Multiple "master" images

I'll try to make this as clear as possible. First off, the reason that I'm posting this here is that this product is what was recommended to me by someone at Acronis. However, I'm just not sure that I understand everything.

I need a backup program that will allow me to backup a machine and then restore that image to an actual physical hard drive so that I have a hot spare. Backing up over the network will be fine with me but I really do need to be able to create that hot spare so that when something happens it doesn't require someone with vast technical knowledge and it also alleviates all down time. I have done things this way for years with XP but now using 7, it's not as easy to find a decent method. If a hard drive fails, I need it back up within a half hour.