NZBUSINESS.CO.NZ 41
TECH STUFF
“Cloud storage is
a must if you use
more than one
device, as you can
sync files between
the two as well as
make backups.”
Should you choose to open it up to see what's happening,
there's a clear and uncluttered software dashboard that lets
you control what happens and understand your status.
Like any online backup service it takes a while to make
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depends on your broadband connection – you need an
unlimited broadband plan. The good news is the backup
doesn't hog all your bandwidth, so you can get on with
other online tasks.
You can choose to stop making backups if you use a
laptop and it is on battery power. You also get a choice of
optimal or maximum data backup speed. Optimal uses less
of your bandwidth freeing up capacity for other apps.ROCK SOLID
Once WKH¿UVWEDFNXSLVGRQH$FURQLVZRUNVDWDFUDFNLQJ
pace. Later incremental backups often hit high speeds
although this depends on your connection. They all happen
in the background. It's reliable and rock solid.
There are some neat touches. Acronis allows you to
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and retrieve them using a web interface. In fact, you can
use this web interface to recover your data at any time
without the app.
Acronis uses blockchain technology to determine if
anyone else has altered your online archive. This helps
protect you from ransomware criminals.
Acronis True Image 2018 may feel like overkill for
many users, yet prices are reasonable and in touch with
alternatives that are neither as safe, nor as simple.BILL BENNETT IS AN AUCKLAND-BASED
BUSINESS IT WRITER AND COMMENTATOR.
EMAIL [email protected]paid-for versions are great value and are unlikely to cost more than
a few dollars a year. That's money well spent.
WAIT, THERE’S MORE
Recently I looked at a backup product that takes things much
further. Acronis True Image 2018 is both an application and a
service. It gives you the choice of storing your data to a local drive
or to its own cloud service. In both cases Acronis adds high levels of
security.
None of this is unique to Acronis. Almost every other backup
alternative offers the same basic story. Where Acronis differs from
the pack is that it defends your data against a ransomware attack.
It also uses blockchain to keep your data extra safe.
There is a 30-day free trial. If you want to buy the software you
can choose from a variety of options. There is a US$50 standard
one-time fee for one computer. This rises to US$80 for three
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Acronis' advanced package is the same price, but it doubles as a
one-year subscription that adds up to 250GB of cloud storage.
There is also a premium plan. This includes 1TB of cloud storage
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signatures. This costs US$100 for a single computer and $160 for
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Once you have the software working, you don't see much at all. It
chugs away in the background and needs little human intervention.