In short: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, now renamed Acronis Cyber Platform, is a cloud-managed service that backs up servers, virtual machines, workstations, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace, and adds anti-malware, EDR, disaster recovery and management through the same agent. It is licensed per workload or per gigabyte, with optional services such as MDR licensed separately.
What changed: Cyber Protect Cloud is now Cyber Platform
Acronis has renamed its service-provider product. What was sold as Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is now the Acronis Cyber Platform, and Acronis says the old name is no longer actively used. If your console, quote or renewal still says Cyber Protect Cloud, it is the same service: existing agents and protection plans carry on working.
Acronis has also introduced Cyber Console, a central interface that brings management, provisioning, billing, an AI assistant and integrations together. We use both names on this page because most people still search for Cyber Protect Cloud.
How it works
The idea behind Acronis is that backup, security and endpoint management belong in one product rather than three. You install one agent on each device, manage everything from a web console hosted by Acronis and apply protection plans that combine backup schedules, anti-malware, vulnerability assessment and any extra services you have switched on.
Because backup and security share the agent, Acronis can do things separate tools find hard, such as scanning backups for malware and applying anti-malware updates and patches as part of recovery (Safe Recovery), so you do not reintroduce ransomware when you restore. Cloud-to-cloud services such as Microsoft 365 backup need no agent. Backups can go to Acronis Cloud, storage hosted by your service provider, supported public cloud storage such as Microsoft Azure, or your own local storage, and immutable storage is available on supported cloud destinations. Acronis runs a global network of data centres and lets you choose where your data is stored.
What it protects and what it can add
| Area | What is covered |
|---|---|
| Backup | Windows, macOS and Linux devices and servers; virtual machines; databases and applications; NAS; iOS and Android devices |
| Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and Entra ID | Mailbox items, files and collaboration content, plus Microsoft Entra ID data, backed up cloud-to-cloud with granular recovery |
| Disaster recovery | Fail servers over to Acronis Cloud with runbooks, so they run there while the original is repaired, and rehearse the same runbooks in test mode |
| Endpoint security | Anti-malware and anti-ransomware as standard, with EDR and a managed detection and response (MDR) service available |
| Email and data | Email security, collaboration protection, data loss prevention and GenAI protection |
| Management | Patch management, remote monitoring and management, and remote access |
Standard protection comes with every workload. Additional services, such as disaster recovery, EDR, email security, DLP and RMM, are switched on through protection plans and licensed separately; disaster recovery is charged on the DR storage, compute and public IP addresses it uses, and tests use compute too. Acronis's GenAI protection add-on discovers the browser-based AI tools staff use, blocks personal and other sensitive data from being sent to them and can block harmful prompts such as prompt injection; our generative AI security page puts that in context.
Per-workload vs per-gigabyte licensing
Through a service provider, Acronis is billed monthly in arrears on what you actually protect, using one of two models with the same features:
| Per workload | Per gigabyte | |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | A fixed monthly price for each protected workload (server, VM, workstation, mobile, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace seat); local and service-provider storage carry no separate charge | The total amount of data you protect, with no limit on the number of workloads |
| Suits | Estates with fewer workloads that hold a lot of data | Estates with many workloads that each hold modest data |
| Extra services | Licensed separately | Licensed separately |
Acronis also offers solution packages (Backup + DR, Security + RMM and Ultimate Protection) that put each workload on a single licence, with included cloud storage pooled across your organisation. The right model depends on your mix of devices and data, so we model both against your estate before you commit. Full licensing detail is on Acronis licensing at softwarelicensing.uk.
Who it suits
Acronis suits organisations that want backup and endpoint security from one vendor without running backup servers: small and mid-sized businesses, schools, charities and multi-site organisations with a small IT team. It is particularly useful when an ageing on-premises backup product and an expiring antivirus are both due for replacement, because one project can replace both.
If you already have endpoint security you are happy with, for example Microsoft Defender for Business or another product from our endpoint security and XDR page, you can use Acronis for backup and DR only and leave its security features off. If you only need SaaS backup, NinjaOne SaaS Backup is simpler. For server continuity with cloud virtualisation as the main goal, compare Axcient x360Recover.
How we help
We count your workloads and data, compare per-workload and per-gigabyte costs, choose a data centre location that meets your data residency needs, deploy agents and build protection plans with sensible schedules, retention and immutability. We restrict who can delete backups, protect the console with MFA, and run test restores with you after go-live. If you add EDR or MDR, we make sure it does not clash with existing endpoint security. Pricing depends on workloads, storage and services, so ask us for a quote.
Contact us to discuss Acronis.
How Forever Systems helps with cloud security
We are an independent UK IT and cyber security provider. We supply and support a wide range of security platforms, so we recommend what fits your organisation rather than one vendor's answer to everything.
- Assess first: we review what you already own, especially your Microsoft 365 licences, before suggesting anything new
- Vendor-aware advice across secure access, email, identity, data protection, endpoint, MDR, cloud infrastructure, browser, AI and backup, including Cisco Secure, Check Point Harmony and Sophos
- Deployment and migration from a UK team, from tenant hardening to replacing a VPN or an endpoint product
- Ongoing support: policy tuning, alert handling, renewals and regular reviews
- People and certification too: security awareness training and Cyber Essentials
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.
Want an independent view of your cloud security?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Has Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud been renamed?
Yes. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is now called Acronis Cyber Platform, and Acronis says the old name is no longer actively used. Existing agents, protection plans and backups carry on working under the new name.
What is the difference between per-workload and per-gigabyte licensing?
Per workload charges a fixed monthly price for each protected device or seat. Per gigabyte charges for the total amount of data you protect and does not limit the number of workloads. Which works out cheaper depends on your devices and data volumes, so we model both against your estate.
Does Acronis back up Microsoft 365?
Yes. Acronis backs up Microsoft 365 mail, files and collaboration content cloud-to-cloud, without an agent, with granular recovery of items such as emails, contacts and calendar entries. It also covers Google Workspace and Microsoft Entra ID data.
Can I use Acronis for backup only?
Yes. Standard protection includes backup, and you can leave the extra security services switched off if you already have endpoint protection you are happy with.
Where does Acronis store backups?
In Acronis Cloud, in storage hosted by your service provider, in supported public cloud storage such as Microsoft Azure, or on your own local storage. You choose the data centre location, and immutable storage is available on supported cloud destinations.