Summary:

This time around I reviewed Acronis to see what kind of features that had to offer. Here’s what I found out.

Pros:

• compatible with most operating systems
• unlimited storage space
• easy to use software
• reasonably priced

Cons:

• major customer privacy concerns
• no geo redundancy
• can’t recover deleted files

Overall Score:  78/100

If privacy isn’t a huge issue to you, Acronis has a lot of features at a pretty competitive price – just be sure to read the fine print.

To get Acronis, sign up here:  Acronis Backup

To see the highest rated Online Backup Service that scored a 93/100 go here: IDrive Online Backup

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With so much of our lives being digital now, more is at stake than ever when it comes to keeping our data safe.

It’s not just about identity theft and fraud – our photos and precious memories can vanish in the blink of an eye if our devices and hard drives get damaged.

By backing these important files up to a remote server or cloud storage, we can protect ourselves from losing them forever, and also secure them from people trying to access it without our knowledge.

Online backup services are growing in popularity as one of the easiest and most effective means of protecting what’s important to us.

With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Here I’ll explain the technical terms to you, and tell you just what all of those features do exactly.

We’ll be reviewing Acronis’s backup service too, and see what they have to offer their customers.

Will Acronis Work on My Operating System?

The first thing you need to look at when you start shopping around for a backup service is their operating system compatibility.

If you have a MacBook, you need a program that’s going to be compatible with it, and the same with any other systems you’re running.

Acronis is compatible with Mac and PCs, so you can use their software on most home devices.

The only thing you may not be able to back up would be a Linux device, but their program also has compatibility with mobile systems.

Mobile Options

Being able to take your backup software with you is super convenient.

Accessing and sharing your files, and even just managing your account on a convenient app can really come in handy.

Acronis actually has pretty comprehensive mobile options for their backup service.

Not only can you back up photos and videos from iOS and Android devices, but you can also sync your account up with all of your devices to access and share files anytime, anywhere.

Rating:  4.5/5 – Great mobile options

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What Kind of Features Does Acronis Have?

Okay, here we are, the nuts and bolts of how backup services work. These are some key features that you’re going to want to look into when you go to check out these companies.

I’ll explain what they mean, how they work, and just where Acronis is at with them.

Feature #1: Storage Space

This is where backup services start – storage space. When you use an online backup service, a lot of similar rules apply like when you have a data plan with your cell phone company.

You get a certain amount of storage space, and if you go over that, you get fees – lots and lots of fees.

The key here is to make sure that you have plenty of room for all of your data, without ever getting close to hitting a cap.

Storage space allowances vary a lot, with a lot of companies offering unlimited space, and several around 500GB. Acronis takes the cake, with completely unlimited storage space for all of their customers.

Rating:  5/5 – No overages, no limits, ever

Feature #2:  File Size

Believe it or not, some companies actually do have restrictions on the sizes and types of individual files that you store with them.

This isn’t a very common thing to run into, but it’s another great reason to read the fine print.

With Acronis though, there are absolutely no file size or type restrictions of any kind, period.

Rating:  5/5 – Store any file, no matter what

Feature #3:  File Recovery

Have you ever gone on a deleting frenzy on your system? Like really cleaned house? Then you go to find a file or photo, and suddenly it’s not there, and you get that sinking feeling in your stomach.

File recovery lets you rewrite history, holding onto files you delete from your backups for a certain period of time.

Most companies allow you at least 30 days before they delete the file permanently, but some actually offer an unlimited window for file recovery!

I was therefore totally surprised to learn (after much digging and questioning of their staff) that Acronis actually doesn’t offer any file recovery.
Once you delete something from your backups, within six minutes, it’s gone forever, and there’s no way to recover it.

Rating:  0/5 – No saving a deleted file

Feature #4:  File Versioning

File versioning is similar to file recovery, but rather than allow you to recover deleted files, it brings back old versions of files you’ve modified and backed up.

It’s a handy feature that essentially allows you to go back in time with a file and retrieve a younger version of it.

The number of versions you can have access to varies substantially, with some companies offering ten, and others keeping an unlimited number.

Acronis stands with the unlimited variety, keeping an indefinite and constant backup of every version of every file you store with them.

Rating:  5/5 – Unlimited file versioning

Feature #5:  Continuous Backup

This feature refers to endless, automatic backup of your entire system.

Though there are parameters that you can set to schedule backups on certain days and of certain files, typically by default these settings include everything in your system, anytime something is added or changed.

This is a pretty common feature, and one that Acronis’s backup service does, in conjunction with a scheduling tool that allows you to plan backups on your time.

Rating:  5/5 – Automatic updates you can schedule

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Feature #6:  External Hard Drive Backup

Before the age of cloud storage and online backup services, the go to insurance policy for our files was the external hard drive.

Though it still has a place no doubt, and is great for people who are leery of trusting companies with their data, these devices are vulnerable to the same problems our devices are.

With external hard drive backup, you get to double up on that failsafe, and protect your backup with backup.

A lot of companies are offering this included with their service, and Acronis is one of them – you never have to pay extra to back up your external hard drives.

Rating:  5/5 – External hard drive backup included

Feature #7:  File Sync

File sync is a handy feature for accessing your account and backed up files on the go.

Even with companies that don’t allow you to back up your mobile devices, they may allow you to at least use your device to manage your account and files, so look into this feature.

Acronis allows their users to sync all of their devices with their account to access their files, anytime, anywhere, so you’re never without your data.

Rating:  5/5 – Sync account on any device

Feature #8:  File Sharing

Another great thing about file storage with online backup services is the ability to share files with people you want to have access to them.

However, you’ll doing it in a more private setting than social media, and a more secure one than e-mail.

This feature may not be a deal breaker for you, but it’s nice if you are storing family photos that you may want to share at some point.

Acronis nails it again, with a backup service that gets social with their easy-to-use sharing feature. Take your files anywhere, and easily give others access to them whenever you want.

Rating:  5/5 – Simple, private file sharing

Feature #9: Throttle Controls (Bandwidth)

The one thing that deters a lot of people from performing regular backups is the demand for bandwidth.

These services use a lot of it, particularly in the initial stages when they first begin backing up your system.

With throttle controls, you decide how much of your connection the backup service gets. You can choose to speed things up and get it over with, or slow things down to allow you to perform other tasks.

This is a really handy feature, and one that takes a major inconvenience out of online backup services.

With Acronis, you can throttle the bandwidth their service uses, and optimize your connection for whatever you want to move the fastest.

Rating:  5/5 – You’re in control of bandwidth

Feature #10: Free Trial

The best way to tell if you’re going to like a backup service is by taking it for a test run, and thankfully, most companies are offering free trials now.

These trials typically start at 30 days, but some are unlimited, only with data storage caps.

With Acronis, you get all of the features of their paid service in their 30 day free trial, so you can back up as much data as you want for an entire month.

Rating:  4/5 – 30 day trial

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How Secure Is It?

There have been a lot of stories in the news in recent months calling into question the security and privacy of cloud storage and online backup services.

While any service like this requires a certain degree of blind trust, there are features you can use to gauge just how solid and secure a company’s system is before you start backing up with them.

Feature #1:  Geo Redundancy Backup

A lot of us are focused on the what-ifs that could happen to our devices, but what if something happened to the servers they’re backed up on?

Geo redundancy means that your data is stored simultaneously at at least two separate locations, so you never have to worry about a server problem resulting in the permanent loss of your data.

This isn’t the most common feature, as it requires a company to have a minimum of two data centers, and that gets expensive.

Unfortunately, Acronis doesn’t have any geo-redundancy backup in place, so if their data center goes down, your backed up data goes with it.

Rating:  0/5 – No failsafe for data loss

Feature #2: Data encryption

Almost all online backup services encrypt your data as part of the deal.

It’s up to them to keep your data safe, so they take the extra precaution by encrypting your data during transfer and storage, so that even if it is intercepted, it’s unreadable by the thief.

There are two basic standards that are most commonly used for this kind of encryption – 128 and 256 bit, the latter of the two being stronger.

Most companies, including Acronis, use 256 bit encryption to make it almost impossible to decrypt stolen data.

Rating:  5/5 – Military grade encryption

Feature #3: User-Owned Encryption Key

Encryption is tough stuff, and no doubt your data is more than likely perfectly safe in this form.

However, users that are hesitant to trust a company with their personal files can often opt to create their own encryption key.

This means that you and only you can decrypt your data – the company storing it couldn’t even if they wanted to.

This is a pretty common feature, and one that Acronis offers their customers as an option as well. Just beware – if you lose your encryption key, you lose your data, it’s that effective.

Rating:  5/5 – Unique user owned encryption key

Feature #4:  Server Ownership and Third Party Involvement

This one is a really big part of keeping your data secure, but a facet of online backup services that few companies advertise, and even fewer consumers look into.

Simply put, who else is involved in storing and protecting your data?

It’s a statistical certainty that the more people involved, the more opportunities there are for your privacy to be violated, and those privileges to be abused.

You may have to contact their customer support team to find out, but ask the company you’re looking into whether they own their data centers and do their own encryption.

If the answer is anything but a simple ‘yes’, consider whether they’re worth the risk, and figure out just how many people your files pass through before they wind up in storage.

Acronis owns and operates their data center, and also has their own team to handle encryption, so your data never passes through anyone’s servers but theirs.

Rating:  5/5 – No 3^rd party involvement

Feature #5: Remote Wipe

If you’ve ever had your phone or laptop stolen, you know that cold moment of panic when you realize they don’t just have your device.

Tons of personal information, from tax forms to our PayPal login details, is on these devices, and if it falls into the wrong hands, the effects can be lasting and devastating.

Some online backup services take protecting your data a step further with a remote wipe feature.

When your device is stolen, this feature allows you to erase everything on your hard drive from their servers, before any damage can be done.

Unfortunately, this isn’t something Acronis has – there are no theft protection features at all with their backup service.

Rating:  0/5 – Can’t do a remote wipe

Normally this is where I end the security evaluation part of the review, but I feel compelled to mention something I noticed in the user agreement.

There’s a lot of fine print there, but try to at least skim it anytime you start a service like this, because many times they include sections like this:

“Acronis assumes no responsibility for the deletion of Data, loss of data, or the failure to store Data.”

Okay, so that bit right there basically says, yea, we protect your data, but if we suck at it, it’s not our fault, and you can’t hold us liable for it. So much for guarantees.

The user agreement goes on to say:

To the maximum extent possible under applicable law and notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, Acronis reserves the right at all times to monitor, review, retain and/or disclose any Data or other information as necessary to satisfy any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or to investigate any suspected breach of these Terms and Conditions.

Now this last part should go without saying, but a lot of people out there may be under the illusion that their data is private and totally legally protected by the provisions in place with this type of service.

It’s not.

Unfortunately, the laws of the land where your backup service are trump any promises of privacy and confidentiality a company may make.

While they are obligated to prevent illegal invasion of your privacy, perfectly legal government interference is another matter, and if they possess the ability to give them your data, then they will.

Another thing I noticed while installing Acronis is a page asking me if I would like to opt into an interesting little program called CEP, or the Customer Experience Program.

Basically, if you decide to be a part of this program (and you can opt out), Acronis collects tons of your information while you use their product, to ‘help improve their service and products’.

Be aware, and if I were you, opt out of that one. Yikes.

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Is it Easy to Use?

For the most part, online backup services are pretty easy to use.

However, they earn extra points with me for having neat, well organized software that’s easy to navigate, and features that aren’t overly complex or difficult to adjust.

This is where that free trial really helps – download that software, and see if it’s something you won’t mind using every day.

Right off the bat I noticed that Acronis’s software took a crazy long time to download – like half an hour. I don’t have a slow internet connection, my computer functions fine.

I write software reviews all week, and I’ve never had a program take that long to download, let alone install.

Okay, fine, whatever, a half hour later, I was installing, and about 20 minutes after that, I was finally ready to check out their software. Jeez.

Okay, first of all let me just say that Acronis wants a ton of your personal information to set up an account – way more than most companies ever ask for.

I’m talking first and last name, company name (which may not even apply to you), state and country, phone number – it’s beyond ridiculous.

After you set up a free trial account, you’re sent two e-mails, one with your software download, and another with a random password – use that to log into their software.

Once you get the software opened, you’re required to login with those credentials, and again offer up more personal information.

From there, operating the program is actually fairly simple.

You have a variety of options to choose from, from a total system backup, to a more detailed scheduling tool that lets you cherry-pick what you want stored on Acronis’s servers.

Their activity log is organized and allows you to check up on what your backup software has been up to, as well as monitor for any data that may not have been uploaded to their servers intentionally.

All in all, it’s actually a very user-friendly program, despite Acronis’s frustrating tendency to stomp all over your privacy.

Rating:  4/5 – Easy to use, requires lots of information

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What If I Need Help?

I’m really big on customer service – if I’m giving someone my hard-earned money, I feel like giving me great service is the least a company can do.

Don’t sell yourself short and settle for anything less than prompt and professional customer support. Here are a few things to look for.

24/7 Support?

One of the biggest indicators of whether or not you’ll receive fast customer service from a company is whether or not their team is 24/7.

Technical problems don’t care if it’s a holiday weekend, they’ll strike on a Saturday at 3 a.m., and you can’t be without service when that happens.

With Acronis, it actually depends on how much money you spend.

Customers of their Advantage Standard programs get support from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday (EST), while Advantage Premier customers get 24/7 support.

This is definitely a first for me.

Rating:  2.5/5 – You have to pay more for 24/7 support!

Channels

This category refers to the ways in which you can get in touch with customer support.

Typically most companies offer at least two options: one live way to reach them (either by phone or chat) and by e-mail.

With Acronis, you can get in touch with them for instant assistance through their live chat feature on their website, or leave them a message with their e-mail ticketing system.

They also have a knowledgebase that you can search on their website, which they really press you to do before contacting them.

Rating:  4/5 – Live chat and e-mail support

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How Much Does Acronis Cost?

With so many backup services to choose from, prices are more affordable than ever.

Most plans range from $5 for a month to month subscription, and get even cheaper with yearly agreements around $50.

Take a close look at their features, and make sure you’re getting most of what’s available for that price range, because that’s what a lot of companies are offering now.

Acronis is pretty reasonably priced. Their plans sell by the year, so they come in at just under $5 per month.

The features included aren’t bad at all, though of course the packages vary in price depending on how many devices they cover.

Rating:  4/5 – Competitive pricing

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Conclusion

Okay, so we covered a lot of features and technical stuff there. Let’s wrap things up and check out how Acronis did in our review.

Pros:

• compatible with all systems
• great mobile apps
• unlimited storage space
• no file size or type limits
• unlimited file versioning
• continuous backup
• external hard drive back up
• file syncing
• file sharing
• built in throttle controls
• 30 day free trial
• military grade encryption
• no third party involvement
• option for user-owned key
• round the clock support for premium customers
• live chat, e-mail, and phone support
• easy to use and customize
• competitive pricing

Cons:

• doesn’t work with Linux
• no file recovery at all
• only one data center
• no remote wipe
• requires a lot of personal information
• user agreement doesn’t guarantee security of your data
• you have to pay extra for 24/7 support
• takes forever to download and install

Overall Score:  78/100

I don’t know about you, but I just wasn’t crazy about Acronis.

Sure, they have tons of features, and their software is pretty easy to use, but their constant assault of their users’ privacy and personal information was really worrisome.

On top of that, requiring users to have premium service to have access to round the clock support just doesn’t sit well with me.

To each their own though, and there’s no doubt that with unlimited storage space and almost universally compatible software, Acronis is bound to appeal to some.

If nothing else, now you’re armed with knowledge. Keep these features in mind as you look for the best backup service for you, and remember.

It’s a buyer’s market, so make them work for your business.

To get Acronis, sign up here:  Acronis Backup

To see the highest rated Online Backup Service that scored a 93/100 go here: IDrive Online Backup