Global hybrid cloud data protection and storage solutions provider, Acronis, has announced a new strategic partnership with Microsoft for deeper integration of Acronis’ data protection products with Microsoft’s Azure cloud services. The new partnership would allow customers and service providers to more easily store their data or clients’ data in the Azure cloud.
Microsoft Azure will be available as a storage destination option alongside Acronis Cloud and other public cloud vendors in future versions of Acronis products. Today, Acronis partners and customers use Azure’s capacity for storing data, but it requires manual installation and configuration of the Acronis Backup Gateway. Acting on customer and partner requests, Acronis and Microsoft are working together on providing native integration of Acronis solutions with Microsoft Azure services.
“A lot of products that we build deliver value to clients using Microsoft technology,” said John Zanni, President of Acronis. “With easy, reliable and efficient backup and built-in security in the form of active protection against ransomware, our clients enjoy complete protection of their data. Adding Azure as a native storage destination increases their options, making Acronis solutions even more attractive to use. For any organization that has built their strategy on Microsoft, this is great news.”
Data Protection for Azure Workloads
Acronis provides data protection for all Microsoft workloads (including workstations, servers, applications and mobile devices) to end-customers, resellers and service providers. Acronis also can backup Microsoft Azure workloads, with Acronis Backup and Acronis Backup Cloud.
“It’s great to see how Acronis is transforming the services it offers to its customers, innovating in anti-ransomware and data protection,” said Judy Meyer, General Manager, ISV partners at Microsoft. “Microsoft and Acronis have worked closely together over several years in planning the adoption of public cloud services as part of Acronis’ portfolio, and we’re delighted to see the progress that’s been made in using Azure and the Microsoft AI platform.”
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Acronis’ partnership with Microsoft will extend beyond Azure integration. The two companies will join forces extending the artificial intelligence (AI) functionality of Acronis Active Protection.
“Microsoft has invested decades of research into artificial intelligence including; cognitive services, conversational AI, Machine Learning tools and more….and has built the global cloud platform to help our customers make use of these powerful AI technologies,” said Steve Guggenheimer, Vice President of Business AI at Microsoft. “By using the Microsoft Azure cloud platform and AI Tools/Services with the Acronis Backup service, Acronis will be able to work on bringing valuable analytics services to market, so their customers can understand and manage their data much more effectively.”
