excellent
Acronis True Image is an excellent cloud backup solution for both beginners and advanced users, offering many features besides just syncing and backup.
Try Acronis now *
Performance
10 / 10
Features
10 / 10
Configuration & Usage
10 / 10
Support
7.4 / 10
Backups

Acronis Cyber Protect Review: Secure and Reliable Cloud Backups?

Author
Silvia Benetti
Last update
25. Apr 2023
Ad disclaimer: For links on this page, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. This supports our work and has no influence on our editorial rating.

Do you back up your files to an external hard drive? Compared to automated cloud solutions, this isn't only more time-consuming, but also less secure. Should your physical storage device ever be damaged or compromised, you can lose everything in an instant.

The redundant architecture that cloud backup software utilizes guarantees that your data can always be recovered, regardless of what happens.

Below, we'll take a closer look at Acronis, from Switzerland, which offers a versatile cloud backup platform that combines robust security with plenty of options.

Top Cloud Backup 2024
Sponsored
from $4.58
per month
Acronis
from $2.50
per month
IONOS
from $5.75
per month
SpiderOak
from $10.00
per month
CrashPlan
show all

What Is Acronis?

Acronis, a cloud backup provider, was founded in 2001 within SWsoft, a US company that specializes in drive partitioning software. In 2002, Acronis split off, relocating to Schaffhausen (Switzerland), and developing data recovery solutions ever since.

With Cyber Protect*, Acronis seeks to unify cloud backups, ransomware protection, cloning, and antivirus in one package. The version for individual users, Cyber Protect Home Office (previously, Acronis True Image) keeps systems safe during video calls and wards off concealed cryptocurrency mining.

However, the developer markets other cybersecurity programs as well. Disk Director protects local and remote machines, optimizes drive usage, and enhances performance. DeviceLock DLP guards against endpoint data loss by monitoring data flows and enforcing process guidelines.

We took a closer look at Acronis' backup solutions and compared them to the other providers from our sample.

Acronis Cyber Protect Review

Review
9.4
excellent
Visit Website*
Performance
10 / 10
Features
10 / 10
Configuration & Usage
10 / 10
Support
7.4 / 10
  • Strong performance

  • Lots of features

  • Mobile device backups

  • Includes malware protection

  • Expensive

  • Very comprehensive software - can overwhelm beginners

1.

Configuration & Usage

Cyber Protect Home Office can be installed on Windows (XP and above), macOS, Android, and iOS, along with Microsoft Exchange, SQL, and SharePoint servers, Oracle databases, and virtual machines like Microsoft Hyper-V, and Linux KVM, as well as Red Hat virtualizations.

To install the software, download the client and follow the instructions. Once you've logged in to your account, the main menu will open.

In the Backup area, you'll manage secure copies of your systems and files.

Off to the interface's left, you'll find the following areas:

  • Backup – Customize your backups and specify where copies of files and folders should be stored.

  • Protection – Here, you're provided with an overview of your device's security status. Some features, like the antivirus scan, are only accessible to certain subscribers.

  • Archive – If storage on your smartphone starts to run low, you can move files that are here to the cloud or an external device.

  • Sync – This is where Acronis synchronizes folders that you've selected across all devices.

  • Tools– All of Acronis' extras can be found here. Parallels Access, for example, allows you to access computers remotely, while Rescue Media Builder creates boot media.

  • Account – Manage your subscription, renew it, or switch to a different plan.

  • Settings – Define which notifications you'd like to receive and specify network connections or storage locations.

We liked the interface's visually-appealing design. Even though it's full of options and tools, the menus are well-structured and clear, making it easy to find what we needed.

Visit Website*
Configuration & Usage
10 / 10
2.

Features

To create your first backup, go to Backup > Drives and Volumes or Backup > Files and Folders, depending on whether you'd like to copy an entire drive or an individual file. Alternatively, you can click on Entire PC which will start an image backup that copies all of your software, app files, and system files, creating a secure copy of your operating system.

Acronis offers all kinds of backups, even for mobile devices.

For destination, select either the Acronis Cloud, an external drive, or another location. It's possible to specify multiple backups and different options for each. As an example, you can plan a "Document" backup to run once per day, and an image backup every two weeks.

Options

Acronis offers so many options that first-time users might be overwhelmed. You don't need to use or understand all of them to keep your data safe. Below, we've detailed the features that we found particularly interesting or useful:

  • In case you would like to share your backup or just a few folders with others, go to Account > Acronis Cloud Storage > Browse My Files. There, you'll be able to see your backups, and by clicking on the Share Link button, can send it to a friend or co-worker's email address.

You can generate links for easily sharing folders with others.

  • Backup > Options is where you'll specify when and how often a backup should be performed. If clicking on "Nonstop", the software will continuously look for files that have been changed since the last backup.

  • Advanced allows you to set a maximum data transfer rate for your network connection, in case you have low bandwidth, or share your network with other users and don't want to inconvenience them.

Specify a maximum upload speed so that your Internet connection won't be overburdened.

  • By clicking on Advanced > Acronis Cloud Cleanup, you can delete old and unneeded backups, or specify how many versions the program should store. By default, Acronis stores 20 backup versions that aren't older than six months.

Recovery

Should you lose data and want to restore a file or an entire drive, you can by clicking on Recovery. After selecting what you'd like to restore, choose the destination. This doesn't have to be on your computer, as FTP servers, NAS, and external drives can also be used.

In the Recovery area, you can flexibly restore lost data or files.

Encryption

Cyber Protect Home Office doesn't encrypt data by default, however, you can enable this by heading to Options > Advanced > Backup Protection. The provider offers the AES 256 algorithm, which is very safe. To prevent unauthorized access, the key isn't stored on the company's servers, however, this also means that if you lose it, your backups will be gone forever. For this reason, it's a good idea to store the key in a safe place or multiple locations.

Security

Many businesses and individuals refrain from saving sensitive data to the cloud because they believe that their files will be stored in countries that have lax data protection laws. Acronis operates data centers in a variety of different countries, including two in Germany, and 13 across the EU.

Generally speaking, the software selects the data center that is closest to you when determining where your files should be stored. Should you want to change this, make sure that you do so before starting a backup. When selecting an EU country, you'll be able to benefit from its stricter data security guidelines compared to the US or Asia. This also prevents authorities from accessing your files without a valid reason.

Mobile App

One of Cyber Protect Home Office's strengths is that it protects a range of different devices, including smartphones. With its app, you can easily upload photos, documents, and messages to the cloud.

Smartphone backups aren't offered by every cloud solution. Thankfully, Cyber Protect Home Office supports them.

Acronis also offers numerous options for mobile devices, such as continuous backups or custom notifications.

Extras

In addition to backup features, Cyber Protect Home Office comes with several extras that enhance your devices' security:

  • Protect > Vulnerability Assessment lists software and apps on your computer or mobile device that pose a security risk.

  • Extras > Try & Decide allows you to open suspicious attachments or visit unsafe websites. Should they be dangerous, you can easily revert any changes.

  • Rescue Media Builder helps you to format external storage devices to make them boot-capable.

Alongside backups, Cyber Protect Home Office comes with several security tools.

Overall, Acronis' cloud backup solution is so well-developed that we don't have any complaints. As such, we're happy to award it a perfect score.

Visit Website*
Features
10 / 10
3.

Performance

When it comes to performance, Acronis handily beat all of the other services from our sample. When uploading a 1 GB test folder to the cloud and restoring our drive, the data transfer rates were fast, despite our average Internet connection (45 MB/s download, 15 MB/s upload).

ProviderUploadDownloadCPU UsageTotal
Acronis16 s5 s1%100 %
Synology18 s0 s3%100 %
IONOS55 s10 s1%80 %
SpiderOak42 s69 s3%70 %
Backblaze39 s139 s3%70 %
Crashplan95 s21 s3%60 %
Carbonite153 s243 s5%40 %
IDrive54 s206 s19%30 %

At the same time, CPU and RAM usage remained low. Once again, Cyber Protect Home Office has earned a perfect score.

Visit Website*
Performance
10 / 10
4.

Support

Should you need help, Acronis offers comprehensive documentation. Its thematically-organized articles provide step-by-step guides in multiple languages that show how to synchronize your folders, clone drives, or archive files. All texts are clear and well-written.

In Acronis' Support Center, you'll find FAQs in a variety of different languages.

In case you can't solve the issue on your own, it's easy to get in touch with Acronis' support staff by clicking on the interface's Help tab, and then on Send Feedback. We reported an issue and received a relevant response within a short amount of time. There's also a chat, however, this is only for license or payment problems. Finally, there's a user forum that appears to be very active.

The lack of a hotline or live support chat is somewhat disappointing, so Acronis can definitely improve in this area.

Visit Website*
Support
7.4 / 10
5.

Pricing

Cyber Protect Home Office's pricing structure is anything but easy. How much you pay per month depends on what it is that you'd like to backup (device, server, virtual machine, Google Workspace), and which extras you'd like to have. Cyber Protect Standard includes one device and almost all backup features, antivirus software, as well as 500 or 1,000 GB of storage. Advanced serves up extra admin features and scans your backups for malware.

Should you just want to try the program out, Acronis offers a 30-day trial that includes 1 TB of cloud storage. When the trial ends, you'll need to purchase a 1-year subscription if you'd like to access your backups.

Below, we've provided a current overview of Cyber Protect Home Office subscription prices:

Advanced 50 GB (1 Computer)Advanced 50 GB (3 Computer)Advanced 500 GB (1 Computer)
Monthly Price $4.58 $7.08 $7.50
Contract Period (Months) 12 12 12
Limits
Speicherplatz 50 GB 50 GB 500 GB
Number of Devices 1 3 1
Features
Full Disk Backup
Private Key Verschlüsselung
Datei-Versionierung
Two Factor Authentication

In case you'd like to protect a server or virtual host, the Advanced subscription includes Vulnerability Assessment, reports, and blockchain-based data verification. Compared to its competitors, Acronis' rates are close to the sample's average. For the same amount, you'll get more storage elsewhere but have to give up a few security features.

The table below shows how much an annual subscription that includes at least 250 GB of cloud storage costs:

1.
IDrive
Mini 500 GB
$4.98
yearly price
2.
Synology
Personal 500 GB
$34.99
yearly price
3.
Carbonite
Basic
$58.99
yearly price
4.
IONOS
MyDefender Plus
$60.00
yearly price
5.
Backblaze
24 months
$65.00
yearly price
6.
Acronis
Advanced 500 GB
$89.99
yearly price
7.
SpiderOak
400 GB
$115.00
yearly price
8.
CrashPlan
Backup
$120.00
yearly price

Conclusion

Review
9.4
excellent
Visit Website*
Performance
10 / 10
Features
10 / 10
Configuration & Usage
10 / 10
Support
7.4 / 10

Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is very powerful, offering plenty of advanced security features and robust cloud backup capabilities. With everything that's included, you'll be able to customize backups across devices and even servers, all the while maintaining a good overview of what's going on. Rounding out the positives, its performance also impressed us.

Of course, the service does suffer from a few disadvantages: You'll pay quite a bit for not much storage space. Because powerful antivirus programs aren't free, the investment does make sense for security-minded users. Should you only want to protect a large amount of data, there are more affordable options.

If ignoring its price, Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office is one of the best backup solutions on the market.

Best Overall 2024
Acronis Cyber Protect
Acronis Cyber Protect
(394 )
Acronis True Image is an excellent cloud backup solution for both beginners and advanced users, offering many features besides just syncing and backup.
local and Cloud Backup
wide range of features
Malware protection included
Backup for mobile devices
30-day free trial
9.4
excellent
Speicher
50 - 5,000 GB
Devices
1 - 5
Contract Period
12 months
Acronis Advanced 50 GB (1 Computer)
$4.58
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 Day Free Trial

Customer Reviews

Most of the reviews we found for Cyber Protect Home Office are very positive. Its versatile options, strong performance, and comprehensive security concept are frequently praised. At the same time, several reviewers noted how the program takes a bit of getting used to when starting. Some also complain about its high price in comparison to similar solutions.

Customer Ratings
4.3 / 5
394 Bewertungen
Visit Website*
We analyzed the reviews and ratings from various portals and found 394 ratings with an overall rating of 4.3 out of 5 .

Alternatives

If you're looking for a more straightforward backup solution that offers solid performance and security, Backblaze provides unlimited storage and an intuitive interface at a very affordable monthly price.

On the other hand, should you be in the market for a user-friendly cloud backup solution that's priced competitively, SpiderOak ONE is a great option.

Below, you can find more of the best alternatives to Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office:

IONOS Cloud Backup
IONOS Cloud Backup
(37,581 )
1&1 IONOS provides very good performance, moderate pricing and excellent support. It is suited for both private users and companies.
access from anywhere
fast data transfer
supports mobile backups
30 days money back guarantee
somewhat complicated setup
9.0
excellent
Speicher
100 - 2,000 GB
Devices
1 - ∞
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
IONOS MyDefender Starter
$2.50
monthly price
Visit Website*
Try IONOS Now
SpiderOak One Backup
SpiderOak One Backup
(43 )
SpiderOak stands out with strong performance and end-to-end encryption, where data is encrypted before being uploaded.
Private Key Encryption
strong performance
unlimited devices
21 days trial version
no backup of mobile devices
8.4
good
Speicher
150 - 5,000 GB
Devices
unlimited
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
SpiderOak 150 GB
$5.75
monthly price
Visit Website*
CrashPlan Backup
CrashPlan Backup
(734 )
Crashplan is a solid backup program that features a user-friendly interface and unlimited storage space. However, image backups of the entire system are not supported.
simple, intuitive interface
unlimited storage
simple pricing structure
good customer service
no backup of mobile devices
8.2
good
Speicher
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Contract Period
1 month
CrashPlan Backup
from $10.00
monthly price
Visit Website*
30 Day Free Trial
Synology C2 Backup
Synology C2 Backup
(13,096 )
Synology C2 scores with great performance and good value for money. Automatic encryption of the data before uploading ensures a high level of security.
easy to use
great performance
good value for money
high focus on privacy
no backup of mobile devices
8.0
good
Speicher
500 - 5,000 GB
Devices
unlimited
Contract Period
1 - 12 months
Synology Personal 500 GB
$2.92
monthly price
Visit Website*
Backblaze Backup
Backblaze Backup
(1,337 )
Backblaze offers unlimited storage for a low flat rate. Unfortunately, backing up and restoring data is sometimes a bit cumbersome.
unlimited storage
good performance
simple Pricing
complicated backup and restoring of data
no backup of mobile devices
7.8
good
Speicher
unlimited
Devices
unlimited
Contract Period
1 - 24 months
Backblaze 24 months
from $5.42
monthly price
Visit Website*
15 days free trial
Top Cloud Backup 2024
Sponsored
from $4.58
per month
Acronis
from $2.50
per month
IONOS
from $5.75
per month
SpiderOak
from $10.00
per month
CrashPlan
show all
After her studies in physical engineering, Silvia Benetti was active in the development of wind turbines. She has been writing about technical subjects as a freelance author for several years. Her focus areas include IT, artificial intelligence, industry 4.0 and renewable energies.
* Ad disclaimer: For links marked with an asterisk, EXPERTE.com may earn a commission from the provider. The commission has no influence on our editorial rating.
Continue Reading
Other languages