Backup, disk cloning, and cyber protection for home use

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do you back up a computer?

  A computer backup is a second copy of your data that you store separately from the original. That includes family photos and videos, documents, emails, contacts, apps and even the operating system that powers your computer. If the originals are located on your laptop or a mobile device, you keep the backup somewhere else that’s safe — that way, you can use the second copy to restore your files or system if something happens to the original.

  To ensure all of this data is accurately copied so you can use it to recover your computer, backup software is a must. A solution like Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office automatically captures changes to everything, including hidden files that can be missed by manually copying files, and makes the process of recovery easy and efficient.

• How do you back up a computer to an external hard drive?

  With Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (formerly Acronis True Image), creating a full image backup on an external hard drive is as easy as two clicks. Once the drive is connected and Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (formerly Acronis True Image) is running, click Add backup. The entire computer is the default backup source, so you simply need to assign the external drive as the backup destination and then click Back up now.

• What does it mean to back up a computer to the cloud?

  Computer backups need to be stored someplace safe. Acronis recommends the 3-2-1 backup rule, which includes storing three copies of your data on at least two different types of media (such as external hard drives, network drives, and NAS devices) and keeping one copy off-site. That way, if a fire or flood damages both your original files and the local backup, the off-site copy is available to use for recovery.

  "The cloud" is a term that describes a remote network of computers and servers that you access via the internet. The cloud is a convenient way to store your files off-site, where they are safe from local damage. Subscriptions to the Advanced and Premium editions of Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office (formerly Acronis True Image) include cloud storage, as well as cloud-based features and "anywhere access" to your data.

  With Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, you also have the ability to automatically replicate local backups in the Acronis Cloud, so you always have an off-site copy of your data available without having to manage a separate backup plan. By choosing this option, after the first successful backup, your backup and replication will be done simultaneously.

• What is Acronis anti-malware protection?

  Acronis' advanced anti-malware gives you peace of mind by delivering outstanding multilayered threat protection. It uses a set of integrated technologies that address specific attack vectors:

  • Superb protection against known and unknown malware, including ransomware, cryptojackers, and fileless attacks.
  • Behavioral analysis and dynamic detection rules that combat any emerging threats.
  • On-demand antivirus scan that checks all files on your computer for any kind of malware: Trojans, viruses, backdoors, worms, keyloggers, spyware and others.

  Acronis continuously safeguards your device and backups from the latest cyberthreats.

• Do I need Acronis anti-malware protection if I already have specialized antivirus, anti-malware, firewall, or other security software?

  Yes. Acronis anti-malware uses a set of integrated technologies that deliver data protection capabilities many third-party antiviruses don't.

  • It keeps your backup safe. A dedicated module of Acronis anti-malware protection guards your backup files and the backup agent, preventing deletion or alteration by malware.
  • It restores ransomware-affected files automatically. The majority of other security software only prevents the attack, without automatically recovering the ciphered data.

• Is Acronis' anti-malware protection compatible with other anti-malware solutions?

  We are aware that you may have specialized antivirus, web filtering, or other security software installed on your device. Although we recommend uninstalling the third-party software and fully relying on Acronis' anti-malware solution, you can still keep it active.

  Acronis' anti-malware protection is compatible with most common anti-malware solutions. They do not conflict with each other for resources and do not create extra overhead on the system.

  However, our real-time protection switches on only if there is no third-party real-time protection solution running on your device. If third-party software is detected, you'll receive a message on your protection dashboard notifying you that another piece of software is protecting you from malicious files.

  Note: If you continue using an existing third-party solution for device protection rather than Acronis' anti-malware, we cannot guarantee the reliability of that third-party protection.