Backup protection

Location: Options > Advanced > Backup protection

This topic is applicable to local and network backups. For information about protecting cloud backups, refer to Online backup protection.

A backup file can be password-protected. By default, there is no password protection for backups.

You cannot change the backup protection option for a pre-existing backup.

To protect a backup:

1. Enter the password for the backup into the corresponding field. We recommend that you use a password longer than seven symbols and containing both letters (in upper and lower cases preferably) and numbers to make it more difficult to guess.

   A password cannot be retrieved. Please memorize the password that you specify for a backup protection.

2. To confirm the previously entered password, retype it into the corresponding field.
3. [optional step] To increase the security of your confidential data, you can encrypt the backup with strong industry-standard AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) cryptographic algorithm. AES is available with three key lengths – 128, 192 and 256 bits to balance performance and protection as desired.

   The 128-bit encryption key is sufficient for most applications. The longer the key, the more secure your data. However, the 192 and 256-bit long keys significantly slow down the backup process.

   If you want to use AES encryption, choose one of the following keys:

   • AES 128 - to use 128-bit encryption key
   • AES 192 - to use 192-bit encryption key
   • AES 256 - to use 256-bit encryption key

   If you do not want to encrypt the backup and only want to protect a backup with a password, select None.

4. Having specified the backup settings, click OK.

How to get access to a password-protected backup

Acronis True Image asks for the password every time you try to modify the backup:

• Recover data from the backup
• Edit settings
• Delete
• Mount
• Move

To access the backup, you must specify the correct password.