without any data. The disk can even be formatted; nevertheless, you can restore the system within a few minutes using Acronis bootable media. **Disk image – how large will it be?**\ With Acronis True Image, only occupied sectors on the disk are stored in the backup, making the resulting backup file smaller than if all disk sectors were stored. Some disk imaging programs only offer the option to create uncompressed backups and back up all sectors on the disk, which means that the backup file will be the same size as the area being backed up. The ratio between the size of the backed-up area and the size of the resulting image is 1:1. However, when creating backups (disk images), Acronis True Image lets you choose from four compression levels. The resulting size of a disk image created with Acronis True Image software depends on how much space is occupied on the backed-up disk, what type of data it contains, and which compression level is selected. If you create an image of a data disk where most of the data consists of files such as MP3 or JPG, then because these files are already compressed, the image of such a disk will only be slightly smaller than the occupied area of that disk. On the other hand, if you create an image of a Windows system disk with 100 GB of occupied data and select a medium compression level, you can expect the resulting disk image to be 50 to 60 GB. **How long does it take to create a disk image using Acronis True Image?**\ The time required to create a disk image depends on several factors. The most important is how much data is on the disk – in other words, how large the area to be backed up is. Other factors include read, write, and transfer speeds between the backed-up drive and the storage location. From this perspective, backing up one internal disk to another internal disk is the fastest option. The final factor affecting backup time is computer performance. Simply put, backup duration = time required to transfer data + approximately 10%. For example, creating an image of a system disk with 50 GB of occupied data, with the backup stored on a second internal disk, may take between 7 and 20 minutes on an average-performance computer. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environments is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Full machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to set email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories simultaneously · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a functioning OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware that is different from the original · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a replacement ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-run virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-run virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Cryptocurrency Mining Protection Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/cryptojacking-protection Cryptocurrency mining is associated with malicious software that can involve other people's computers in illegal mining and cause a significant reduction in their performance. The risk of cryptocurrency mining itself lies in the fact that an attacker mining a given currency consumes computing power, so they try to obtain it elsewhere—using a program they install on a PC without the user's knowledge. **Product preventing cryptocurrency mining** True Image and Acronis Cyber Protect include an integrated Active Protection feature that protects the computer from ransomware attacks. If a process starts encrypting files, Acronis recognizes the process and knows that encryption is taking place. It blocks it—places the process in quarantine, where it waits for the user's decision, or blocks it automatically and can automatically restore a few files that were encrypted back from the cache to the same location. It is a process that consumes virtually no resources because it does nothing on its own, but intervenes only when encryption occurs. It works on the basis of artificial intelligence—it monitors what is happening on the computer and does not rely on a virus database that may be outdated. - Prevents attackers from stealing the performance of system resources using a built-in blocker that stops cryptojacking attacks in real time. ### Easy disk partition removal Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/deleting-a-partition A disk partition can be removed in several ways: **Removing a partition directly in Windows**\ 1\) In Control Panel, open Administrative Tools\ 2\) Select Computer Management\ 3\) Select Storage\ 4\) Select Disk Management\ 5\) Right-click the desired partition and select Delete Partition\ This procedure does not allow you to remove the active partition (from which the system is currently running). **Removing a partition using the Windows XP installation CD**\ 1\) Boot the computer from the Windows installation CD\ 2\) Wait for the installation interface to load\ 3\) Select to start the Windows XP installation\ 4\) Accept the license terms\ 5\) Select installation of a new system\ 6\) Select the relevant disk partition\ 7\) Press the D key to delete the disk partition\ 8\) Confirm and complete the partition removal **Procedure for Windows 10 installation USB/DVD**\ 1\) Boot the computer from the Windows 10 installation DVD or USB\ 2\) Wait for the installation interface to load\ 3\) Continue with the Windows 10 installation program until you are prompted to choose the installation type.\ 4\) Select “Custom” and the disks with partitions will be displayed\ 5\) Here you can select any partition and delete it using the ‘Delete’ button\ 6\) Confirm and complete the partition removal **Other tools used to remove partitions:**\ Acronis Disk Director software allows you to create new disk partitions, resize partitions, delete partitions, edit disks, and much more. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Full machine backups (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be divided into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories simultaneously · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a functioning OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a machine with different hardware · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database parts · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent installed inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents installed inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Off-host Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/off-host-backup Off-host backup works as a “data transfer.” In many cases, additional protection is needed for the most important systems – backups should be created/run more frequently, while backup copies also need to be stored in several locations. Backup copying This involves replication, and the endpoint itself does not need to participate – this type of backup does not burden the source host. **Acronis Cyber Backup product** - Software backup solution for organizations of all sizes - With easy installation, setup, and centralized management - With active anti-ransomware protection that safeguards backups and prevents encryption ### P2P - System migration to different hardware Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/p2p-migration P2P Migration is the transfer and migration of a functioning operating system from one computer to another. **Transferring a system to a machine with different hardware – P2P Migration**\ Acronis Backup products are primarily designed for creating disk images. You can then use these disk images to clone computers. Simply create a backup of computer number 1 and restore it to computer **number** 2. If both computers have identical hardware, any product from the [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) family will be sufficient for this operation (the Workstation edition for desktop operating systems, the Server edition for server operating systems). However, if the source and target computers have different hardware, we would encounter a driver issue, just as with V2P migration. The target computer would use the drivers of the source computer, and these would **not** work on the target computer. It will therefore be necessary to use the [Acronis Universal Restore](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/universal-restore/) component, which will provide the required driver replacement on the target machine. **The procedure is explained in the following steps.** **1)** **Create a backup** of the source computer and save it so that it is accessible to the target computer\ **2)** Boot the target computer using [Acronis bootable media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/) with the Acronis Universal Restore add-on\ **3)** Select the restoration of the backup created on the source computer. Choose to use the Universal Restore add-on and, if necessary, add your own drivers\ **4)** Perform the restoration\ **5)** After restoring the target machine, restart it The result will be two computers that are hardware-wise different but software-wise identical. It does not matter if the source and target hard drives are different sizes; Acronis allows you to “expand or shrink” the backup according to the size of the target disk. Acronis even allows you to change the SID identifier, so if you want to run both computers on the same network, there will be no address conflict. **Example of P2P Migration use – old server system on new hardware**\ A company decides to purchase a new server. The company is critically dependent on this server. Acquiring the hardware is not a problem, but it would take days to install and, above all, configure the new server. With the [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) backup solution, you create a backup of the old server and use Acronis bootable media with the Universal Restore add-on to restore this backup to the new server within 20 minutes. The result is a new, more powerful server that requires no configuration because it has inherited all the settings of the old server. Acronis Backup and Acronis Universal Restore have migrated the server to new hardware – and this new server will also be reliably backed up. **Server migration to a virtual environment.**\ It is even easier to transfer a physical machine to a virtual environment. You can read about this option in the article on [P2V migration](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/p2v/). ### P2V - System Migration to a Virtual Machine Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/p2v-migration P2V migration is the conversion and migration of a functioning operating system, including applications and all data, to a virtual hosted machine. Deploying a virtual machine – Direct P2V migration conversion using Acronis\ **Acronis Cyber Backup 12.5** products are primarily designed for creating disk images. However, the Acronis Cyber Backup product family also makes it possible to convert these backups directly into a virtual machine. You can create a virtual machine by converting a backup file created in one of the Acronis products. ### Partition - disk partition Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/partition A partition, or disk partition, is a separate area on a hard drive where a file system can be located. A partition can be primary or logical, depending on its position in the disk partition structure. One of the physical hard drive partitions can be active. A partition has the following attributes: type, start, and size. In addition, some partition management and booting software allows partitions to be hidden. Information about partitions is stored in the partition table. ### Partition Manager - hard disk management Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/partition-manager Partition manager is software that enables you to work extensively with disk partitions. The main tasks that most partition managers allow you to perform are: disk formatting, disk partitioning, merging disk partitions, creating a new disk partition, deleting a disk partition, and resizing a disk partition. The partition manager that allows you to make these changes without data loss is called [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/). Acronis Disk Director is available in Czech, and you can try it for free as a demo version. The demo version allows you to perform the aforementioned disk partition operations up to a size of 100 MB. The full version of the program works without limitations. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - What environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - What types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and folders) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backups can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backups can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backups can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up email notifications about backups · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware with different specifications · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and folders) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent installed inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents installed inside virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Patch management Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/patch-management Patching is the process of fixing damage or an error that is identified after a software product has been released. Patching can help enhance software with new features or fix discovered bugs and security vulnerabilities. Most operating system and application vendors regularly make patches (updates) available – a patch aims to fix a problem before the problem itself occurs. **Acronis products enable:** - Flexible restart options - Windows updates, including MS Office and Windows 10 applications - Automates protection, mitigates potential threats, prevents attacks (e.g. Equifax, WannaCry) [**Acronis products**](https://zebr.ai/en/vendors/acronis) ### Disk partitioning - how to partition a disk without data loss Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/splitting-a-disk **How do you partition a disk without losing data?** In a situation where there is only one hard drive in the computer, dividing the disk into individual disk partitions is almost a necessity. The first partition – the **system** partition – should contain the operating system and installed programs. The second partition – the **data** partition – should contain data only. The reason is simple: if you lose the system partition (usually due to an operating system crash), **your data stored on the data** partition will remain intact. **Disk partitioning with Windows 8, 10 (without data loss)** 1\) Right-click **This PC** (either on the desktop or in the Control Panel)\ 2\) From the **menu**, select “Manage”\ 3\) Then, select “Disk Management” from the menu on the left\ 4\) Right-click the relevant disk partition and select “Shrink”\ 5\) After shrinking the partition, you can assign the resulting space to another partition. **Disk partitioning with Windows 8, 10 using Acronis Disk Director software (without data loss)** 1\) Launch [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/)\ 2\) Right-click the relevant disk partition and select the split option\ 3\) Follow the instructions in the disk partitioning wizard Note:\ The trial version of Acronis Disk Director only allows changes up to 100 MB. ### Secure zone - hidden disk partition Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/secure-zone Acronis Secure Zone is a special secure partition that you can create on your computer to store backups. Acronis Secure Zone uses the FAT32 file system. When you create a zone in Acronis Secure Zone, it appears in File Explorer under Other. You can browse the Acronis Secure Zone as a regular disk partition. If the Acronis Secure Zone is password-protected, all operations except viewing version details require entering the password. Clearing the Acronis Secure Zone If there is not enough space in the Acronis Secure Zone for a new backup, you can: 1. Cancel the backup operation, increase the size of the Acronis Secure Zone, and then run the backup again. 2. Cancel the backup operation, manually delete some backups from the Acronis Secure Zone, and then run the backup again. Confirm that you want to automatically delete the oldest backup of the same type (file-level or disk-level) along with all its incremental or differential versions. If there is still not enough free space afterward, the Acronis True Image application will ask for confirmation and delete another full backup. This will be repeated until there is enough free space for the new backup. If there is still not enough space after deleting all previous backups, the backup will be canceled. To prevent the zone from becoming full, we recommend selecting the Delete the oldest backup if there is not enough space in the ASZ zone check box in the scheduled backup options. For more information, see the [Error handling](https://www.acronis.cz/web-help/Acronis_True_Image_PC_2018/index.html#269.html) section. In Try mode, you can use Acronis Secure Zone as storage for virtual system changes. The data used will be automatically deleted when you exit Try&Decide mode. The Acronis True Image application does not automatically delete nonstop backup versions from the Acronis Secure Zone. These versions can only be deleted manually. For more information, see the [Acronis nonstop backup data storage](https://www.acronis.cz/web-help/Acronis_True_Image_PC_2018/index.html#9264.html) topic. ### Merging partitions - how to merge disk partitions Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/merging-partitions **Easy disk partition merging using Acronis Disk Director software – without data loss**\ 1\) Launch Acronis Disk Director\ 2\) Right-click the relevant disk partition and select Merge\ 3\) In the next window, select the disk partition to be merged with the partition selected in the previous step\ 3\) Follow the instructions in the disk merge wizard Acronis Disk Director also allows you to merge disks outside the operating system using Acronis bootable media. The advantage of using Acronis Disk Director software is that you will not lose the data stored on these partitions when merging disk partitions. Please note that the trial version of Acronis Disk Director only allows you to merge disk partitions up to 100 MB in size. ### Snap Restore Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/snap-restore Acronis Snap Restore is a feature included in Acronis True Image programs. Using this feature, you can boot the OS on a damaged computer before the system is fully restored from a disk image and start working seconds after recovery begins. Recovery will continue in the background. **Limitations when using Acronis Snap Restore** 1\. Acronis Snap Restore can currently work only with images located in the Acronis Secure Zone.\ 2\. Acronis Snap Restore technology cannot naturally be used if the disk image does not contain an operating system (in the case of a logical disk or partition image) or when restoring file backups. **How Acronis Snap Restore works** Once the recovery process has started, Acronis True Image Home:\ **1.** Finds the sectors in the disk image that contain system files and restores them first. This restores the operating system and makes it possible to start it very soon. After the OS starts, the user sees the folder and file tree structure, although the file contents have not yet been restored. Nevertheless, the user can begin working.\ **2.** Writes its own drivers to the hard disk, capable of providing access to files. As soon as the user opens files or launches applications, the drivers receive system requests and restore the sectors needed for the current operations.\ **3.** Acronis True Image Home meanwhile continues with a complete sector-by-sector recovery in the background. However, sectors requested by the system have the highest priority. The disk image will eventually be fully restored even if the user takes no action. However, if you want to work immediately after a system failure, you will gain at least several minutes, because restoring a 10–20 GB disk image (the most common disk image size) takes approximately 10 minutes. The larger the disk image, the more time you save. ### exFAT file system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/exfat-file-system The exFAT (Extended File Allocation Table) file system is designed for high-capacity USB flash drives and memory cards. It supports a large number of files and data – replacing the FAT32 system. It was first used in Windows 7, but it also worked in Windows XP. exFAT also supports transaction journaling, meaning that damaged files can be recovered even from a flash drive. One disadvantage of this file system is that it does not allow data compression or file encryption. The maximum size of a given file is 16 EB. ### FAT16 file system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/fat16-file-system The FAT16 file system is widely used in DOS-compatible operating systems (DR-DOS, MS-DOS, PC-DOS, etc.), Windows 95/98/ME, Windows NT/2000/XP, and is supported by most other operating systems. The FAT16 system includes a file allocation table (FAT) and clusters. For greater security, several copies of the FAT exist (usually 2). A cluster is the minimum data storage unit in the FAT16 file system. One cluster contains a fixed number of sectors, which is always equal to a power of two. The maximum number of clusters is 65525 and they are 4–32 kB in size, so the smallest actually addressable unit is 8 sectors. The cluster address is 16-bit. The larger the disk, the larger the clusters, because the number of addresses in this file system is limited to 216. The maximum size of the FAT16 file system is 4 GB. Most operating systems handle 128-sector clusters incorrectly, so FAT16 can address a maximum of 2 GB. The FAT stores information about which clusters are free, allocated, or defective, and which files are stored in which clusters. ### FAT32 File System Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/fat32-file-system The FAT32 file system appeared in Windows 95 OSR2 and is also supported in Windows 98/ME and Windows 2000/XP (it works with all versions of Windows, Mac and Linux). FAT32 is based on the FAT16 system. Today, the FAT32 file system is found mainly on USB flash drives and external drives to maintain compatibility with older versions of Windows or Linux. The main differences between FAT32 and FAT16 are 28-bit cluster numbers and a more flexible implementation of the root directory, whose size is not limited. The reason for creating the FAT32 system was the need to support large hard drives (larger than 8 gigabytes) and the inability to build a more complex file system into MS-DOS, which remains the basis for Windows 95/98/ME.\ The maximum size of the FAT32 file system is 2 TB. FAT32 does not offer the permissions and security features found in the NTFS file system. ### NTFS file system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/ntfs-file-system NTFS (New Technology File System) is one of the main file systems for Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista. Its structure is not public, so it is not fully supported in any other operating system. It was created to enable the processing of larger files and meet the need for greater disk capacity. Like FAT, NTFS uses clusters to store files, but the cluster size does not depend on the size of the disk partition. The size of one partition is 264 -1 clusters, and the maximum file size is theoretically 264-210 B (depending on the OS). NTFS supports disks up to 256 TB and individual files up to 2 TB in size. The main structure of NTFS is the MFT (master file table). NTFS stores a copy of critical parts of the MFT to reduce the possibility of corruption and data loss. It is also a journaling system (resistant to crashes) that creates a special record used, for example, to restore files. It supports compression and encryption. To speed up file searching, files in directories are indexed. ### Hard Disk Management Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/hard-disk-management Comprehensive disk management requires an advanced, sophisticated tool that can be used to perform the necessary operations. A popular tool for complete hard disk management is **Acronis Disk Director**, which allows you to create disk partitions, delete existing partitions, resize partitions without data loss, split and merge disk partitions without data loss, and install any number of operating systems thanks to the boot manager. The ability to create and manage disk partitions makes it possible to have multiple file systems and operating systems on a single disk. Other features of Acronis Disk Director also include disk cloning and volume recovery. ### Startup Recovery Manager Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/startup-recovery-manager Acronis Startup Recovery Manager is a self-booting version of Acronis True Image. Acronis Startup Recovery Manager allows you to start Acronis True Image without loading the operating system. If the operating system cannot boot for any reason, you can use the standalone Acronis True Image program to repair damaged disk partitions. Unlike booting from Acronis bootable media, you do not need any additional media or a network connection to start Acronis True Image. **How to use Acronis Startup Recovery Manager** This feature can be enabled in two ways: **1.**In the program while Windows is running 1\) Install Acronis True Image\ 2\) Start it and click the **‘Tools’** tab in the left menu\ 3\) At the bottom, open **‘All tools’** and start Acronis Startup Recovery Manager\ 4\) Click the ‘Activate Acronis Startup Recovery Manager’ button to enable the feature **2.**Using Acronis bootable media (Rescue Media) 1\) Boot from the Acronis media\ 2\) Click the **‘Tools’** tab\ 3\) ‘Acronis Startup Recovery Manager’ will be displayed there\ 4\) Click it to activate the feature You can deactivate it in the same ways. When Acronis Startup Recovery Manager is activated, it replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR) with its own boot code. If you have any third-party boot managers installed, you will need to reactivate them after enabling Startup Recovery Manager. In the case of Linux boot loaders (such as LiLo and GRUB), you may want to consider installing them to the boot record of the Linux root (or boot) partition instead of the MBR before activating Acronis Startup Recovery Manager. If a failure occurs, turn off the computer and, as soon as you see the message “Press F11 to start Acronis Startup Recovery Manager,” press the F11 key. This will start the standalone version of Acronis True Image Home, which differs only slightly from the Windows version. You can also run Acronis True Image outside the operating system using [Acronis boot media](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/boot-medium/) (bootable media). ### Try&Decide Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/try-and-decide Try&Decide is a special mode of the [Acronis True Image](http://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image-2018) backup program that allows you to safely test applications, browse the internet, and perform various experiments. When you enable Try&Decide mode in Acronis True Image, your computer enters Try mode. You can then perform various potentially dangerous operations without worrying about damaging the operating system, applications, or data. When you turn off Try&Decide mode, you can decide whether to apply the changes to your computer or discard them. **When is Try&Decide mode useful?** We recommend enabling Try&Decide mode before attempting the following operations: - Changing system settings if you are not sure how those settings may affect your computer. - Installing system updates, drivers, etc. - Installing unknown applications. - Opening email attachments from unknown senders. - Visiting websites that may contain problematic content. Remember that if you download email from a POP mail server while working in Try mode, create new files, or edit existing documents and then decide to discard the changes made, those emails, files, and document changes will not be saved. In this case, save new files and edited documents, for example, to a USB flash drive and disconnect the drive before discarding the changes. **How does Try&Decide mode work after restarting the computer?** You can keep Try&Decide mode running for as long as you want, because this mode persists even between operating system restarts. If your computer restarts for any reason while working in Try mode, a dialog box will appear before the operating system starts, where you can choose whether to stop the mode and discard the changes or continue in this mode. This allows you to discard changes that caused a system crash. On the other hand, if you restart the computer, for example after installing an application, you can continue working in Try mode after Windows starts. Each time the computer is restarted in Try mode, up to 500 MB of Try&Decide operating data will be added to the storage selected for saving virtual changes. **Limitations when using Try&Decide mode** If you use Windows 8 or Windows 10, the application may use free space quite intensively in Try mode, even when the computer is idle. Try mode can do this due to maintenance activities, such as indexing, running in the background. System performance may decrease while working in Try mode. In addition, the process of applying changes may take a long time, especially if you leave Try mode enabled at the end of the day. Try&Decide mode cannot track changes to disk partitions, so it is not possible to perform virtual operations on disk partitions in Try mode (for example, changing their size or layout). In addition, Try&Decide mode cannot be used simultaneously with disk defragmentation or disk error-checking tools, as this may cause irreparable damage to the file system and prevent the system disk from starting. **With Try mode, you cannot:** - Use a previously activated Acronis Startup Recovery Manager while Try mode is running. Restarting the computer in Try mode allows you to use Acronis Startup Recovery Manager again. - Use non-stop backup and Try&Decide mode simultaneously. Starting Try mode stops non-stop backup. Non-stop backup starts again after Try mode ends. - Use Hibernation power-saving mode while Try mode is running. - Use Try&Decide mode to protect dynamic disks. - Use Try&Decide mode if the system partition is encrypted with BitLocker. - Use Try&Decide mode to protect Acronis Secure Zone or use it as storage for virtual changes. ### Universal Restore Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/universal-restore **What is Acronis Universal Restore?**\ Acronis Universal Restore is part of Acronis backup solutions.\ Specifically, [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) is used for home backup, while [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) is used for backup in an organization. **What is Acronis Universal Restore used for**?\ This component makes it possible to replace mass storage drivers and drivers in the so-called HAL layer. **When would you use Acronis Universal Restore?** 1\) If you restore a backup on a machine whose hardware differs from the machine the backup originated from, the machine will not boot. This is because the system uses the original, incorrect drivers for the disk controller and mass storage devices. This is where Acronis Universal Restore comes in, allowing you to replace the drivers for these devices with new ones after recovery, i.e., the correct drivers for that machine. 2\) If you insert a disk from one machine into a machine whose hardware differs from the machine the disk originated from, the scenario is the same as in the first case, but without the need to perform a recovery. Here too, Acronis Universal Restore makes it possible to replace drivers for mass storage devices and the HAL layer. **How is Acronis Universal Restore used?**\ Acronis Universal Restore is used from Acronis bootable media (CD, DVD, or USB). Therefore, you need an Acronis True Image license (for home backup) or Acronis Backup (for backup in an organization). The procedure is as follows: - You need to install Acronis backup software and then create Acronis rescue bootable media, which will also include Acronis Universal Restore. - After booting the machine from this bootable media, you can restore a backup and then apply Universal Restore, or apply Universal Restore directly. An example of using Acronis Universal Restore in practice: [Video](https://www.youtube.com/embed/imNOdLDlxoY) ### V2P - Virtual-to-Physical Machine Migration Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/v2p-migration **V2P – Virtual machine migration to a physical machine** V2P (virtual to physical) migration means converting a functional, existing virtual machine to a physical one. Acronis Backup Cyber Backup software creates disk images that can be restored when needed. With the Universal Restore add-on, it is also possible to create a backup of a functioning system and restore it to a virtual computer, a physical machine, or even a physical machine with different hardware. Converting a virtual machine to a physical one – V2P migration using Acronis\ To convert a virtual machine to physical hardware, you need one of the Acronis Backup Cyber Backup products + the Universal Restore add-on. The Acronis Universal Restore add-on allows you to replace the computer's basic drivers during backup recovery (the so-called HAL layer, or hardware abstraction layer, which creates a unified [interface](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/API) on the computer) and also lets you provide your own drivers. This ensures that the machine does not crash after recovery. If recovery were performed without this add-on, the physical machine would use the virtual machine's drivers, which cannot work with actual hardware, and the system would crash before startup. **The procedure is as follows:** 1. Use one of the Acronis Backup Cyber Backup products to create a backup of the virtual machine. You can either install the program directly on the virtual computer and create a backup, or boot the virtual computer from Acronis bootable media and create a backup of the virtual machine from that environment. 2. Store the backup so that it is also accessible to the physical machine to which you want to transfer the virtual machine system. This means that the backup should be stored, for example, on an external drive, network drive, shared network storage, or removable media (e.g., CD, DVD). 3. Boot the physical machine using Acronis bootable media with the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. Select recovery of the backup created on the virtual computer. 4. Choose to use the Universal Restore add-on and, if necessary, add your own drivers. Perform the recovery. 5. After recovery, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the machine. 6. An exact copy of the virtual machine should now work on the physical machine. ### Server and workstation virtualization Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/server-and-workstation-virtualization **Virtualization for everyone**\ Virtualization is the use of the hardware resources of a host machine for a virtual guest machine through emulation. Virtualization creates a simulated (virtual) computing environment instead of a physical environment. **What is virtualization good for?**\ Virtualization is a suitable tool, for example, for testing applications because you do not have to overload your own system. You simply test the application in a virtual computer. The entire virtual computer is usually stored in a single directory, so it can be easily backed up by copying the directory. Virtualization enables server consolidation and thus reduces the costs required for the purchase, operation, and maintenance of hardware. **Real-world example:** Imagine a company that operates 4 servers and it is time to acquire new ones. The company can buy 4 new servers or one powerful machine and run these 4 servers virtually on one physical server. **Virtualization can be used to bridge an outage caused by a sudden hardware failure.** **Real-world example:** Imagine a server that is vital to the operation of a company and this machine crashes. In such a case (provided that a virtual copy or at least a functional backup of this machine exists), the server can be brought into operation in a virtual environment for the necessary period. As soon as a new machine is available, the virtual server can be transferred to the new physical hardware, ensuring almost continuous server operation. Data that changes on the server while it is operating in the virtual environment will, of course, also be transferred to the new hardware. * Note – the above does not apply generally; this option is offered by Acronis products. **What do I need to set up a virtual computer?**\ First of all, a sufficiently powerful machine is needed. Hardware requirements are determined by the hardware requirements of the physical and virtual machine. Keep in mind that a real operating system will run on the physical computer and another operating system will run on the virtual computer. However, if you decide to run Windows 7 in a virtual computer on your Windows 10, you do not need to worry. But if you run a Windows 10 virtual computer in Windows 10, the hardware requirements are considerably higher. You will also need a virtualization application. In the virtualization application, you create and configure a virtual machine. Remember that a substantial portion of disk space must be allocated for the virtual machine. For example, allow at least 20 GB of space for Windows 7. You can use the Microsoft Virtual PC virtualization application free of charge. Paid products include Microsoft Virtual Server, VMware, Parallels, and others. You can download Microsoft Virtual PC at the following address:\ Be careful not to violate the licensing terms of the operating systems used.\ You can find the license agreement for Microsoft Windows at the following address:\ **Setting up a virtual machine – virtual computer installation**\ After installing the virtualization application, create a new virtual machine. In most applications, this can be done using a clear wizard. Set the virtual machine to boot from the CD/DVD drive, insert the installation disc of the desired operating system, and start the virtual machine. Install the virtual machine. The procedure is the same as installing a system on a real computer. **Setting up a virtual machine** – P2V migration, direct conversion using Acronis\ Acronis Cyber backup products are primarily intended for creating disk images. In addition, the Acronis Cyber backup product family allows these backups to be converted directly into a virtual machine. The result of the conversion is a file that you use as the hard disk of the virtual machine. With Acronis, you can therefore create a backup of a physical machine within minutes and then convert it into a virtual machine. An exact copy of the physical machine then works in the virtual machine. **Setting up a virtual machine** – P2V migration using Acronis bootable media\ Again, you first need to create a backup of the physical machine using one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products. Insert Acronis bootable media into the drive, set the virtual machine to boot from the USB/DVD drive. Start the virtual machine and, in the Acronis program that launches, restore the virtual machine using the backup from the physical machine. To make this possible, the backup must be available to the virtual computer. This means it should be located, for example, on an external drive, network drive, shared network storage, or removable USB or DVD media. After the restoration, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the virtual computer. An exact copy of the physical machine then works in the virtual machine. **Converting** **a virtual machine to a physical one** – V2P migration using Acronis\ To convert a virtual machine to physical hardware, you need one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products + the Universal Restore add-on. The Acronis Universal Restore add-on allows you to replace the basic computer drivers (the so-called HAL layer) when restoring a backup and also allows you to provide your own drivers. This ensures that the machine does not crash after restoration. If restoration were performed without this add-on, the physical machine would use virtual machine drivers that cannot work with real hardware, and the system would crash before it even started. Using one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products, create a backup of the virtual machine. You can either install the program directly in the virtual computer and create a backup, or boot the virtual computer from Acronis bootable media and create a backup of the virtual machine from that environment. Store the backup so that it is also accessible to the physical machine to which you want to transfer the virtual machine system. This means that the backup should be stored, for example, on an external drive, network drive, shared network storage, or removable USB or DVD media. Boot the physical machine using Acronis bootable media with the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. Choose to restore the backup created in the virtual computer. Choose to use the Universal Restore add-on and, if necessary, add your own drivers. Perform the restoration. After restoration, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the machine. An exact copy of the virtual machine will then work on the physical machine. **Transferring a system to a machine with different hardware** – P2P migration\ Acronis Cyber backup products are primarily intended for creating disk images. You can then use these disk images to clone computers. Simply create a backup of computer number 1 and restore it to computer 2. If both computers have identical hardware, any Acronis Cyber Backup product will be sufficient for this operation. However, if the source and target computers have different hardware, we would again encounter a driver problem, just as with V2P migration. The target computer would use the drivers of the source computer, and these would not work on the target computer. Therefore, it will again be necessary to use a product from the Acronis Cyber Backup family + the Acronis Universal Restore add-on, which ensures the required driver replacement on the target machine. The procedure would be to create a backup of the source computer and store it so that it is accessible to the target computer. Boot the target computer using Acronis bootable media with the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. Then choose to restore the backup created on the source computer. Choose to use the Universal Restore add-on and, if necessary, add your own drivers. Perform the restoration. After restoring the target machine, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the machine. The result will be two computers that are hardware-wise different but software-wise identical. It does not matter if the source and target hard drives are different sizes; Acronis allows you to “expand or shrink” the backup according to the size of the target disk. Acronis even allows you to change the SID identifier, so if you want to operate both computers on the same network, no address conflict will occur. **A real-life example of using virtualization** – a new system on an old PC\ A computer used by an accountant has been running non-stop for 3 years without reinstallation. In addition to accounting, this computer is used for everyday work, so it is no surprise that after 3 years of operation it is considerably slowed down and cluttered with remnants of program installations and uninstallations. Hardware-wise, this machine is sufficient; there is no reason to buy new hardware. The IT department is therefore asked to reinstall the operating system, including setting up the accounting program and all necessary applications, while of course preserving all data on this computer. The IT department states that this is a 3-day task, which is unacceptable to the company management. The IT department therefore decides to create a virtual computer in which it installs the operating system, accounting program, all necessary applications, and transfers data from the old system. Using Acronis Cyber Backup Workstation, it creates a backup of this virtual computer. Then, using Acronis bootable media with the Universal Restore add-on, it restores this backup to the physical computer. The result is a fast, clean installation of Windows while preserving the accounting program, all applications, and data from the original system. The time during which the accounting computer was out of service is thus reduced to just 10–20 minutes needed to perform the restoration. **Example of using P2P Migration** – old server system on new hardware\ Here we have the opposite case. A company decides to purchase a new server. The company is critically dependent on this server. Acquiring the hardware is not a problem, but it would take days to install and, most importantly, configure the new server. With the help of Acronis Cyber Backup Server for Windows, a backup of the old server is created, and using Acronis bootable media with the Universal Restore add-on, this backup is restored to the new server within 20 minutes. The result is a new, more powerful server that does not need any configuration because it has inherited all the settings of the old server. Acronis Cyber Backup Server for Windows + the Universal Restore add-on ensured the server migration to new hardware and will also reliably back up this new server. ### Virtual machine – how to create one Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/creating-a-virtual-machine A virtual machine is a hosted machine running on a physical machine by emulating the hardware resources of the host machine. A virtualization application is required for virtualization. A virtualization application makes it possible to run several operating systems simultaneously on one computer. For example, you can work in Linux and have Windows or another supported operating system running in another window. **What do I need to set up a virtual machine?**\ First and foremost, you need a sufficiently powerful machine. Hardware requirements are determined by the hardware requirements of the physical and virtual machines. Keep in mind that an actual operating system will run on the physical computer and another operating system will run on the virtual computer**.** If you decide to run Windows 10 in a virtual machine on your computers with Windows 8, you do not need to worry. However, if you run a Windows 10 virtual machine in Windows 10, the hardware requirements are considerably higher. You will also need a virtualization application. In the virtualization application, you create and configure the virtual machine. Remember that you need to allocate a substantial amount of disk space for the virtual machine. For example, for Windows 7, allow at least 20 GB of space. You can use the Microsoft Virtual PC virtualization application for free. Paid products include Microsoft Virtual Server, VMware, Parallels, and others. You can download Microsoft Virtual PC at the following address:\ Beware of violating the licensing terms of the operating systems you use.\ You can find the license agreement for Microsoft Windows at the following address:\ **How to protect virtual machines**?\ Virtual machines, like physical machines, can be protected by backup. In the case of virtual machines on the Free ESXi, Parallels, Oracle VM, Red Hat Virtualization, and Citrix Xen Server platforms, among others, it is necessary to install the Acronis backup Agent inside the virtual machines and back up the contents of these machines in a similar way as if they were physical machines. In the case of virtualization based on paid editions of VMware and MS Hyper-V, it is also possible to use so-called agentless backup of virtual machines from outside. Acronis also makes it possible to back up the host machines themselves. The backup solution that enables all of this is [Acronis Cyber Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/). ### Virtual server and P2V and V2P migration Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/virtual-server-and-p2v-v2p-migration A virtual server is a hosted machine running on a physical host machine using emulation of the host machine's hardware resources. A virtualization application is required for virtualization. A virtualization application makes it possible to run several operating systems simultaneously on a server. For example, you can work in Linux and have Windows or another supported operating system running in another window. **Most common virtualization applications**\ Microsoft virtual PC, Microsoft virtual server, VMware workstation, VMware server, Parallels Workstation **Setting up a virtual machine** – Direct P2V migration conversion using Acronis\ Acronis Cyber backup products are primarily intended for creating disk images. However, the Acronis Cyber backup product family also makes it possible to convert these backups directly into a virtual machine. The result of the conversion is a file that you use as the virtual machine's hard drive. With Acronis, you can therefore create a backup of a physical machine within minutes and then convert it into a virtual machine. The virtual machine will then run an exact copy of the physical machine. **Setting up a virtual machine** – P2V migration using Acronis bootable media\ Again, you must first create a backup of the physical machine using one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products. Insert the Acronis bootable media into the drive and set the virtual machine to boot from the USB/DVD drive. Start the virtual machine and, in the Acronis program that launches, restore the virtual machine using the backup from the physical machine. For this to be possible, the backup must be available to the virtual computer. This means that it should be located, for example, on an external drive, network drive, shared network storage, or removable USB or DVD media. After the restoration, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the virtual computer. The virtual machine will then run an exact copy of the physical machine. **Converting** **a virtual machine to a physical machine** – V2P migration using Acronis\ To convert a virtual machine to physical hardware, you need one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products + the Universal Restore add-on. The Acronis Universal Restore add-on makes it possible to replace the computer's basic drivers (the so-called HAL layer) when restoring a backup and also allows you to provide custom drivers. This ensures that the machine does not crash after restoration. If restoration were performed without this add-on, the physical machine would use the virtual machine's drivers, which cannot work with actual hardware, and the system would crash before it starts. Using one of the Acronis Cyber Backup products, create a backup of the virtual machine. You can either install the program directly on the virtual computer and create a backup, or boot the virtual computer from Acronis bootable media and create a backup of the virtual machine from that environment. Store the backup so that it is also accessible to the physical machine to which you want to transfer the virtual machine's system. This means that the backup should be stored, for example, on an external drive, network drive, shared network storage, or removable USB or DVD media. Boot the physical machine using Acronis bootable media with the Acronis Universal Restore add-on. Select restoration of the backup created on the virtual computer. Choose to use the Universal Restore add-on and, if necessary, add custom drivers. Perform the restoration. After the restoration, remove the Acronis bootable media from the drive and restart the machine. The physical machine will then run an exact copy of the virtual machine. ### Creating a disk partition Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/creating-a-partition A disk partition can be created in several ways: **Creating a partition directly in Windows**\ 1\) In Control Panel, open Administrative Tools\ 2\) Select Computer Management\ 3\) Select Storage\ 4\) Select Disk Management\ 5\) Right-click the free unallocated disk space and select Create Partition\ 6\) A brief wizard will guide you through the partition creation process\ This procedure does not allow you to remove the active partition (from which the system is currently running). **Creating a partition using the Windows installation CD**\ 1\) Boot the computer from the Windows installation CD\ 2\) Wait for the installation interface to load\ 3\) Select Start Windows Setup\ 4\) Accept the license terms\ 5\) Select installation of a new system\ 6\) Press the C key to create a partition\ 7\) Enter the size of the new disk partition and its file system **Easy disk partition creation using Acronis Disk Director** 1. Start [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/), then right-click the free unallocated space on the disk 2. Select Create Partition from the menu 3. If you want to create a new disk partition at the expense of another partition, reduce the size of the original partition and then create a new disk partition from the newly freed space **Warning**\ The trial version of Acronis Disk Director allows you to work with partitions up to 10 GB in size (a larger partition cannot be created in the trial version). ### Backup – what is good to back up Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/what-to-back-up [**Disk backup**](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-disku/)\ A disk backup means a backup of the contents of the entire disk**,** including the installed operating system, installed applications, and all data stored on the disk. Unlike a file backup, a disk backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a disk backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). **[Partition backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-oddilu/)**\ A disk partition backup means a backup of the contents of the entire partition, including the installed operating system (if the partition contains it), installed applications, and all data stored on that disk partition. Unlike a file backup, a system partition backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a system partition backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). [**System backup**](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-systemu/) A system backup usually means a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that enables system backups is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up, using the sector-by-sector method, the entire disk partition on which the system is installed. A backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored on that partition. Acronis True Image allows backups to be burned directly to CD and DVD, stored on other disks/partitions, and saved to network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image also allows you to get a system up and running by restoring a system backup to a blank disk using Acronis boot media. It is advisable to ensure that the operating system and work data are stored separately. This ensures that in the event of a system failure, when it is necessary to erase the system, you will not lose your data at the same time. If there are two hard drives in the computer, it is advisable to use one as the system drive and the other for storing work data. If there is only one disk in the computer, it is advisable to divide the disk into a system partition and a data partition. The [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software will help you partition the disk. **[Directory backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-adresare/)**\ A directory data backup can be created in a variety of ways. One example is simply copying the contents through scheduled synchronization, backing up a directory with content compression, and more.\ Acronis True Image offers directory backups that you can schedule. The contents of backups are compressed according to your settings, reducing storage space requirements. You can burn backups to CD and DVD, store them on local and external disks, and save them to network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image can create system backups, disk backups, and much more. **[Outlook backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-outlook/)**\ When people refer to an Outlook backup, they usually mean archiving messages to an Outlook backup file and possibly copying the backup files to another directory. This principle is suitable for long-term archiving of email messages. The disadvantage of this method is that messages that are not in the backup archive are not backed up. If all messages are moved to the backup archive, working with them will be difficult. **How can you solve this problem?** 1. You can use an alternative email client that directly supports email message backups 2. You can use software for backing up Outlook and Outlook Express. There are several tools that can create an Outlook backup. One of them is [Acronis True Image](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/true-image-home/), which can back up Outlook down to the level of individual email messages, and another is Acronis True Image, which can also create system backups, disk backups, and much more. **Partition backup** A partition backup, or partition image, is a file or several files that contain an exact copy of the partition from which the backup was created, including a working operating system (if it was on the disk partition from which the backup originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. Other commonly used terms for a partition backup are: disk partition image, disk partition image file, and partition image. **Windows backup – how to back up Windows** A Windows backup usually means a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that enables backups of the Windows operating system is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up, using the sector-by-sector method, the entire disk partition on which the operating system is installed. A backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored on that partition. True Image allows Windows backups to be burned directly to CD and DVD, stored on other disks or partitions, and saved to network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image allows you to get a system up and running by restoring a system backup to a blank disk using Acronis bootable media. It is advisable to ensure that the operating system and work data are stored separately. This ensures that if a system failure occurs and it is necessary to erase it, you will not lose your data at the same time. If there are two hard drives in the computer, it is advisable to use one as the system drive and the other for storing work data. If there is only one disk in the computer, it is advisable to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. The [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software will help you partition the disk. ### Directory backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/folder-backup **How do you create one?** A directory data backup can be created in many different ways. One example is simply copying the content through scheduled synchronization, backing up the directory with content compression, and more.\ Acronis True Image offers directory backups that you can schedule. Backup content is compressed according to your settings, reducing storage space requirements. You can burn backups to CDs and DVDs, save them to local and external disks, and store them in network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image can create system and disk backups, and much more. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Entire machine backups (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from a single location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be saved to multiple storage locations at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage, including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (at an additional cost) · Yes · Yes - How recovery can be performed from backups - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be recovered · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database parts · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be recovered into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### SQL and Exchange Database Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/sql-and-exchange-database-backup Backing up databases such as MS SQL Server and MS Exchange was until recently problematic due to open files, indexes, and frequent data changes. **Database backup using Acronis Cyber Backup**\ Products from the Acronis Cyber Backup family can be used to back up Microsoft VSS-compatible databases as part of a disk or disk partition image on which the database is running. In this case, VSS support must be enabled in the program settings. Databases backed up this way as part of a disk or disk partition image will be fully functional after recovery. Please note that such a backup does not allow granular recovery, which is why Acronis developed backup tools specialized for specific database types. Acronis Inc. offers products designed specifically for backing up SQL and Exchange databases. This database backup software creates database images 70% faster than products from the Acronis Cyber Backup family. Acronis's new database imaging technology requires up to 96% less disk space. ### Disk backup - how to back up a disk Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/disk-backup **Disk backup**\ Also known as a disk image, it is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the hard drive from which this backup was created, including a working operating system (if one was present on the disk from which the backup originated), installed programs, user settings and data. Other commonly used terms for a disk backup are: disk image, disk image file, disk image. **Disk partition backup**\ Also known as a disk partition image, it is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the disk partition from which this backup was created, including a working operating system (if one was present on the disk partition from which the image originated), installed programs, user settings and data. **Which software should I use?** To create a disk backup, it is best to use software designed for this purpose. A disk backup is usually stored as a file or several files. Different disk backup software uses different disk backup formats. A disk backup created by Acronis True Image has the extension \*.tib or \*.tibx. A disk backup is not created by storing individual files in the backup file; instead, occupied blocks on the disk are stored. **Why do I need a disk backup?**\ A disk backup allows you to return the contents of a disk to its original state (the state it was in when this backup was created). If you have a working backup of the system disk, you can restore it to the original disk when needed and get, for example, a crashed system running again. For creating disk backups, we recommend using software that supports bare metal restore, such as Acronis True Image. Some disk backup creation and recovery tools allow you to restore a backup only if you have working Windows with the relevant disk backup creation and recovery software installed. This is very unfortunate when the system crashes and you need to get it up and running as quickly as possible. You would first have to install Windows, then the recovery software, and then perform the restore. Acronis True Image allows you to restore a disk backup using Acronis bootable media even when the operating system has crashed, there is no system on the disk, or the disk is completely empty (without data). The disk may even be formatted; nevertheless, you can restore the system within minutes using Acronis bootable media. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environments is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which machine types are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backups are managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be divided into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Option to set up backup email notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How backup recovery can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be recovered from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database parts · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored into virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to enlarge or reduce a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Exchange Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/exchange-backup **How to back up Exchange?** Exchange database backup\ Acronis Recovery for Microsoft Exchange is the fastest solution for data backup and recovery on the market. It provides full recovery capabilities, including options to restore individual mailboxes or individual email messages.\ Get the best of both worlds: A very fast solution with detailed recovery configuration options, combining near-continuous data protection (CDP). Acronis Recovery for Microsoft Exchange can restore the state to the condition before a disaster. ### Laptop Backup - How to Back Up a Laptop Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/laptop-backup **How to back up a laptop?** Do not make the same mistakes as most laptop owners. You can save a lot of time, money, and stress. **DANGEROUS MYTH – I back up my data, so nothing can happen to me**\ Backing up data is simple and usually free. Some freeware programs even allow you to automate data backups. We can protect data, but I would argue that this only solves half the problem. The other half is protecting the system, installed applications, and settings. Do you think that is not necessary? You are mistaken. What will you do when you start your laptop and, instead of Windows, you see a black screen saying something about a system boot error or system disk failure? 1. **A) I will take the laptop to a service center**\ Let us now talk about a situation where it is not a hardware error, but perhaps the result of a virus infection, software error, or improper handling. In that case, expect that the repair will not be free and do not rely on being able to restore everything to its original state. There is no need to mention that the laptop will spend some time at the service center, it will cost something, and the laptop will not take itself there either. 2. **B) I will repair it myself … but how?**\ If you have installation media for the operating system, you can boot the laptop from that media and choose system repair. Unfortunately, the vast majority of laptops sold today come with an OEM operating system license and without installation media! So unless your friend has a boxed version of the operating system with installation media, you are out of luck. Instead of operating system installation media, you usually have the option to restore the laptop to its default factory configuration. Different hardware vendors use different systems for this recovery. There is usually a hidden disk partition containing a clean machine installation. The recovery wizard is then launched either from bootable media that you received when purchasing the laptop or by pressing a specific key when starting the laptop. You can therefore restore the laptop to its default configuration. However, this usually depends on the recovery system and means that you will get a clean system, no data, and no installed programs. You will spend the following hours and days on these activities: Searching for installation files for all programs\ Installing and configuring all necessary programs\ Downloading and installing operating system updates\ Setting up and tuning systems and system applications\ Configuring network connections, if you connect to a network **How can I protect the data and system on my laptop?**\ As in other areas, it is better to prevent a fire than put it out. Investing in a backup solution will save you disproportionately more money in the event of a disaster. **What backup tool should I use?**\ A suitable tool for backing up a laptop is Acronis True Image software. This program allows you to back up the entire system as well as the necessary data. **Back up not only data, but also the system**\ Acronis True Image allows you to back up the entire disk. In the event of a disaster, simply start the laptop using Acronis bootable media and restore the entire system, including installed applications, settings, and data. Back up your data separately as well. **How often should I back up?**\ It depends on what you are willing to lose. If, for example, you back up data once a day, in the worst case you will lose the last 24 hours of your work. Acronis True Image allows you to back up data several times a day without worries. The backup scheduler takes care of everything. **Where should I store backups?**\ This topic is discussed in detail in the article about backups at this address [www.acronis.cz/kb/zalohovani-dat/](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zalohovani-dat/) **Backup storage is not unlimited, what can I do about it?**\ If you store backups on a local disk or external disk, you can set up automatic backup consolidation in Acronis True Image. Simply specify that, for example, old backups should be deleted after 5 backups, leaving you with one current backup. This option saves space and eliminates the hassle of manually deleting old backups. **Is there anything I should watch out for?**\ Yes, do not underestimate backups. If new documents that you have worked on for hours are added every day and it would be unfortunate to lose them, back them up! There is nothing sadder than needing to restore yesterday's document but having a month-old backup (such a document is, of course, not included in a month-old backup). With Acronis True Image, you do not even have to remember to back up. Just set up automatic backups once and you do not have to worry about anything else. **I am not an expert, will I be able to do it?**\ Yes, Acronis True Image is designed so that anyone can use it. **What other benefits does Acronis True Image offer me?**\ The unique Acronis Try&Decide feature included in Acronis True Image allows you to test potentially dangerous applications and browse the internet safely. Simply launch Try&Decide and you can test. Then choose whether you want to keep or discard the changes made to the system. If you discard the changes, the system will return to the state it was in when Try&Decide was launched. Another benefit is active ransomware protection provided by the backup solution. ### Partition backup - how to back up partitions Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/backing-up-partitions **Disk partition backup**\ Also known as a disk partition image, it is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the disk partition from which this backup was created, including a working operating system (if it was on the disk partition from which the image originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. **Disk backup**\ Also known as a disk image, it is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the hard drive from which this backup was created, including a working operating system (if it was on the drive from which the backup originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. Other commonly used terms for a disk backup include: disk image, drive image, disk image file. **Which software should I use?** To create a disk partition backup, it is best to use software designed for this purpose. A disk partition backup is usually stored as one or several files. Different disk partition backup software uses different formats. A disk partition backup created by Acronis True Image has the \*.tib extension. A disk partition backup is not created by storing individual files in the backup file; instead, the sectors of the disk partition are stored. **What do I need a disk backup for?**\ A disk partition backup allows you to return the contents of the partition to its original state (the state it was in when this backup was created). If you have a working backup of the system partition, you can restore it when needed and bring a failed system back into operation, for example. For creating disk backups, we recommend using software that supports bare metal restore, such as Acronis True Image. Some tools for creating and restoring disk partition backups allow you to restore a backup only if you have a working Windows installation with the relevant partition backup and recovery software installed. This is highly unfortunate when the system crashes and you need to get it running again as quickly as possible. You will first have to install Windows, then the recovery software, and then perform the recovery. Acronis True Image allows you to restore a disk partition backup using Acronis bootable media even when the operating system has crashed, there is no system on the disk partition, or the disk partition is completely empty. The disk partition can even be formatted; nevertheless, you can restore the system within minutes using Acronis bootable media. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician license)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers running Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers running Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume, partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backups are managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by subordinate administrators · Yes - Ability to set up email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories simultaneously · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local drives, external drives, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How recovery from backups can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-dissimilar machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller drive · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Can be restored from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-run virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-run virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Ability to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Ability to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Ability to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### Oracle Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/oracle-backup The [Acronis Cyber Backup for Oracle Database](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup-oracle-database/) software makes it possible to back up Oracle databases. Its installation, configuration, and centralized management are very easy. It provides active protection against ransomware, protects backups, and prevents encryption. Oracle databases can be backed up using a dedicated backup job. **About Acronis**\ Acronis was founded in Singapore in 2003 and now provides backup, disaster recovery, and secure access solutions through its offices in more than 145 countries. Acronis prides itself on making its technically advanced software available to users through easy-to-use Windows-style interfaces, wizards, and simple icons. Backup, disk partitioning, system boot management, privacy protection, data migration, and other system tasks are now accessible to all PC users at every level of computer proficiency. ### Outlook Backup - How to Back Up MS Outlook Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/outlook-backup **The issue of backing up Outlook needs to be divided into two parts:** **1**) Backing up mail located on the mail server (MS Exchange, Exchange Online, free email services, etc.)\ **2**) Backing up mail stored on the computer (already downloaded to a local archive) **In the first case, when mail is located on the mail server**\ In this case, it is not possible to back up this mail, precisely because the mail is not physically located on the local computer in any form. If you cannot find another way to secure these online messages differently (for example, by synchronization, etc.), you can use a simple trick. Set up another email account with one of the providers of free email services and create a rule that all incoming mail will be automatically forwarded to this second account. You will then find this mail there, for example, in the event of accidental deletion of a message. Another option is regular archiving of email messages. In Outlook, you can set up a rule that, for example, moves mail every week from folders (inbox and outbox and their subfolders) to a local archive. This archive is stored on the computer's local disk and can be backed up like other data. The disadvantage is that you will not see the messages in the inbox, but you will see them in the archive. In a corporate environment, the security of the email server, including mail, should be ensured by your computer network administrator. For MS Exchange and Exchange Online, Acronis offers the backup solution [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/acronis-backup/), which makes it possible to back up the entire server, its disks and volumes, as well as the Exchange database, users, mailboxes, and individual emails. **In the second case, when mail is located in a local archive**\ In this case, it is simple. The Outlook mail archive is a file containing all archived messages. This file can easily be backed up using a file-level method or as part of a backup of the entire computer (a disk or volume image). The vast majority of backup programs allow you to automate backups according to a schedule you specify. So you can easily set backups to be created once a day, several times a day, or, for example, once a week. **What to use for backup**\ If you are dealing with backing up a home computer, we recommend trying the Czech-language backup program [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image-2018/). If you are backing up corporate computers, we recommend trying the backup solution for organizations [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/). A major advantage of the Acronis Backup solution in relation to the Outlook archive (or other large files that change frequently) is the fact that you can choose whether to back up file-level backups (selected files and folders) using a file-level method or a block-level method. With a file-level incremental backup, the entire file is written to the backup archive again after each change (the backup will grow substantially). With the block-level incremental method, only changes to data blocks are written to the backup archive. In other words, the first backup will be large (it will contain the entire Outlook archive), but subsequent increments will be very small. ### Partition backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/partition-backup **How do you back up a partition?** **Partition backup**\ A partition backup, also known as a partition image, is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the partition from which the backup was created, including a working operating system (if it was on the disk partition from which the backup originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. Other commonly used names for a partition backup are: disk partition image, disk partition image file, and partition image. **Disk backup**\ A disk backup refers to a backup of the contents of an entire disk, including the installed operating system, installed applications, and all data stored on the disk. Unlike a file backup, a disk backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when a disk backup is restored, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). **What do I need a partition backup for?**\ A partition backup allows you to return the contents of a partition to its original state (the state it was in when this backup was created). If you have a working backup of the system partition, you can restore it when necessary and get, for example, a crashed system working again. For creating partition backups, we recommend using software that supports bare metal restore, i.e. restoring to bare metal (for example, Acronis True Image). Some tools for creating and restoring disk partition backups only allow you to restore the backup if you have a working Windows installation with the partition backup and recovery software installed. This is highly inconvenient when the system crashes and you need to get it up and running as quickly as possible. You would first have to install Windows, then the recovery software, and only then perform the recovery. Acronis True Image allows you to restore a disk partition backup using Acronis bootable media even if the operating system has crashed, no system is installed on the disk, or the disk is completely empty. The disk can even be formatted; nevertheless, you can restore the system within minutes using Acronis bootable media. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment the product is suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume, and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is managed - Backup is managed directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be organized into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Option to configure email backup notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental, and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are automatically compressed · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in multiple repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB drives · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How backup recovery can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed on hardware-dissimilar machines · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can also be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery from HDD to SSD and vice versa is possible · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual parts of databases · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready-to-use virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD drives · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Option to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Option to increase or decrease a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Option to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Option to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes - Additional software information ### Server backup - how to back up servers Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/server-backup **How to back up servers?** Basic server protection You can ensure basic server protection using the built-in Windows backup. This backup is free (as part of the OS) and is a sensible start. The worst protection is no protection. So if you are not backing up yet, enable the built-in backup. If you are serious about backups, consider purchasing a paid backup solution that offers much more. **Comparison of Windows Backup and Acronis Backup features** | Features | [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) | Windows Backup | | --- | --- | --- | | Ability to restore a backup to a smaller disk | Yes | No | | Ability to restore a backup to different hardware (disk controllers, RAID) | Yes | No | | Restore from MBR to UEFI and vice versa | Yes | No | | Support for FAT16, FAT32, ext2/3/4, ReiserFS, XFS, JFS | Yes | No | | Ability to browse backup contents | Yes | No | | Granular recovery of SQL, Exchange, SharePoint and Oracle databases | Yes | No | | Ability to store backups on tape drives and tape libraries | Yes | No | | Ability to set custom backup retention | Yes | No | | Email notifications and detailed logging | Yes | No | | Backup encryption | Yes | No | | Ability to restore a backup as a virtual machine in VMware and Hyper-V | Yes | No | | Centralized remote management of backup and recovery | Yes | No | | Active ransomware protection | Yes | No | | Licensing | Paid software | Free | **What additional capabilities does the Acronis Backup solution offer?** 1. You can create full, incremental and differential backups as you see fit. Backups can be scheduled by time or by event. 2. You can create disk and volume backups (images), data backups (files and directories), and application database backups (SQL, Exchange, SharePoint, Oracle). 3. You can create any number of backups. For example, incrementally back up the system disk once a day and important data several times a day (such as every hour). 4. You can set backups to be retained for as long as you need. 5. You can configure backups to be automatically copied to additional locations. Or to be gradually moved to additional locations. 6. You can restore backups to completely different hardware. If you replace the motherboard, you cannot do without this functionality. 7. You can restore backups as a virtual machine to Hyper-V or VMware vSphere. 8. You can encrypt backups with your own key (AES 256-bit). 9. If you back up multiple machines, Acronis Backup provides centralized remote management of backup and recovery. 10. Acronis Backup includes built-in ransomware protection. Acronis therefore prevents not only encryption, but also attacks on the backup process, MBR overwriting, and protects the backups themselves. - Features · Software - [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/) · [Acronis Backup](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/) · [Acronis Disk Director](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director/) · [Acronis Disk Director (Workstation, Server, Technician licence)](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-disk-director-advanced/) - Which environment is the product suitable for - For households · Yes · Yes - For organizations of all sizes · Yes · Yes - Which types of machines are supported - Computers with Windows OS (Windows 7, 8, 10) · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - Computers with Mac OS (Apple computers) · Yes · Yes - Physical Windows and Linux servers · Yes · Yes - Virtual machines (VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, Citrix, KVM) · Yes · Yes - Cloud machines (Azure, Amazon EC2) · Yes · Yes - Mobile devices based on iOS and Android · Yes · Yes - What can be backed up - Backups of entire machines (disk, volume and partition images) · Yes · Yes - Data backups (files and directories) · Yes · Yes - Database backups (Exchange, SQL, SharePoint, AD, Oracle) · Yes - How backup is controlled - Backup is controlled directly from the backed-up machine · Yes - Backup and recovery are managed centrally, from one location · Yes - Remote installation of agents on backed-up machines · Yes - Backup can be started manually at any time · Yes · Yes - Backup can be scheduled to run automatically · Yes · Yes - Backed-up machines can be divided into groups · Yes - Backup can be managed by delegated administrators · Yes - Ability to set backup email notifications · Yes - Backup options - Full, incremental and differential backups · Yes · Yes - Always incremental scheme, GFS scheme, custom scheme · Yes · Yes - Backups can be encrypted with a custom password (AES 256 standard) · Yes · Yes - Backups are compressed automatically · Yes · Yes - Backups can be deduplicated · Yes - Backups can be stored in several repositories at once · Yes - Where backups can be stored - Local disks, external disks, USB disks · Yes · Yes - Network storage including NAS · Yes · Yes - Tape drives and tape libraries · Yes - FTP servers · Yes - SFTP servers · Yes - Acronis cloud storage (for an additional fee) · Yes · Yes - How backup recovery can be performed - From the operating system – if the machine is working · Yes · Yes - From bootable media that can be created (CD/DVD, USB) · Yes · Yes - A machine without a working OS can also be restored · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed to hardware-different machine · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be started remotely from central management · Yes - Recovery can be performed to a larger or smaller disk · Yes · Yes - Partition sizes can be changed during recovery · Yes · Yes - Recovery can be performed from HDD to SSD and vice versa · Yes · Yes - What can be restored from a backup - Entire disk, volume, partition · Yes · Yes - Required data (files and directories) from both data and image backups · Yes · Yes - Entire databases or individual database components · Yes - Virtual environment backup - Machines can be replicated to a standby ESXi host · Yes - Backups can be automatically converted into ready virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be started as virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored as ready virtual machines · Yes - Backups can be restored inside virtual machines · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up without an agent inside (Hyper-V and VMware) · Yes - Virtual machines can be backed up with agents inside the virtual machines · Yes - Support for granular recovery of virtual machines · Yes - Hard disk operations - Support for both HDD and SSD disks · Yes · Yes · Yes · Yes - MBR disks can be cloned using the Disk to Disk method · Yes · Yes - MBR and GPT disks can be cloned using the Disk to Backup to Disk method · Yes · Yes - Ability to create new disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to delete a disk partition · Yes · Yes - Ability to enlarge or shrink a disk partition without data loss · Yes · Yes - Ability to format disk partitions · Yes · Yes - Ability to merge disk partitions without data loss · Yes · Yes ### SQL Backup - how to back up SQL databases Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/sql-backup Acronis Backup backup solution enables SQL databases to be backed up in two ways: - Either as part of a disk/volume image (including the option of granular SQL recovery) - Another option is to create a separate backup job for backing up the SQL database (also with the option of granular recovery) Acronis Backup enables the protection of SQL databases on physical machines as well as virtual machines. In the case of VMware vSphere and MS Hyper-V virtualization, granular recovery of SQL databases is possible agentlessly. That is, without the need to install an Acronis agent inside virtual machines. In this case, Acronis communicates with the hypervisor API and uses its snapshots. For SQL databases running on virtual machines in the case of KVM, RHEV, Citrix XenServer, and Oracle, it is necessary to install the Acronis Agent (Agent for Windows and Agent for Linux) inside the virtual machines. These agents then back up SQL databases from within the virtual machines. In the Advanced versions of Acronis Backup backup solutions, it is also possible to protect database clusters. ### System backup - how to back up a system Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/system-backup A system backup usually refers to a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original condition. A classic example of software that enables system backups is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up the entire disk partition on which the system is installed using the sector-by-sector method. A backup created this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored in that partition. Acronis True Image allows you to burn backups directly to CDs and DVDs, save backups to other disks/partitions, and store them in network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image also enables you to get the system running by restoring a system backup to a clean disk using Acronis boot media. It is a good idea to keep the operating system and work data stored separately. This ensures that if the system crashes and needs to be deleted, you will not lose your data at the same time. If the computer has two hard drives, it is a good idea to use one as the system drive and the other to store work data. If the computer has only one drive, it is a good idea to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. The [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software can help you partition your disk. **How to back up a system?** Data can be backed up relatively easily: by manually or automatically copying data to another storage location, synchronization, or intelligent backup programs. However, copying an operating system, disk, or partition containing a working operating system is not so easy. Simply copying data to another disk would not result in a working system on the target disk. **How do you back up a system?**\ You need to use software that can create backups using the block-level (or sector-level) method. Such a backup contains all blocks of the backed-up disk or disk partition. We call such a backup an image (i.e., a disk image or partition image). Only such a backup can include things such as the operating system boot loader and other components necessary for the operating system to function. The result is therefore a backup file, or files, containing the compressed contents of the backed-up disk or partition (depending on what was backed up). **Which tool should you use?**\ There are many tools that allow you to create a system, disk, or partition backup. The built-in Windows operating system tool is completely free. We [wrote here](https://www.acronis.cz/kb/zalohovani-serveru/) about the advantages and disadvantages of this tool. Our offering also includes paid tools for [backing up home computers](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image-2018/) and paid [backup solutions for organizations](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/acronis-backup/). **How do Acronis backup tools work?**\ If you have not yet decided to use paid backup and recovery tools, we have good news for you. Our programs can create and restore backups as part of a 30-day trial version. Read instructions in Czech on how to back up the entire disk of a home computer:\ Read instructions on how to back up computers in an organization:\ ### Windows Backup - How to Back Up Windows Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/windows-backup **How do you back up Windows?** A Windows backup usually refers to a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that enables you to create backups of the Windows operating system is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up the entire disk partition on which the operating system is installed using a sector-by-sector method. A backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored on that partition. True Image allows you to burn Windows backups directly to CDs and DVDs, store them on other disks or partitions, and save them to network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image lets you get the system up and running by restoring a system backup to a clean disk using Acronis bootable media. It is advisable to ensure that the operating system and work data are stored separately. This ensures that if the system crashes and needs to be erased, you will not lose your data as well. If there are two hard drives in the computer, it is a good idea to use one as the system drive and the other to store work data. If there is only one drive in the computer, it is a good idea to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software will help you partition the disk. ### Backup and recovery Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/backup-and-recovery [**Disk backup**](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-disku/)\ A disk backup means a backup of the contents of the entire disk**,** including the installed operating system, installed applications, and all data stored on the disk. Unlike a file backup, a disk backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a disk backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). **[Partition backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-oddilu/)**\ A disk partition backup means a backup of the contents of the entire partition, including the installed operating system (if the partition contains it), installed applications, and all data stored on that disk partition. Unlike a file backup, a system partition backup also contains the boot record and hidden parts of the operating system, so when restoring a system partition backup, the operating system is fully functional and able to boot (provided it was functional at the time the backup was created). [**System backup**](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-systemu/) A system backup usually means a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that allows you to create system backups is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up the entire disk partition on which the system is installed using the sector-by-sector method. A backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored on this partition. Acronis True Image allows you to burn backups directly to CD and DVD, save backups to other disks/partitions, and store them in network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image also allows you to get a system up and running by restoring a system backup to a clean disk using Acronis boot media. It is good practice to keep the operating system and working data stored separately. This ensures that in the event of a system failure requiring the system to be erased, you will not lose your data at the same time. If the computer has two hard disks, it is advisable to use one as the system disk and the other for storing working data. If the computer has only one disk, it is advisable to divide the disk into a system partition and a data partition. The [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software will help you partition the disk. **[Folder backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-adresare/)**\ A folder data backup can be created in various ways. One example is simply copying the contents using scheduled synchronization, backing up a folder with content compression, and more.\ Acronis True Image offers folder backups that you can schedule. Backup contents are compressed according to your settings, reducing storage space requirements. You can burn backups to CD and DVD, save them to local and external disks, and store them in network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image can create system backups, disk backups, and much more. **[Outlook backup](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/zaloha-outlook/)**\ When people refer to an Outlook backup, they usually mean archiving messages into an Outlook backup file and possibly copying the backup files to another folder. This principle is suitable for the long-term archiving of email messages. The disadvantage of this method is that messages not included in the backup archive are not backed up. If all messages are moved to the backup archive, working with them will be difficult. **How can you solve this problem?** 1. You can use an alternative email client that directly supports email message backups. 2. You can use software for backing up Outlook and Outlook Express. There are several tools that can create an Outlook backup. One of them is [Acronis True Image](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/true-image-home/), which can back up Outlook down to the level of individual email messages, and another is Acronis True Image, which can additionally create system backups, disk backups, and much more. **Partition backup** A partition backup, or partition image, is a file or several files containing an exact copy of the partition from which the backup was made, including a working operating system (if it was on the disk partition from which the backup originates), installed programs, user settings, and data. Other terms used for a partition backup include: disk partition image, disk partition image file, and partition image. **Windows backup – how to back up Windows** A Windows backup usually means a backup of the system's working state that would allow the system to be restored to its original form. A classic example of software that allows you to create backups of the Windows operating system is Acronis True Image. It creates system backups by backing up the entire disk partition on which the operating system is installed using the sector-by-sector method. A backup created in this way contains not only the operating system, but also all applications installed on the given disk partition and all data stored on this partition. True Image allows you to burn Windows backups directly to CD and DVD, save them to other disks or partitions, and store them in network storage. In addition, Acronis True Image allows you to get a system up and running by restoring a system backup to a clean disk using Acronis bootable media. It is good practice to keep the operating system and working data stored separately. This ensures that if a system failure occurs and it needs to be erased, you will not lose your data at the same time. If the computer has two hard disks, it is advisable to use one as the system disk and the other for storing working data. If the computer has only one disk, it is advisable to divide it into a system partition and a data partition. The [Acronis Disk Director Suite](http://www.acronis.cz/domacnosti-a-kancelare/produkty/disk-director-suite/) software will help you partition the disk. ### Data Backup - How to Create a Data Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/data-backup **What data should you back up?**\ Simply put, back up data that is indispensable. Whether it is documents, accounting records, music, or videos. We also recommend backing up the entire operating system, including installed applications and data, using an image of the system partition. **How to back up data?**\ To back up the entire system, you need to use software designed for this purpose. When backing up data alone, it is up to you how you back up the data. **Backing up data by manually copying data**\ The simplest way to back up data is to simply copy the data to backup storage, from where it can be copied back to its original location if necessary. **Backing up data by manually copying data with compression**\ If there is a larger amount of data and we want to save the required space, we can compress the data. For example, compression programs such as Winzip and Winrar can be used to create a data backup that compresses its contents. **Backing up data by automatically copying data with compression**\ The previous two methods are functional, undemanding, and anyone can handle them. Data usually needs to be backed up regularly, sometimes even several times a day, and in such cases manual data synchronization is inconvenient. For automatic data backup with content compression, we recommend the software [Acronis True Image](https://www.acronis.cz/produkt/true-image/). The True Image program allows you to schedule data backups as well as run them manually. In addition, this program allows you to create a backup of the entire system. **Where should you back up data?** **Backing up data to a local hard drive**\ This method is the fastest way to back up data, but also one of the least secure. If the source and backup data are on the same hard drive, there is a risk that in the event of a disk failure, we will lose both the source and backup data. However, the least secure way to back up data is when both the source and backup data are on the same disk partition. This is a classic mistake when there is only one unpartitioned hard drive in the computer. If there are two hard drives in the computer, it is best to back up data to the second drive. In the event of a failure of one of the drives, the data will remain on at least one of them. **Backing up data to an external drive and network drive**\ This is a reliable way to protect data against failure of the entire computer. With the declining prices of external and network drives, this method of data backup is becoming increasingly popular, especially among laptop owners. **Backing up data to CD and DVD**\ For now, this is the most widespread method of data backup in small businesses and households. The advantage of this backup method is that you can create multiple backup copies and store them in multiple locations, thereby preventing data loss even in the event of incidents such as a local natural disaster. The disadvantage is the effort required to update backups (if you do not use DVD RAM media).\ A frequent topic of discussion regarding backing up data to CD and DVD media is recording reliability. For example, CD and DVD manufacturer Verbatim states that the lifespan of its media under ideal conditions is up to 100 years. It is necessary to realize that we can never achieve such conditions at home. In addition, each use of the medium shortens its lifespan. Other factors that shorten the lifespan of media include humidity, dust, light radiation, smoke, and more. If the medium is to remain readable for as long as possible, careful handling is essential. **Backing up data to network storage**\ This is a common method of data backup in companies. Individual users store their work data in shared storage on a server or network drives. A network administrator, who further backs up this data, is usually responsible for preserving data in shared storage. **Backing up data to an FTP server**\ Along with increasing connection speeds, this is also an increasingly used backup method. The advantage of this backup method is that backup data can be stored hundreds of kilometers away from the location where the source data is stored. In the event of a local disaster, the backup data remains safe. Backing up data directly to an FTP server is supported, for example, by Acronis True Image home. **Backing up data to tape**\ This is a widespread method of data backup, especially in larger organizations. Tape backups can be stored using tape drives or backup libraries (autoloaders). **Backing up data to a virtual environment**\ This method is usually not used for backing up data itself, but as a backup of a functioning system that can be run in a virtual environment in the event of a failure of the physical machine itself. More information about transferring a system to a virtual machine and transferring a system back from a virtual environment to a physical machine can be found in the chapters [Virtualization](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/virtualizace/), [P2V Migration](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/p2v/) and [V2P Migration](http://www.acronis.cz/kb/v2p/). ### Acronis Abbreviations Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/acronis-abbreviations ###### Overview of commonly used Acronis abbreviations **License types** • BOX = Boxed version (the box is delivered physically)\ • OEM = Original Equipment Manufacturer (non-transferable license supplied with hardware)\ • ESD = Electronic Software Distribution (the license is sent by email)\ • GESD = Government Electronic Software Distribution (the license is intended for a non-commercial entity and is sent by email) **Maintenance types** • incl. AAP = including Acronis Advantage Premier – includes maintenance (free upgrades and 24/7 technical support)\ • incl. AAS = including Acronis Advantage Standard – includes maintenance (free upgrades and 12/5 technical support) **Product types** (who they are intended for) • SOHO = Small Business Home Business – Households and small offices\ • CORPORATE = Corporate customers\ • EDU = Education – Customers in the education sector\ • GOV = Government – Customers in the public administration and local government sector (all authorities) **Solution and agreement types** • BaaS = Backup as a Service – Backup as a service\ • DRaaS = Disaster Recovery as a Service – Disaster recovery as a service\ • SPLA = Service Provider Licence Agreement – Service provider agreement\ • EULA = End User Licence Agreement – License agreement ### Partition resizing Source: https://zebr.ai/en/knowledge-base/resizing-a-partition Sometimes it is necessary to resize an existing disk partition, so it is useful to have instructions on how to do it at hand. **Resizing a partition using Windows installation media**\ Warning! Resizing the partition this way will result in data loss! 1\) Boot the computer from the Windows 10 installation DVD or USB drive\ 2\) Wait for the installation interface to start\ 3\) Continue with the Windows 10 setup program until you are asked which installation type to choose.\ 4\) Select “Custom” and the disks with partitions will be displayed\ 5\) Here you can select any partition and delete it using the ‘Delete’ button\ 6\) Confirm and complete the partition deletion\ 7\) Press the ‘create new partition’ button\ 8\) Enter the size of the new disk partition and its file system **Resizing a partition in Windows** 1\) Open Administrative Tools in Control Panel\ 2\) Select Computer Management\ 3\) Select Storage\ 4\) Select Disk Management\ 5\) Right-click the disk partition and select an action (for example, shrink volume) **Easy partition resizing using Acronis Disk Director**\ 1\) Start Acronis Disk Director\ 2\) Right-click the relevant disk partition and select Resize\ 3\) Follow the wizard instructions **Note**\ The demo version of Acronis Disk Director allows you to work with partitions up to 10 GB in size (larger partitions cannot be created in the demo). ## Events ### Zebra Cyber Roadshow 2026 Source: https://zebr.ai/en/events/cyber-roadshow-2026 1–13 October 2026 ZEBRA SYSTEMS conference on AI and cybersecurity. - **Duration:** 8 hours - **Language:** Czech - 01.10.2026 09:30 — Zebra Cyber Roadshow Ostrava 2026 — Harmony Club Hotel, Ostrava - 06.10.2026 09:30 — Zebra Cyber Roadshow Košice 2026 — Congress Hotel Centrum, Košice - 08.10.2026 09:30 — Zebra Cyber Roadshow Bratislava 2026 — Loft Hotel, Bratislava - 13.10.2026 09:30 — Zebr.AI Roadshow Praha 2026 — Kings Court Hotel, Prague ## Blog ### ZEBR.AI: N-able introduces shadow AI identification into its UEM and security solutions Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebr-ai-n-able-introduces-shadow-ai-identification-into-its-uem-and-security-solutions 2026-09-28 · AI, MSP, RMM and IT Management *New capabilities provide visibility into the use of AI tools across all endpoints and networks by individual identities, without the need for additional agents or infrastructure* *New capabilities provide visibility into the use of AI tools across all endpoints and networks by individual identities, without the need for additional agents or infrastructure* **PRAGUE, September 29, 2026** – **ZEBR.AI**, the distributor of **N-able** solutions in the Czech and Slovak markets, announced that N-able has made its **Shadow AI Visibility** capability available within its **N-central** and **N-sight** UEM solutions and the **Adlumin** security operations platform. The new capability helps organizations identify, classify, and monitor the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in managed environments, providing teams with the visibility needed to address rapidly expanding operational and security blind spots. As AI adoption accelerates, employees are increasingly using AI applications, browser extensions, developer tools, APIs, and SaaS platforms outside traditional governance processes. A Gartner survey conducted between March and May 2025 among 302 cybersecurity leaders revealed that 69% of organizations suspect or have evidence that employees are using unauthorized public GenAI tools. This shadow AI activity can create security, compliance, and operational challenges when organizations lack visibility into which tools are being used, by whom, and where. The **Shadow AI Visibility** capability expands N-able's AI-based cybersecurity solutions by helping customers identify AI usage across endpoints and networks without requiring additional agents, tools, or management consoles. Available through N-central, N-sight, and Adlumin, this capability enables organizations to create a clearer inventory of AI tools in use and take a more informed approach to AI governance. “Organizations are adopting artificial intelligence at an unprecedented pace, but many IT teams are struggling with uncertainty about which AI tools are actually being used in their environments,” said **Nicole Reineke, Chief AI Officer at N-able**. “Shadow AI Visibility helps close this gap by providing actionable insight into AI usage across endpoints and networks. This capability gives customers the foundation they need to make informed decisions regarding security, compliance, and responsible AI adoption.” **Shadow AI Visibility** offers: · Endpoint and network visibility to identify AI applications, browser extensions, developer tools, command-line interfaces, and AI-related network activity. · Classification and governance information that organizes detected AI tools by category, vendor, model family, and approval status. · Identity and device attribution to help understand which users, devices, and processes interact with AI services. · Integrated workflows within N-central, N-sight, and Adlumin that enable customers to view, search, report on, and respond to AI usage data through the platforms they already use. For managed service providers (MSPs), this capability also creates opportunities to support customers with AI governance initiatives, including usage assessments, risk evaluations, compliance reporting, and policy recommendations. Shadow AI Visibility is now available for N-central, N-sight, and Adlumin. For more information, visit: [www.n-able.com/products](http://www.n-able.com/products). ### Acronis: Ransomware can halt production even without attacking PLC systems Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-ransomware-can-halt-production-even-without-attacking-plc-systems 2026-09-23 *For manufacturing companies, ransomware is not just a matter of IT security, but a matter of production continuity* *For manufacturing companies, ransomware is not just a matter of IT security, but a matter of production continuity* **PRAGUE, 23 September 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in cybersecurity solutions, stated that for manufacturing companies, a cyberattack can mean a production shutdown **without attackers having to directly target industrial control PLC systems** – it is enough to disable the computers and servers on which production depends. Companies can then easily lose control over operations and, in extreme cases, have to shut down the entire manufacturing process. Acronis data based on real-world operational data from the first quarter of 2026 show that manufacturing was the most frequently affected industry, accounting for 15% of recorded ransomware cases. Manufacturing companies are therefore facing a fundamental change in their approach to cyber resilience. The goal can no longer be merely to restore data and restart the IT infrastructure. The real goal is to **restore a safe and verified state of the manufacturing process**. “In industry, it is not enough just to find that a server has come back online,” said **Štěpán Bínek, Acronis solutions sales manager at** [**ZEBR.ai**](http://zebr.ai/en/) “We need to know that the restored system corresponds to a known safe state and that reconnecting it will not endanger physical manufacturing processes. This is precisely why recovery must be part of the overall cyber resilience strategy of a manufacturing company.” **Attacks on operational technology through IT** One of the biggest misconceptions is the idea that industrial ransomware must attack manufacturing technology (OT) directly. In practice, an attack may begin in the corporate IT infrastructure and reach manufacturing operations through remote access, compromised accounts, virtualization, or the supply chain. Risky entry points include stolen VPN or jump host credentials, unsecured remote access (RDP), insufficiently secured supplier access, or vulnerable remote management systems. For manufacturing companies, this leads to a clear conclusion: **production protection begins before the production floor**. Segmentation of IT and OT networks, remote access management, identity protection, and priority security for internet-exposed systems are fundamental prerequisites for resilient operations. Ransomware attackers are increasingly targeting recovery mechanisms themselves. They try to destroy or render backups inaccessible so that the victim cannot quickly restore operations. For manufacturing companies, protecting backup systems is therefore just as important as protecting production infrastructure. Backup copies should be isolated from the production environment, protected against unauthorized modification, and regularly tested. In the case of industrial systems, backing up individual files is often not enough. Recovery may require a complete system image, including the operating system, applications, files, and configurations. **Preparation of key procedures** According to Acronis, manufacturing companies should have several key procedures prepared before an incident occurs: - isolated or immutable backups - a predefined recovery procedure - known safe configurations - mechanisms for recovery to replacement hardware - protection suitable for environments with limited connectivity - regular testing of the entire process The **Acronis Cyber Protect for OT** solution supports backup and recovery of computer systems that ensure industrial operations, including environments with segmented or disconnected (air-gapped) infrastructure. The solution combines full system backup and recovery, operator-controlled local recovery, and hardware-independent recovery. However, technology alone cannot ensure a safe production restart. Verification of the physical process and the decision to resume operations must remain in the hands of the responsible operations, technical, and security teams. For manufacturing companies, ransomware is therefore not just a matter of IT security; **above all, it is a matter of production continuity.** A company with prepared backups separated from the production environment, knowledge of the context of its technologies, and regularly tested recovery is much better positioned to handle an attack without long-term disruption of operations. ### GFI Archiver AI simplifies integration with GFI KerioConnect Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/gfi-archiver-ai-simplifies-integration-with-gfi-kerioconnect 2026-09-21 *Direct integration of both products makes working with corporate emails easier, improves mail server performance, and enables more effective compliance with regulations* **PRAGUE, September 21, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a global leader in AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), has introduced **more efficient integration** of its **GFI Archiver AI** archiving product with the **GFI KerioConnect** corporate email solution. This enables GFI KerioConnect users to easily use the proven GFI Archiver AI solution for email archiving, regulatory compliance, and email data recovery in the event of a disaster. Every GFI KerioConnect customer generates emails that need to be retained, searched, and documented, yet many of them do not archive them yet. GFI Archiver AI now integrates directly with GFI KerioConnect and natively loads both users and email data. For customers and partners, this means a minimal time investment during deployment. The key benefits include: · GFI Archiver AI uses the same user directory as GFI KerioConnect, so no new configuration is required. · Historical emails are moved from GFI KerioConnect, improving server performance. · Customers comply with email regulations, including eDiscovery, without having to modify their existing infrastructure. · Both products are managed from a single location through GFI AppManager, including support for GFI AppManager AI and upcoming RADAR monitoring. Customers particularly in healthcare, the public sector, legal and financial services, manufacturing, construction, and other industries where email archiving is often required by law will appreciate the deeper integration. By deploying a standard archiving solution, organizations in these sectors will be better prepared for a wide range of regulatory requirements, including, for example, reducing audit preparation from days to hours. “The simpler connection between GFI Archiver AI and GFI KerioConnect also offers opportunities for our partners,” said **Michael Nebeský, GFI Software Sales Manager at** [**ZEBR.AI**](http://zebr.ai/en/), the exclusive distributor of GFI Software solutions in the Czech Republic. “The barriers posed by complex integration have been removed. More efficient cooperation between the two solutions, easier deployment and management, and preferential pricing create attractive sales potential among GFI KerioConnect customers.” **About GFI Software** GFI Software delivers AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses. GFI’s GFI AppManager AI platform provides cloud-based IT management with the All Customers, All Products, One Single Screen™ feature. GFI Software products are available through thousands of specialized partners worldwide. For more information, visit . ### ZEBRA SYSTEMS becomes ZEBR.AI Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebra-systems-becomes-zebr-ai 2026-09-21 *The evolution from a local cybersecurity distributor to a global AI-first distributor will unify international operations and bring partners faster adoption of AI technologies* ***The evolution from a local cybersecurity distributor to a global AI-first distributor will unify international operations and bring partners faster adoption of AI technologies*** **PRAGUE, September 17, 2026** – **ZEBRA SYSTEMS**, a value-added distributor (VAD) in the cybersecurity segment, announced that it is transitioning from a local value-added distributor to [**ZEBR.AI**](http://zebr.ai/en/), **a global AI-first company focused on the rapid adoption of AI technologies**. The company's activities will continue to be based on distributing cybersecurity solutions from vendors including **Acronis**, **GFI Software**, **N-able, Virtuozzo, Impossible Cloud, AST** and **Company (Un)Hacked.** “We are the first European distributor to decide to position ourselves as AI-first,” said **Zdeněk Bínek, founder and CEO of** [**ZEBR.AI**](http://zebr.ai/en/). “There are several reasons for this: our vendors, including GFI Software, Acronis, N-able and AST, are currently building their solutions around artificial intelligence (AI) and are consolidating their number of distributors to only the most innovative ones. In addition, we are growing in the United States, where only a modern, globally ready brand can succeed, and we are also preparing to expand into other markets.” [ZEBR.AI](http://zebr.ai/en/) expects that, thanks to its more global brand and focus on AI, it will be able to grow into additional regions and reach new customers. In addition to IT administrators and CIOs, it now has an opportunity to reach new decision-makers, including CEOs and finance managers. A single platform and unified messaging across all markets will support more effective communication and accelerate the company's growth. For [ZEBR.AI](http://zebr.ai/en/) partners—namely resellers and MSP providers—this change represents a positive shift towards more efficient use of AI technologies and the offering of AI services to end customers. [ZEBR.AI](http://zebr.ai/en/) will offer packages enabling partners to use AI not only for their own automation, but also to resell it. The AI Adoption program will in turn offer best practices in analytics and the actual implementation of AI in operations, while a comprehensive AI platform will in the future be complemented by its own AI Media Lab innovation laboratory featuring VR and AI technologies. Currently, [ZEBR.AI](http://zebr.ai/en/) already offers its customers cybersecurity technologies with integrated artificial intelligence features that help improve end-customer protection against cyberattacks. It also provides AI solutions for increasing productivity, such as the **Eloquens AI** email assistant, the **MyPersonas** digital twin of a specific employee, and this portfolio will soon be expanded with the **Adminio AI** appointment-scheduling assistant. A short promotional video can be viewed [at this link](https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7506261468284166145). ### Košice hospital uses GFI Kerio Connect for secure communication for more than 1,200 users Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/kosice-hospital-uses-gfi-kerio-connect-for-secure-communication-for-more-than-1-200-users 2026-08-26 · cybersecurity, e-mail, GFI Software, press release *At UNLP Košice, GFI Kerio Connect has been operating continuously and without issues since 2020* *At UNLP Košice, GFI Kerio Connect has been operating continuously and without issues since 2020* **PRAGUE, August 26, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a global leader in AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced that **L. Pasteur University Hospital (UNLP)** in Košice uses **GFI Kerio Connect** for secure communication. At UNLP Košice, GFI Kerio Connect has been operating continuously since 2020, and during this time it has proven to be a stable solution capable of reliably serving up to 1,500 email accounts. Implementation, management, and technical support are provided by **TCX, s.r.o.,** a GFI Software partner in Slovakia. **L. Pasteur University Hospital (UNLP)** in Košice is among the largest healthcare facilities in Slovakia. More than 4,000 employees, dozens of clinics, two hospital campuses, and approximately 1,200 active email users create an environment where any failure of information systems can affect day-to-day operations. In such an organization, email is one of the most important communication tools. It serves not only administration, but also hospital management, specialist departments, and communication with external partners. Service availability is therefore not a matter of convenience, but of operational continuity. **GFI Kerio Connect** provides multi-layered protection for email communications. It combines antivirus protection, antispam filters, custom security rules, and continuous email monitoring. Suspicious messages are intercepted before they reach users. The result is a significantly lower risk of a successful attack and greater protection of sensitive patient and employee data. Users across the hospital can work through the web interface, mobile devices, or the Microsoft Outlook application without having to change their work habits. Administrators also appreciate the intuitive system management, which allows them to devote more time to developing the hospital's IT infrastructure rather than resolving day-to-day operational issues. “Hospitals today face increasingly stringent requirements for data protection, system availability, and cyber resilience,” said **Jozef Kačala, Vice President of Global Sales Engineering at GFI Software**. “GFI Kerio Connect is not just a mail server. It is a platform that helps ensure daily communication, protects sensitive information, and reduces the risks associated with modern cyber threats. At a time when cybersecurity is becoming one of healthcare’s priorities, it represents a proven solution that enables hospital management to focus on what matters most – providing quality healthcare to patients.” ### ZEBRA SYSTEMS: AI capabilities in N-able solutions eliminate the time from vulnerability detection to remediation Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebra-systems-ai-capabilities-in-n-able-solutions-eliminate-the-time-from-vulnerability-detection-to-remediation 2026-08-24 · AI, MSP, N-able, patch management, press release, vulnerabilities *The AI assistant integrated into N-sight and N-central solutions makes it possible to significantly improve IT security* *The AI assistant integrated into N-sight and N-central solutions makes it possible to significantly improve IT security* **PRAGUE, 24 August 2026** – **ZEBRA SYSTEMS**, distributor of **N-able** solutions in the Czech and Slovak markets, announced that the **N-able N-sight** and **N-able N-central** UEM solutions include vulnerability scanning and patch management capabilities on the unified Ecoverse platform, now with support for **N-zo,** an agentic AI assistant integrated directly into both solutions. This enables MSP providers to eliminate the time between vulnerability detection and remediation, thereby preventing their exploitation. Artificial intelligence has turned cybercrime into an economic sector. Threats now spread within hours, while traditional patch deployment cycles still take days and weeks. N-sight and N-central bridge this gap with a complete workflow that includes scanning, prioritization, remediation, and verification. This applies across Windows, macOS, Linux, and more than 340 third-party applications, all from the single N-able UEM platform that IT teams already use today. The redesigned patch management enables vulnerabilities to be ranked by their exploitation potential using CVSS, KEV, EPSS, and device type systems, providing clear information on the impact on a given IT environment for any CVE. The AI assistant further extends these capabilities with two new modules: - **N-zo Vulnerability** **Expert**, which combines CVSS scores, CISA KEV, EPSS, and device context to assess vulnerabilities according to real-world risk, evaluate security priorities, and provide a comprehensive overview. - **N-zo Patch Expert**, which, among other things, helps diagnose why patch installation failed and what to do next, without the need to search through logs or vendor recommendations. **N-zo** is an AI assistant introduced this year and integrated directly into both N‑able UEM solutions. It analyzes current device information and monitoring data and delivers up to 70% faster IT operations, enabling users to quickly gain an overview, shorten troubleshooting, reduce risks, and stay informed through reporting based on any parameters. ### Acronis MSP platform: general availability of Cyber Frame, workflow automation and NIS 2-compliant incident exports Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-msp-platform-general-availability-of-cyber-frame-workflow-automation-and-nis-2-compliant-incident-exports 2026-08-19 · Acronis, automation, cloud, MDR, MSP, press release *The update to Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud offers the immediate availability of Acronis Cyber Frame* *The update to Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud offers the immediate availability of Acronis Cyber Frame* **PRAGUE, August 19, 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in cyber protection solutions, has enhanced its MSP platform **Acronis Cyber Protect** **Cloud** with additional new features enabling more effective security for customer infrastructures. The key new feature is the immediate availability of **Acronis Cyber Frame**, which had previously been accessible only in a limited mode. **Global availability of Acronis Cyber Frame** Acronis Cyber Frame, a new hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) solution, is now globally available. It enables MSP service providers to offer infrastructure services, including virtual machines, storage and networking, with integrated backup, disaster recovery (DR), security and remote monitoring and management (RMM). Cyber Frame is natively integrated into Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud and supports both service provider-hosted and Acronis-hosted deployments. The Cyber Frame Cloud service has been launched in more than 30 data centers worldwide. **Workflow automation** Several improvements have been introduced: - At the time of activation, workflows can now dynamically access **tenant-specific** resources, such as users, protection plans and scripts. This enables workflow templates to be reused across different customers while ensuring that actions are performed using each tenant's own configurations and resources. - Workflow automation can now be run **according to predefined schedules**, rather than only in response to events. Partners can use this feature to perform routine checks, such as verifying backup status, proactive maintenance or regular reporting across multiple customer environments. - Ready-to-use **workflow templates** help partners automate common security and backup scenarios faster. By cloning and customizing pre-built templates, partners save time and reduce the burden of manual tasks. Examples include automatically quarantining threats detected by EDR, isolating compromised workloads, and resolving backup failures for clients and servers. **STIX-format EDR and XDR incident exports** This update enables partners and customers to export EDR and XDR incidents in STIX 2.1 format, which is essential for meeting reporting obligations under the NIS 2 Directive and for sharing structured threat information with CSIRT teams, CERT teams and security platforms. Each export includes a JSON bundle for each incident with key observables, relationships between objects, and integrated sensitivity controls in accordance with TLP 2.0. This capability is designed for subsequent integration into STIX / TAXII and MISP workflows, reducing the burden of manual reporting and improving interoperability across security operations. **MDR dashboard enhancements** The MDR dashboard for the Acronis MDR service from the Acronis TRU division now provides a clearer, at-a-glance view of customers' security status, thanks to incident status summaries, color-coded severity indicators, an overview of the most frequently detected MITRE ATT&CK patterns, and an incident overview by individual customer. It also simplifies Service Portal management through direct integration with Jira Service Management. **AI Service Desk in Early Access** AI Service Desk is a free component of the Acronis platform that automatically converts Acronis alerts into tickets for resolution. AI-generated summaries, root cause analysis and resolution recommendations help technicians resolve issues faster and reduce the manual workload. The service is available to all Acronis partners as part of the Early Access program in the new “Service Desk” tab in the management portal. “The latest update represents a further step forward for the Acronis MSP platform toward a higher level of security and efficiency for MSP providers,” said **Štěpán Bínek, Acronis cloud solutions sales manager at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “A major step for our MSP partners is the general availability of Acronis Cyber Frame, which makes it possible to meet the growing demand for integrated HCI and IaaS services connecting virtualization, backup, security and remote management in a single ecosystem.” ### GFI Software: MyPersonas AI technology enables digital interaction with historical figures Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/gfi-software-mypersonas-ai-technology-enables-digital-interaction-with-historical-figures 2026-08-18 · AI, GFI Software, MyPersonas, press release, virtual reality, web applications *A wide range of public and commercial organizations can now make their online presence more engaging and enrich it with interactive communication with a digitally created historical figure* *A wide range of public and commercial organizations can now make their online presence more engaging and enrich it with interactive communication with a digitally created historical figure* **PRAGUE, August 6, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a provider of enterprise network security solutions, announced that [**MyPersonas**](https://mypersonas.ai/), an artificial intelligence (AI)-based tool for generating real-time answers to customer questions, makes it possible to **digitally clone** not only real people, **but also historical figures**. This opens up major opportunities for organizations in virtually every industry to make their online presence more engaging. With MyPersonas, they can offer users interaction with interesting personalities, not only living ones, but also figures from the distant or recent past. As part of an experiment with the MyPersonas tool, ZEBRA SYSTEMS created an unofficial digital clone of **František Ignác Halaška**, a prominent mathematician, physicist and astronomer from Budišov nad Budišovkou. Based on a period portrait, ZEBRA SYSTEMS created a speaking video and instructed the persona to use slightly archaic Czech. Instead of a chatbot, the result is a guide who takes visitors around the town where he was born in his own voice. The digital František Ignác Halaška can be tried at [budisov.mypersonas.ai](http://budisov.mypersonas.ai/) “We simply started playing with the MyPersonas tool. We looked for historical figures no longer subject to copyright and considered how they could tell their own story to today’s visitor,” said **Marek Prorok, VR and AI Technology Specialist at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “The result surprised us very positively, and we see enormous potential in it for a wide range of areas.” Some ideas include: - Artists who contributed to the renown of a particular city (e.g., Leoš Janáček in Ostrava) - Scientists or experts who popularized a specific scientific institution - Architects and engineers who participated in the implementation of an important construction project - Inventors and technicians who contributed to the industrial development of a region - Statesmen and local politicians who elevated a city or municipality or otherwise made it famous - Entrepreneurs who founded and developed significant companies in the past - Athletes who achieved exceptional success Instead of a traditional information board or touchscreen, visitors can now simply have a conversation with a person connected to a particular location – at least through their digital persona. And that is not all. While information on a board or kiosk remains in place, a conversation with a digital persona can continue on the way home or in the evening from a mobile phone. This is one of the competitive advantages of the MyPersonas solution. “A major advantage of MyPersonas technology is that it is built exclusively on the organization’s knowledge base. If it encounters something it cannot answer with certainty, it does not guess or hallucinate, as can sometimes happen with public AI tools, but can refer users to official contacts. In addition, the digital clone provides answers in nearly 170 languages, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The result is an engaging presentation of the topic that attracts greater attention,” adds Marek Prorok. More information about the MyPersonas solution can be found at [https://mypersonas.ai](https://mypersonas.ai/). ### Acronis accelerates native AI support for autonomous IT for managed service providers (MSPs) Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-accelerates-native-ai-support-for-autonomous-it-for-managed-service-providers-msps 2026-08-18 · Acronis, AI, automation, cybersecurity, press release, virtualization *Upcoming features include a unified console, actionable insights, an autonomous service center, and agent-based workflows* *Upcoming features include a unified console, actionable insights, an autonomous service center, and agent-based workflows* **PRAGUE, August 3, 2026** – **Acronis**, a global provider of the **Acronis Cyber Platform** cyber platform\ with integrated AI for managed service providers (MSPs) and IT departments, introduced the **next wave of capabilities** that unifies protection, infrastructure, management, business intelligence, and autonomous operations into a single user environment. The presentation of the new capabilities, held as part of the “**Acronis Accelerate: The Journey to Autonomous IT**” event, builds on a series of major product launches since January 2026 and advances Acronis’ vision of an AI-native operational environment in which technicians, business teams, and AI agents can collaborate within a single, natively integrated platform. Acronis structures its artificial intelligence strategy around the “**By AI, With AI, For AI**” concept, using AI to accelerate secure product development. It incorporates AI, intelligent capabilities, and automation into the services MSPs use every day, enabling partners to protect, manage, and automate services for customer environments that are increasingly AI-driven. Rather than adding isolated AI capabilities to disconnected products, Acronis builds these capabilities on its **Acronis Cyber Platform**, which is AI-native by design. “The term ‘AI-native’ is not merely a feature label for Acronis. It is a design principle that we have applied in developing our platform, and an approach that defines how we build and operate our products and how we help partners manage and grow their businesses,” said **Jan-Jaap Jager, CEO of Acronis**. “Our goal is to provide MSP organizations with a single environment in which people and AI agents can collaborate securely, transparently, and at scale. The products Acronis is bringing to market this year deliver on that goal.” **Transitioning from AI assistance to autonomous operations** Acronis is expanding its AI-driven platform with innovations that help MSPs reduce operational friction, uncover new business opportunities, and automate increasingly complex workflows. The next phase of the Acronis Cyber Platform brings together four capabilities, including: - **Acronis Cyber Console**: An AI-driven unified workspace for MSPs that brings protection, management, automation, and infrastructure together in a single user environment for technicians, business teams, and AI agents. - **Acronis Cyber Intelligence**: A layer of actionable insights that provides transparency across operational processes, customer contracts, and protected endpoints. Cyber Intelligence is designed to identify service gaps and hidden sales opportunities while helping partners anticipate issues, reduce ticket volumes, and make faster decisions. - **Acronis Service Desk**: Autonomous ticketing workflows designed to eliminate alert and context overload through automated enrichment, analysis, and remediation. With extensible integrations, service desk workflows will be able to incorporate context and actions from across the MSP technology ecosystem. - **Acronis Cyber Studio**: A workspace for creating and managing deterministic and agentic workflows. MSP teams will be able to use natural language to design automations and agent-driven processes while maintaining visibility, governance, and control over their execution. Together, these capabilities are designed to help MSPs move from improved visibility and AI-assisted decision-making to proactive analysis, workflow automation, and governed autonomous operations. Delivered through a single, natively integrated platform, they help reduce the complexity, integration burden, and context switching associated with managing separate AI, service desk, and automation solutions. **New infrastructure and migration path for service providers** **Acronis Cyber Frame** now offers integrated migration workflows that help partners move IT infrastructure from VMware and Microsoft Azure environments to Cyber Frame Cloud or Cyber Frame Local solutions, supporting gradual migration and managed cutover. This new capability gives MSPs and cloud service providers the choice between an Acronis-hosted Cyber Frame Cloud solution and a partner-hosted Cyber Frame Local solution. **Supporting open-source software development through Constructor Fabric** Separately during the event, Acronis joined **Constructor Group** and **Virtuozzo** to announce Constructor Fabric, an open-source software delivery project licensed under Apache 2.0 and managed by the independent Constructor Fabric Foundation. Constructor Fabric is an open-source AI platform for Software as a Service that enables artificial intelligence to define, build, and operate software end-to-end using reusable components, operations automation, and integrated productivity measurement and analytics. Constructor Fabric is available to all Acronis partners and customers, enabling them to design and build secure, reliable, and cost-effective applications, as well as customize and extend the Acronis platform according to their unique requirements. ### ZEBRA SYSTEMS: COMTEC successfully manages its growth with N-able N-central Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebra-systems-comtec-successfully-manages-its-growth-with-n-able-n-central 2026-07-23 · firewall, MSP, N-able, patch management, press release, RMM and IT Management *MSP services provider handles a growing number of customers without needing to expand its IT staff* *MSP services provider handles a growing number of customers without needing to expand its IT staff* **PRAGUE, July 23, 2026** – **ZEBRA SYSTEMS**, distributor of **N-able** solutions in the Czech and Slovak markets, announced that **COMTEC**, ZEBRA SYSTEMS' partner for N-able solutions in Slovakia, is successfully using **N-able N-central** to provide MSP services to a growing number of customers. Thanks to the automation of central monitoring, administration and patch management, it can manage thousands of devices while ensuring high-quality services. The **N-central** platform is primarily intended for managed IT services providers (MSPs) that manage the infrastructure of a larger number of customers and need to scale their services efficiently. In practice, however, it is also increasingly being used by large organizations with their own IT departments. Hospitals, public-sector organizations and manufacturing companies use N-central for centralized management of their infrastructure, while COMTEC helps them with implementation, configuration and long-term technical support. N-able N-central now serves as a central monitoring and administration console through which COMTEC manages thousands of devices – from laptops and workstations to servers and network infrastructure. Thanks to centralized management, the same number of specialists can efficiently serve an ever-growing number of customers without reducing the quality of the services provided. An important part of the solution is also automated patch management, which ensures the regular installation of security updates and fixes for software vulnerabilities. Deploying the N-central platform has enabled COMTEC to grow over the long term without the need to significantly increase its headcount. Thanks to automation, centralized management and a focus on security, the company can efficiently manage thousands of devices and provide customers with stable, transparent and high-quality IT services. “The successful deployment of the N-able N-central platform was supported by long-term cooperation with ZEBRA SYSTEMS, a distributor of high-value solutions for the Czech and Slovak markets,” said **Miroslav Kapuš, Head of Sales, COMTEC**. “ZEBRA SYSTEMS helped our company not only with selecting the right technology, but also with implementation, initial technician training and subsequent onboarding. The partnership continues after the solution is deployed in the form of technical support, consultations and assistance in addressing customers' specific requirements.” **About COMTEC** COMTEC has been operating in the market for more than 23 years and during that time has become one of the most significant providers of comprehensive IT management and related services in its region. Its long-term growth is not the result of chance, but of a well-thought-out strategy built on three fundamental pillars – skilled people, well-designed processes and modern technologies. It is precisely the combination of these factors that enables the company to continuously develop its services while maintaining a high level of customer support. More at [www.comtec.sk](http://www.comtec.sk/). ### XERTEC uses GFI Kerio Control to secure its network Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/xertec-uses-gfi-kerio-control-to-secure-its-network 2026-07-20 · cybersecurity, firewall, GFI Software, Kerio, press release, VPN *By deploying the solution, the organization gained better control over network traffic, a higher level of protection against security threats, and a reliable system for employees to work remotely* *By deploying the solution, the organization gained better control over network traffic, a higher level of protection against security threats, and a reliable system for employees to work remotely* **PRAGUE, July 20, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a global leader in AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced that **XERTEC**, a provider of office and logistics technologies, uses **GFI Kerio Control** to secure its network and maximize the availability of IT services. The solution was deployed and is managed by **COMES**, a GFI Software partner in the Czech Republic. In recent years, XERTEC has undergone an extensive restructuring of its IT infrastructure. The main objective was to increase the level of security, improve network management, and create an environment that meets current requirements for security and operational flexibility. The existing infrastructure required modernization to enable more efficient network traffic management, secure remote employee access, and better protection of corporate data. To meet these requirements, COMES selected the **GFI** **Kerio Control** solution, which was deployed as the central firewall and a key security component of the entire infrastructure. Kerio Control created the first layer of protection between the company's internal network and the internet, while also providing tools for managing, monitoring, and securing network traffic. Another requirement enabled by Kerio Control was basic network segmentation, and the project also included the introduction of secure remote access via VPN. This allowed employees to access corporate systems from anywhere while maintaining a high level of security. The deployed solution brought XERTEC significant improvements in security, management, and the availability of IT services. The organization gained better control over network traffic, a higher level of protection against security threats, and a reliable system for employees to work remotely. “A significant benefit of the GFI Kerio Control solution was the ability to implement all required changes while keeping investment costs reasonable,” said **Jakub Reichmann, Managing Director, COMES spol. s r.o.** “So, at relatively low cost, we obtained a solution that meets 100% of the customer's needs, and both we and, most importantly, the customer are very satisfied with it.” **About COMES** COMES has been operating in the market for more than 35 years. Originally focused primarily on commercial activities, it gradually expanded its operations to provide comprehensive IT services in response to market developments and growing customer requirements. The company's long-term philosophy is to build stable partnerships based on trust, a personal approach, and long-term cooperation. As a result, the company has been able to maintain a high level of customer satisfaction and continuously develop mutual business relationships over the long term. ### Acronis expands Microsoft 365 protection with Acronis Entra ID Backup Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-expands-microsoft-365-protection-with-acronis-entra-id-backup 2026-07-15 · Acronis, backup and recovery, identity and passwords, Microsoft 365, MSP, press release *PRAGUE, July 15, 2026 – Acronis, a global leader in the cybersecurity solutions market, has added a new Acronis Entra ID Backup service to its Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud MSP platform, expanding its Microsoft 365 backup offering with the ability to back up and restore identity data within the…* **PRAGUE, July 15, 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in the cybersecurity solutions market, has added a new **Acronis Entra ID Backup** service to its Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud MSP platform, expanding its Microsoft 365 backup offering with the ability to back up and restore identity data within Microsoft Entra ID. The service provides MSPs with a tool for comprehensive protection of critical identities for their end customers. Microsoft Entra ID is the identity backbone of Microsoft 365, managing access through users, groups, roles, applications, policies, configurations, and other elements. As attackers increasingly target identities, customers need a recovery solution that goes beyond the capabilities of Microsoft’s native solution. Acronis Entra ID Backup expands the Microsoft 365 backup offering from the same Acronis platform that managed service providers (MSPs) use to protect, manage, and automate client environments, without the need to add another specialized solution. With Acronis Entra ID Backup, MSPs can help their clients: - Back up critical Entra ID objects and configurations, including applications, policies, and other elements. - Restore data to a known good state while preserving key relationships. - Recover faster from accidental deletion, misconfiguration, malicious insider activity, or an attack. - Extend Microsoft 365 protection with natively integrated security and backup from a single platform. For businesses and organizations, the solution provides comprehensive identity protection by backing up key identity objects on which the operation of the entire company depends. It offers point-in-time recovery, minimizes downtime through fast restoration, and ensures recoverability of identity data beyond the standard recovery level of Microsoft solutions. “Most MSPs are seeing increased use of Microsoft 365 among their clients, but protecting their data may not be as straightforward. They still bear responsibility for backing up critical data so their clients’ businesses can continue without interruption,” said **Štěpán Bínek, Cloud Solutions Sales Manager for Acronis at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “The ability to back up and quickly restore identity data using the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform is another step toward ensuring comprehensive protection of data and applications within Microsoft 365.” Partners with Acronis Backup for Microsoft 365 or the Ultimate solution package can offer Acronis Entra ID Backup at no additional cost until November 30. ### ZEBRA SYSTEMS: N-able MSP services protect KOVHRON against cyberattacks Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebra-systems-n-able-msp-services-protect-kovhron-against-cyberattacks 2026-06-24 · EDR, malware and antivirus, MSP, N-able, press release, RMM and IT Management *Digitalization and cyber threats prompted the manufacturer to deploy security and data protection services* *Digitalization and cyber threats prompted the manufacturer to deploy security and data protection services* **PRAGUE, June 24, 2026** – **ZEBRA SYSTEMS**, a distributor of **N-able** solutions in the Czech and Slovak markets, announced that **KOVHRON**, a Slovak engineering manufacturer, has deployed N-able MSP services that enhance its security level and protect important data against cyber threats. The complete deployment and operation of the MSP services is provided by **JKC**, a ZEBRA SYSTEMS partner in Slovakia. As part of its manufacturing operations, KOVHRON uses a range of modern technologies and equipment, such as laser cutters and press brakes. These machines communicate with one another via a network and receive production programs from an internal system. Another priority is securing financial data and accounting systems, for which the protection of sensitive information, electronic invoices, and corporate communications will become increasingly important due to upcoming legislation and the digitalization of processes in Slovakia. The company therefore pays great attention to cybersecurity. The company deployed cyber protection services using MSP products such as **N-able N-sight**, including remote monitoring and management of devices (RMM), **N-able Cove Data Protection** for regular data backups, and modern antivirus protection through **N-able EDR (SentinelOne)**. The project also included migration to new hardware, including the secure transfer of all data and configuration of the new environment. The greatest benefit is considered to be the peace of mind and assurance that data is protected and regularly backed up. In the event of an issue, it is possible to restore the previous state and minimize the impact on company operations. Shortly after the system was deployed, they even detected an attempted attack, which was successfully blocked by the security solution. They learned of the incident through an alert, while the data remained safe and the incident had no impact on operations. “Many companies invest tens of thousands of euros in production technologies, but try to save money on data protection,” said **Andrej Zrak, Managing Director of KOVHRON, s.r.o.** “Yet data loss or operational downtime can cause damage that far exceeds the cost of a high-quality security solution. That is why I consider investment in cyber protection to be just as important as investment in production itself.” **About KOVHRON** KOVHRON is a relatively small engineering company that has been operating on the market for more than 23 years. It specializes in the production of various sheet metal components for a wide range of industries. Its products are used, for example, in the electrical engineering industry, photovoltaics, and the manufacture of switchboards, starters, and liquid heaters. ### Acronis survey: during operational outages, companies fear lost sales and reputational damage the most Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-survey-during-operational-outages-companies-fear-lost-sales-and-reputational-damage-the-most 2026-06-18 · Acronis, backup and recovery, press release, RMM and IT Management *Only just under half of companies test data recovery at least once a month* *Only just under half of companies test data recovery at least once a month* **PRAGUE, 18 June 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in cyber protection solutions, reported, based on a survey among its Czech and Slovak IT partners, that in the event of operational outages, companies are most concerned about **lost sales and reputational damage**. The results also point to the key role of data backup and recovery systems, their regular testing, and the importance of additional security tools; however, only just under half of respondents test recovery at least once a month. In the event of critical system outages, businesses lose money not only as a result of lost profits, but also, for example, because customers leave due to a damaged reputation, through data recovery costs, or employee overtime spent restoring operations. To avoid or minimise such losses, it is necessary to use not only backup systems, but also disaster recovery systems, real-time monitoring, and regular backups. The most interesting survey findings: - For 66% of respondents, the most severe consequences are lost sales and lost profits; for 58%, reputational damage and customer attrition; and for 34%, recovery costs. - To minimise damage from operational outages, backup and recovery systems (79%), disaster recovery (62%), real-time monitoring (56%), and patch management (46%) are key. - 46% of respondents test recovery once a month, 23% quarterly, 10% once a year, and 21% occasionally or not at all. “Businesses today are exposed to conditions they often cannot influence, and a single operational disruption can have a domino effect on systems, teams, and customers,” said **Štěpán Bínek, Cloud Solutions Sales Manager for Acronis at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “Neither outages nor the damage they cause can be predicted. However, it is possible to prepare as thoroughly as possible and minimise the consequences by using automated processes to restore operations within minutes, without unnecessary drama or chaotic decision-making. From this perspective, integrated cyber protection platforms containing all the elements important for maintaining business continuity are ideal.” ### GFI Software: one-third of IT professionals see great potential in using AI for security audits Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/gfi-software-one-third-of-it-professionals-see-great-potential-in-using-ai-for-security-audits 2026-06-16 · AI, compliance, GFI Software, press release, reporting and logs *Beyond incident detection and response, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for analysis and security audits of corporate IT networks* *Beyond incident detection and response, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used for analysis and security audits of corporate IT networks* **PRAGUE, June 16, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a global leader in AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced that according to its survey, 36% of the partners surveyed see **growing potential for AI** not only in security itself, but also **in preparing materials for security audits**. A faster preparation process primarily leads to a higher level of security and significant time savings. Modern tools include AI features that can now analyze, identify risks, report, and automatically create more effective rules in much less time than manual methods. With the support of artificial intelligence, tools for email security and archiving, vulnerability scanning, and centralized IT solution management can reduce activities necessary for conducting audits or creating more effective rules from days to just hours. This enables IT administrators to perform more frequent checks and respond more quickly to potential risks. Key findings include: - 95% of the IT partners surveyed see the greatest value of AI in detecting and evaluating security threats, 51% in actively responding to incidents, and 36% also in reporting and preparing for security audits. - The primary tools used to prepare for security audits are vulnerability scanners (71%), network traffic optimization tools (42%), and email archiving solutions (39%). A centralized platform for managing network tools is used by 47% of respondents. - Respondents see the greatest benefit of AI in connection with security network monitoring and auditing in the resulting higher level of security (62%) and time savings in preparing documentation (30%). “We recommend conducting regular security audits for organizations of all sizes – their aim is to identify weak points in corporate networks before they turn into security threats,” said **Jozef Kačala, Vice President of Global Sales Engineering at GFI Software**. “Artificial intelligence integrated into GFI Software products significantly accelerates and simplifies the entire process, making it possible to minimize security risks at their source.” GFI Software provides several suitable tools for this purpose. For example, **GFI Archiver AI** generates rules for checks based on a prompt, performs the check on the mail server, and can present its findings within a few hours. And while manually creating email protection rules takes up to 40 hours, the artificial intelligence in **GFI MailEssentials AI** generates a complete set of rules in 5 minutes. **GFI LanGuard AI** provides an overview of the current state of network security and the history of all relevant network changes over time, and enables users to navigate the information in greater detail – from security sensors covering the entire network to the results of individual security checks. Everything is topped off by the central **GFI AppManager AI** console, which can provide a specific answer about users, licenses, security settings, and system status within 30 seconds based on a standard query. ### ZEBRA SYSTEMS Announces Best Local Partners for 2025 Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/zebra-systems-announces-best-local-partners-for-2025 2026-06-08 · Acronis, AI, GFI Software, N-able, partner program, press release, virtual reality *New AI category demonstrates the penetration of artificial intelligence into security and communication solutions* ***New AI category demonstrates the penetration of artificial intelligence into security and communication solutions*** **PRAGUE, June 8, 2026** – [ZEBRA SYSTEMS](http://www.zebra.cz/), a value-added distributor (VAD) in the cyber protection segment, recognized its **best Czech and Slovak partners for 2025** as part of its annual awards ceremony. ZEBRA SYSTEMS awards for the past year were received by resellers delivering **Acronis**, **GFI Software**, **N-able** and **Company (Un)Hacked** solutions. This year's meeting confirmed the rapid penetration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into all distributed solutions and services. ZEBRA recognized the following partners for 2025: - Acronis Best Partner – **ALGORIT CZECH s.r.o.** - GFI Software Best Partner – **SMILING s.r.o.** - N-able Best Partner – **NWS s.r.o.** - Company (Un)Hacked Best Partner – **Pumpedu s.r.o.** - ZEBRA SYSTEMS AI Solutions Integrator (Best AI Integrator) – **Martin Šabata** - ZEBRA SYSTEMS Best Partner Slovakia – **JKC s r.o.** Last year, ZEBRA SYSTEMS began distributing new AI-based solutions, namely **Eloquens AI** and **MyPersonas** from the GFI Software portfolio, which enable the automation of routine communication and increase productivity. In the area of cybersecurity, the share of AI features in Acronis, GFI Software and N-able solutions also increased. A new “Best AI Integrator” category was therefore added, recognizing partners’ ability to use artificial intelligence to provide more efficient services and increase the level of security for end customers. “The trend of artificial intelligence being gradually integrated into nearly all the products we distribute continues to accelerate,” said **Zdeněk Bínek****, Managing Director of ZEBRA SYSTEMS.** “It is clear that those who embrace it right from the start will gain a significant competitive advantage in the future. That is why we are prepared to expand our offering even more intensively with solutions that will enable our partners to meet their customers’ demand for new features and greater business efficiency.” **About ZEBRA SYSTEMS** **ZEBRA SYSTEMS** s.r.o., with more than 30 years on the market, is a leading value-added distributor in the IT security and data protection segment in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Southeastern Europe. In addition to selling products, it provides its customers with top-level support and training services. The company distributes products from Acronis, GFI Software, N-able, AST, Company (Un)Hacked, Virtuozzo and Impossible Cloud. More at [www.zebra.cz](http://www.zebra.cz/). ### MSP providers see the greatest potential in backup and disaster recovery services Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/msp-providers-see-the-greatest-potential-in-backup-and-disaster-recovery-services 2026-05-21 · backup and recovery, MSP, N-able, press release *New DRaaS service from N‑able facilitates recovery and minimizes operational downtime after a disaster* *New DRaaS service from N**‑**able facilitates recovery and minimizes operational downtime after a disaster* **PRAGUE, May 21, 2026** – **ZEBRA SYSTEMS**, the distributor of **N-able** solutions in the Czech and Slovak markets, stated that according to its survey among its IT partners, the vast majority plan to provide a complete package of MSP services in the future. Currently, 76% of MSP partners see the greatest potential in cyber protection services **in backup and disaster recovery**. In addition to traditional IT service providers transitioning to managed service provision (MSP), another trend is the expansion of the MSP service portfolio. Alongside remote monitoring and management (RMM), the complete service package now also includes cybersecurity and data protection services. There is currently high demand for data protection in the SMB segment, which N-able has responded to by offering **Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS)** as part of its **Cove Data Protection** solution. Key survey findings: - One of the important benefits of MSP tools is the ability to automate routine tasks: for 35% of MSP providers, recurring tasks account for up to 25% of their time; for 55%, 26–50% of their time; and for 10%, even more than half of their working time. - 57% of the IT partners surveyed offer or plan to offer primarily RMM services, 48% cybersecurity services, and 52% data protection services, while 86% want to offer a complete package of MSP services. - In the cybersecurity and data protection services segment, 76% of MSP providers see the greatest potential in backup/DR/DLP (data loss prevention), 48% in vulnerability scanning/patching services, and 29% in MDR (managed detection and response) services. The newly launched **Cove DRaaS** service enables organizations to quickly restore operations after cyber incidents and server outages—without the costs, complexity, and risks associated with building and managing their own DR environments. It offers the ability to quickly switch to a secure backup environment, ensure uninterrupted operations while affected systems are remediated, and minimize downtime, which can have a significant impact on an organization’s economics even if it lasts only a few minutes. “As the number of cyberattacks continues to grow and they increasingly target SMB organizations, our MSP providers are seeing growing demand for backup and disaster recovery services,” said **Ondřej Šabata, Sales Engineer for N****‑****able solutions at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “With Cove DRaaS, MSP providers now have access to a secure cloud recovery environment that enables services to be quickly switched to backup systems in the event of a failure. This allows them to rapidly restore operations, ensure a high level of cyber resilience for their customers, and protect their business.” **About N-able** For more than 20 years, N-able has been delivering tools to managed service providers (MSPs), who use them to manage, monitor, and secure their customers’ IT infrastructures. N-able solutions are used by more than 25,000 MSP providers to manage over 500,000 corporate networks and 8 million endpoints. For more information, visit [http://www.n-able.com](http://www.n-able.com/). ### What's new in the Acronis MSP platform: access to Cyber Frame, easier Synology deployment, and artificial intelligence in RMM services Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/what-s-new-in-the-acronis-msp-platform-access-to-cyber-frame-easier-synology-deployment-and-artificial-intelligence-in-rmm-services 2026-05-14 · Acronis, backup and recovery, cloud, press release, RMM and IT Management *Updates to Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud offer enhancements in backup, disaster recovery, and remote management and monitoring* *Updates to Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud offer enhancements in backup, disaster recovery, and remote management and monitoring* **PRAGUE, May 14, 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in cyber protection solutions, has added further new features to its MSP platform, **Acronis Cyber Protect** **Cloud**. The enhancements enable MSP providers to offer customers more efficient services in backup, disaster recovery, and RMM. The key new feature is early access to **Acronis Cyber Frame**. **Acronis Cyber Frame** Acronis Cyber Frame is a new hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) and infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) solution. It enables managed service providers (MSPs) to offer infrastructure services, including virtual machines, block and object storage, and network services, with integrated backup, disaster recovery, security, and remote monitoring and management (RMM). Acronis Cyber Frame is natively integrated into Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud and supports both service provider-hosted and Acronis-hosted deployments. Early access has been available since the beginning of April. **Backup: Installation from the Synology Marketplace** Installing the agent directly from the Synology Marketplace makes deployment easier for partners managing supported NAS environments. Installation from the Marketplace streamlines setup and helps teams roll out protection more quickly across all supported Synology systems. **Backup: Partner protection plans** Backup is now supported in partner protection plans. This extends the existing multi-customer policy functionality to the backup module, enabling partners or administrators to apply backup plans to multiple customer servers, workstations, and virtual machines from a single location while centrally enforcing settings such as encryption and archive password management. **DR: Windows Server 2025 support** Support for Windows Server 2025 extends disaster recovery capabilities to newer server environments. This version offers server recovery scenarios such as test failovers, production failovers, failback, and backup and recovery after failover. It provides partners with a clear process for protecting customers migrating to the latest version of Windows Server. **RMM: Acronis AI for remote desktop session summaries** A new artificial intelligence feature now automatically creates remote desktop session summaries. It records actions performed during a session and makes logs easier to review through timeline navigation, helping partners reduce manual documentation, improve task handovers between technicians, and maintain better records for audits, training, and escalations. “The new features introduced by Acronis confirm the continuing trend of consolidating IT services into unified platforms that enable MSP partners to manage all aspects of enterprise IT environments more efficiently,” said **Štěpán Bínek, Acronis cloud solutions sales manager at ZEBRA SYSTEMS**. “Acronis Cyber Frame in particular demonstrates a shift toward integrated HCI and IaaS services that connect virtualization, backup, security, and remote management in a single ecosystem. Overall, this is a step that responds to growing customer pressure for automation, greater security, and simpler management of hybrid IT environments.” ### GFI Software: over 80% of IT providers plan to introduce or strengthen their MSP services Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/gfi-software-over-80-of-it-providers-plan-to-introduce-or-strengthen-their-msp-services 2026-05-11 · cloud, firewall, GFI Software, MSP, patch management, press release *The most popular security services within the GFI portfolio include vulnerability assessment, firewall, and email protection* *The most popular security services within the GFI portfolio include vulnerability assessment, firewall, and email protection* **PRAGUE, May 11, 2026** – [**GFI Software**](http://www.gfi.com/), a global leader in AI-based security and communications solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced that it is seeing growing interest among its partners in delivering IT through MSP services. Based on surveys conducted among both local and European partners, more than 80% of the IT providers approached plan to transition to the MSP model or strengthen it. Most partners currently operate in a hybrid mode, i.e., they partly run the traditional break-fix model (i.e., repair only after a failure) and partly the managed services provider (MSP) model. However, the level of cyber threats and growing dependence on digital infrastructure today make it virtually impossible to wait for something to break and only then fix it. For customers, the highest level of business continuity is vital, and this can only be achieved through a proactive approach using MSP services. That is why MSP services make up an increasingly significant part of IT providers' revenue. Key findings include: - 81% of Czech and Slovak IT providers are planning or actively working on transitioning to or strengthening MSP services; only 5% neither offer them nor plan to introduce them. - The situation in Europe is very similar – according to an earlier GFI Software survey among European partners, 80% of the IT providers surveyed are interested in developing MSP services. - Currently, MSP services prevail for 15% of local IT providers, MSSP services (managed IT security services) for 10%, and a hybrid model (both traditional and MSP services) for 65%. Only 10% still operate in break-fix mode. - For 24% of respondents, revenue from MSP services already accounts for more than half of their total revenue, while for the majority (67%), MSP services account for less than one quarter of total revenue. - Within GFI Software's portfolio of security solutions, there is the greatest interest in MSP services in the areas of vulnerability assessment (30%), firewall (22%), and email protection (19%). “MSP is not only about simpler and more efficient IT management and maintenance, but also about a proactive approach to current threats and, consequently, a higher level of security for customer systems,” said **Jozef Kačala, Vice President of Global Sales Engineering at GFI Software**. “At GFI Software, we offer MSP partners a broad range of solutions that can be delivered as managed services, including GFI LanGuard, Kerio Control, and Kerio Connect, and managed from the unified GFI AppManager platform.” ### Acronis launches GenAI Protection for the secure use of AI Source: https://zebr.ai/en/blog/acronis-launches-genai-protection-for-the-secure-use-of-ai 2026-05-04 · Acronis, AI, cloud, GDPR, MSP, press release *The new solution designed for managed service providers (MSPs) ensures visibility, control and protection when adopting generative artificial intelligence* *The new solution designed for managed service providers (MSPs) ensures visibility, control and protection when adopting generative artificial intelligence* **PRAGUE, May 4, 2026** – [**Acronis**](https://www.acronis.cz/)**,** a global leader in cyber protection solutions, announced the launch of [**Acronis GenAI Protection**](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cloud/cyber-protect/genai-protection/)**,** a monitoring and security solution that enables managed service providers (MSPs) to **control the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)** in client environments, prevent sensitive data leakage and protect against malicious prompt manipulation. Acronis GenAI Protection represents the first phase of the Acronis Cyber Workspace project, which plans to introduce additional features in the future to ensure a secure AI workspace natively integrated into the Acronis platform. As organizations rapidly adopt generative AI tools, businesses face growing risks associated with data leakage, shadow AI use and malicious prompt manipulation. Many AI tools intended for general users lack workplace context, while enterprise AI solutions are not suitable for MSP service environments. Acronis GenAI Protection fills this gap by providing partners with a solution built specifically for monitoring and the secure use of generative AI in small and medium-sized business (SMB) environments. **AI monitoring and security delivered through MSP services** Acronis GenAI Protection is designed to be deployed, managed and monetized by managed service providers (MSPs). Using a centralized console integrated into the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform, MSPs can monitor AI use in customer environments, including policy enforcement, reporting and risk mitigation, while protecting generative AI interactions alongside customer data, applications and endpoints. “The deployment of generative AI is accelerating, but it brings new risks that businesses are not fully prepared to manage,” said **Gaidar Magdanurov, President of Acronis**. “MSPs are uniquely positioned to help organizations deploy AI securely, but until now they have not had the right tools to effectively monitor and manage it. GenAI Protection enables MSPs to turn AI security into a managed service, creating new revenue opportunities while protecting their customers from emerging risks.” **Integrated protection for generative AI use** Acronis GenAI Protection provides visibility and security for AI use without requiring additional specialized systems or complex configurations. Key features include: - **AI usage monitoring and visibility:** Detects and monitors generative AI applications used in client environments to provide insight into usage levels and potential risks. - **Protection of sensitive data in AI interactions:** Inspects prompts involving sensitive data, such as PII or PHI, and prevents unauthorized transfers to public or unapproved AI tools. - **Prompt injection and AI misuse prevention**: Detects and blocks malicious prompts intended to manipulate AI behavior or compromise workflows. As AI continues to evolve, Acronis plans to introduce additional features for protecting, managing and automating AI services and tools as part of its broader Cyber Workspace offering. These enhancements are designed to increase productivity and automation while strengthening the protection of data and business assets. Acronis GenAI Protection is now globally available with immediate effect. For more information, visit the blog here: For more information about Acronis GenAI Protection, visit: