June 20, 2017
Press release

Acronis Delivers Lightning Fast Search of Windows and NAS Files Shares for Macs in Windows Environments with New Release of Acronis Files Connect

Acronis Files Connect improves productivity in mixed Mac/Windows environments by addressing the problem areas associated with connecting Mac computers to Windows file shares, DFS resources, NAS and networked printers.

Acronis, a global leader in hybrid cloud data protection and storage today announced a new release of Acronis Files Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP), giving Mac users instant access to all available file shares and DFS resources together with a lightning fast search functionality that is hundreds times faster than the default Mac's Finder application.

Acronis Files Connect streamlines the integration of Mac computers into a Windows-based network. It directly addresses the reliability and performance issues associated with connecting Mac computers to Windows file shares and DFS resources via AFP and SMB protocols. As the result, companies with Mac/Windows environments enjoy fewer support calls, increased productivity and improved employee satisfaction.

The new solution is easy, reliable, fast and unique. It only takes three clicks to locate and access a file on any number of file shares with Acronis Files Connect, compared to ten clicks per share with Mac's Finder application; and Acronis' internal tests showed that it only takes up to three seconds to search 250,000 files on a remote share with Acronis Files Connect, compared to more than 25 minutes when using Finder connected via SMB. In fact, full content search is not normally available for Macs connecting to remote file shares via SMB. Acronis Files Connect tackles the issue head on by allowing advanced search of multiple file shares simultaneously without performance or reliability degradation.

New software functionality

The latest release of Acronis Files Connect introduces new file indexing options on the server side and a new lightweight Mac application to provide a single pane of glass into all remote file storage locations. Some of the new features include the following:

  • Ability to specify AFP or SMB protocol as required for each files share
  • Automated mounting of file shares
  • Full content Spotlight search on single or multiple file shares simultaneously
  • Easy management of network printers
  • Real-time granular search index updates
  • Spotlight search on volumes managed by HSM / file system archiving solutions
  • Control file content indexing for dramatic reduction in search index size
  • Support for Windows and Mac file tags

"Acronis Files Connect is the only solution that provides the rich experience Mac users demand when connecting to Windows or NAS file servers and DFS resources. This solution is packed with new features and advanced functionality, yet easy to administer. Making Mac integration into Windows networks transparent," said John Zanni, CMO at Acronis.

Opportunity for Acronis partners and resellers

With more than 91 percent of enterprise organizations using Mac computers, Acronis Files Connect opens new business opportunities for partners and resellers servicing those businesses. The new solution can be easily offered alongside Acronis data protection and storage solutions, fully meeting modern day needs for data protection and availability. It is designed to streamline the management of mixed Mac/Windows environments and reduce the load on IT administrators by removing file access issues common to Mac users.

For more information, please visit: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/mobility/mac-windows-compatibility/




About Acronis:

Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. Acronis solutions are highly efficient and designed to identify, prevent, detect, respond, remediate, and recover from modern cyberthreats with minimal downtime, ensuring data integrity and business continuity. Acronis offers the most comprehensive security solution on the market for MSPs with its unique ability to meet the needs of diverse and distributed IT environments.

A Swiss company founded in Singapore in 2003, Acronis has 45 locations across the globe. Acronis Cyber Protect is available in 26 languages in 150 countries and is used by over 20,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. Learn more at www.acronis.com.
Press contacts:
Katya Turtseva
VP of Communications