Does TI 2020 allow specified credentials for network target to store backup?

Four Primary questions to answer from users please:

1. Compared to TI2014 is TI 2020 bloated and a resource hog?

2. Can specific user /password credentials be specified in the backup routine for a target network share?

3. Is the expanded suite of functions in this version overlapping or interfering with other specific software like AV (eg Bitdefender)?

4. is the Acronis app that can be installed on Synology NAS devices as functional and useful as the full program on my PC? Focussing on backup only, is it simple to manage file recovery or partition restore?

1. It has been many years since I last used ATI 2014 so difficult to answer your question.  ATI 2020 does have more features than 2014 but the majority of these are optional (in the sense of being used - not optional regarding install).
   I do not find 2020 to be overly bloated or a resource hog and have used it on a variety of old and new hardware.
    
2. The way in which network credentials are handled in ATI 2020 is the same as in previous versions as far as I am aware.  The credentials are requested when first configuring a new backup task and then retained for when that task is run.  I do regular backups to my Synology NAS and have had no credentials issues across multiple different ATI versions.
    
3. The only feature that may have an element of overlap with other applications is the Acronis Active Protection feature that was introduced originally in ATI 2017 New Generation version, then integrated more fully in ATI 2018 onwards.
   Again, the user can opt to turn off the AAP feature or else the recommendation is to white-list AAP in other security applications and do the same in AAP for those applications, so as to avoid any element of conflict between them.
    
4. The Synology NAS app as far as I understand is purely aimed at allowing users to backup their mobile devices to the NAS directly instead of to a computer or the Cloud.  I have never tested this as my own model of Synology NAS is not on the supported list of models!

The only way to know with any certaintly how your specific configuration / backup scenario will work with ATI 2020 as compared to how it works now with ATI 2014, would be to install a 30-day trial copy of 2020 and see for yourself (after making a full disk backup first!).

Yes, it appears that ATI 2020 is allowing to specify specific NAS credentials to connect to and set up a NAS as a destination.

In the past, I always set up ATI to use the same NAS credentials as the ones the main Windows user would use to access the NAS. It just happens that I changed that when I set up ATI 2020 (I tried to set up the backup from another admin account with its own NAS credentials) and the backup failed upon waking up. I reverted to my old set up (use the main windows user, who is an admin, to install ATI, set up the backup with their usual NAS credential). and the backup worked.

I am suspecting that with the latest version of Windows, when a computer goes to sleep, connection credentials are kept active. When the computer wakes up and reestablishes the NAS connection, that could prevent another set of credentials to be used.

THank you :).

Pat, I agree that if you only have your PC asleep then there is likely a credential conflict as only one set can be active on a connection at a time. I power off my PC so am able to step around this issue as my backup occurs on a discrete boot/shutdown period.

I think the only reason I would update to 2020 right now is if the backup algorithm was more effective (space more so than time) or robust in other ways that benefit me over TI 2014 since it's working ok. I can't see more features that add value to my needs for performing partition level backups.

From my description of use are there alternative ideas on why I would benefit from an upgrade?

mgrobins,

Both Steve and Pat have answered your primary questions.  I would add to that two things.

First, the app now uses a new backup file format container for disk and partition backups.  Such backups have an extension of .tibx.  File/folder backups still use the old familiar .tib container.

The difference between the two formats is that the .tibx format is a more robust format.  It comes from the Acronis Backup commercial product line.  There have been some complaints about the new format from users whom have found that validation times have increased.  On contrast, backup times should be faster with the new format.  The new format also offers deduplication which is of great benefit to users as the process eliminates duplicate or redundant information therefore saving space and time.

Second is that NAS credential handling is much improved over older versions.  Yes, you can have specific unique credentials for your NAS different from that of Windows admin user account.

If your NAS can use SMB 3.0 or higher than the app will use that protocol when creating backups giving you that latest in security features.

Active Protection is better in protecting you fro Ransomware attacks than most because if such an attack happens the process is immediately halted and affected files if any can be recovered during a process to quarantine the ransomware a virus.

As Steve suggest take a trial run first and see how you like it.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained! 

Well, my point of view is that the current build of 2020 has some issues with NAS credentials. I am still trying to sort out these, but the backups and restores are working.

If it is not broken, don't change it. As long as ATI 2014 is supporting your hardware and OS officially, you have what you need.

If you try, do a backup first!