Can I use a different cloud?
I have looked at the sales pitch for ATI2017 but have not found anything about the ability to use a cloud of my choice.
Are we still stuck with the Acronis Cloud?
If so, count me out. I have been suckered into ATI's relentless update treadmill before. Not much changes.
By all means sell cloud space with free software to use it. But if you are selling backup software leave it to me to choose the destination.
It's an Acronis cloud product with Acronis cloud service. Kind of like Crashplan makes you use Crashplan's cloud service, or Apple makes you use iCloud, or Google makes you use Google Drive, or Microsoft makes you use OneDrive - don't think this is in the realm of odd at all.
You can use whatever cloud backup you want - push your local backup .tibs wherever else in the Cloud might suit your need as an alternative. However, Acronis is selling the cloud package with their cloud service and makes sense as they're providing the storage, service, support, etc with the subsciription service. If you don't want the cloud service, that is what the perpetual (stand-a-lone) license option is for as an alternative.
The file synchronization/backup utility GoodSync is notable in this context for connecting to a number of cloud storage providers (about half a dozen, plus generic protocols WebDAV and [S]FTP). Not that it's a drop-in replacement for ATI as its focus is strictly file synchronization (no drive imaging), but it's been one of the things I've been using these past few years while not using ATI (currently reevaluating 2017). Might be worth a look for some people intrigued by the subject of the post.
Davide - agreed. Don't see why one couldn't take local backups and store them to some other cloud using their own prefered application or sync software. Not the same thing that Acronis is offering, but an alternative work-a-round for offsite storage of raw data and/or backup .tib files.
Personally, I think that backup software from one company that backs up to other company's cloud is a terrible idea. My primary concern is which company is responsible if something goes wrong. If your hard driive crashes, and the restore does not work, which company is at fault? I am sure that the Cloud company would blame the backup company and vice versa. In this situation, I want to deal with one reputable company.
There are also many other issues....proprietary data agreements, licensing agreements, etc, that could take years to resolve.
FtrPilot, maybe I'm not understanding what you mean by "responsible" and "at fault." Might want to double-check sections 8 and 9 of the Acronis consumer EULA (Disclaimer of Warranties, Limitation of Liability). I'd quote more, but their lawyers shout in all caps. Key phrases include, "You will be solely responsible for any damages... or loss of data. ... Under no circumstances shall Acronis ... be liable for... any... damages whatsoever, including without limitation... loss of data..." Pretty standard stuff for any provider. Not that Acronis Cloud is better or worse than any other, but putting all your eggs in this basket gets you only simplicity of setup, not any guarantees.
It's an Acronis cloud product with Acronis cloud service. Kind of like Crashplan makes you use Crashplan's cloud service, or Apple makes you use iCloud, or Google makes you use Google Drive, or Microsoft makes you use OneDrive - don't think this is in the realm of odd at all.
These are completely different.
I have bought other backup software that lets me save data to Amazon, Google, Microsoft and more. There I have paid for software, and it lets me choose what I do with it.
I have free and paid for cloud space (Google, BT, Microsoft) that provide me with free tools that I can use to access them.
I can get stuff into free Google space with other commercial software (Synchback and my NAS). I can use software I bought (EaseUS) to load backups into OneDrive (paid), Google Drive (free) and Dropbox (free).
I know of no other service that ties paid software to paid cloud space.
If that is the Acronis business model, fine. That is the company's choice. I wanted to know if it has changed since last year. If not, then I have alternatives.
The cost of Acronis's cloud space makes it uncompetitive.
I have not tried this, but when I do a backup creation and do custom location several non-Acronis Cloud storage are listed:
- DropBox
- OneDrive
- OneDriveEnterprise
Such a backup would work in the same way as a local backup; it would not work in the same was as one to Acronis Cloud. You may also have issues with file size limits imposed by other providers, and file type limits.
Ian
The file synchronization/backup utility GoodSync is notable in this context for connecting to a number of cloud storage providers (about half a dozen, plus generic protocols WebDAV and [S]FTP). Not that it's a drop-in replacement for ATI as its focus is strictly file synchronization (no drive imaging), but it's been one of the things I've been using these past few years while not using ATI (currently reevaluating 2017). Might be worth a look for some people intrigued by the subject of the post.
Thanks for that. Another addition to the armoury of paid software that lets me pick where to put things.
There seems to be some confusion among the fans of Acronis's approach. They muddle up the software and the cloud space.
Acronis now has two ways of selling True Image: a licence to use the software in perpetuity, or until Microsoft changes Windows so much that it won't work, and annual licence that comes with cloud space.
I asked about the possibility of saving to another cloud because I saw this two-pronged way of getting money out of me and wondered if buying the software on its own would let me choose where to save things. It seems not. No problem, just go to something like GoodSync or those that I listed.
I take the point about images. I don't use the cloud for imaging. At the moment ATI does it locally and to NAS boxes. But EaseUS can handle images to a cloud.
Thanks to all for the answers here. The money that might have gone to Acronis stays in my wallet.
As for those other backup locations like Dropbox and OneDrive... These have a desktop application with a folder in the user profile. Nothing prevents you from backing up to that folder locally on the machine, which the app then syncs to its cloud location. Acronis Cloud is completely integrated and offers more features than just backing up your local backup to the cloud, but nothing prevents you from using Dropbox or OneDrive folders as your backup location and letting those apps sync the files to their cloud locations. As Ian mentions too, some of these are now durectly available in 2017 as well, bit using the desktop folders where these apps sync from has always been possible.
I used NovaBACKUP PC a couple of years ago and saw that the latest version can backup to the followin cloud services: Dropbox, OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, Google Drive, iDriveSync, SkyDrive and SafeSync.
I have not tried this, but when I do a backup creation and do custom location several non-Acronis Cloud storage are listed:
DropBox
OneDrive
OneDriveEnterpriseSuch a backup would work in the same way as a local backup; it would not work in the same was as one to Acronis Cloud. You may also have issues with file size limits imposed by other providers, and file type limits.
Ian
Many thanks for that. Really useful information, rather than a knee-jerk defence of Acronis's strategy.
Unfortunately, the jerkers confused the issue by not answering the question, perhaps I express it badly. Then there are those who imply that TI2017 cannot do what you describe because the software is so tightly tied to the Acronis is cloud that going somewhere else would be impossible.
Very confusing. But, once again, thanks for the useful insight.
Thanks or that. I used NovaBACKUP PC many moons ago, but I got baffled by what seemed to be two competing products with the same name, and with Russian connections. Nice to know that it is still around.
I have used alot of services the 2 I use for sync are goodsync and idrive sync , idrive is the best price per gb of cloud space its fast as hell, has sync option, backup, you can even backup entire pc if it will not boot then boot entirely off idrive. Look into it I have a toon of stuff pointed there. You can have sub accounts and multiple pcs even with the starter plan.
Even with true image 12.5 i still find limitations its not until you get to the msp version where you deploy agents that it gets really useful.
I use novabackup for 99% of my personal backup. It has gotten 80% better in the last few years and i get the business essentials for like 189.99 they had a crazy sale. They have also released nova xps a msp driven backup solution, it looks great i have just not had a chance to test it yet.
I hope you find a solution that your happy with just a fyi most companys have either a free 1-5gb version or 30 day test of there product to try.
In risposta a I have used alot of services… di truwrikodrorow…
Thanks. I didn't know that novabackup was still. with us. I used it years ago, but it went through a dodgy phase.
At the moment the strategy is to use Acronis to create the backups and then to use software that does not lock me into a particularly cloud to copy the data to one of the various clouds that comes with my Internet account, or Office 365. Much cheaper than Acronis, which wants as much as I pay for Microsoft Office 365, which comes with 1 TB per user.
I know this is an old thread but I stumbled across it looking for a way to automatically upload my backups to a remote location that I already paid for. Perhaps this will help someone else.
I ended up using Cyberduck's CLI version ( https://duck.sh/ ) which supports (S)FTP, (secure) Webdav and multiple well known cloud services.
After installing 'duck' you can setup a post command in the backup options on the 'Advanced' tab as follows:
Command: duck
Arguments: --upload davs://<username>:<password>@<username>.stackstorage.com/remote.php/webdav/<remote-backup-folder>/ C:\<local-backup-folder> --existing compare
For my example I am using Stackstorage via a secure Webdav connection. For some more examples of other supported connections and services, take a look here: https://trac.cyberduck.io/wiki/help/en/howto/cli#URI