CrashPlan vs Acronis for Business: How to Choose

To choose between CrashPlan and Acronis for business, evaluate your priority: CrashPlan excels at continuous, unlimited cloud backup for endpoints, while Acronis Cyber Protect offers a broader platform with imaging, ransomware protection, and local backup options. This guide breaks down their core differences, pricing models, and use cases so you can match the tool to your IT environment and recovery needs.

Background: What Each Service Was Built For

CrashPlan for Business (now part of Carbonite, a company under OpenText) originated as a consumer backup tool that grew into a business endpoint solution. Its core strength is continuous, automatic backup of files and folders to the cloud, with a focus on simplicity and unlimited storage. It is not a full system imaging tool by default; it backs up files, which means you can restore individual documents, photos, or other data.

Acronis, founded in 2003, started with disk imaging and disaster recovery for servers and PCs. Its current product line, Acronis Cyber Protect, combines backup with anti-malware, anti-ransomware, URL filtering, and vulnerability assessments. It supports full disk images, file-level backups, and local backup to external drives or NAS devices, in addition to cloud storage. Acronis also offers a range of deployment options, including on-premises software and cloud-based management.

Understanding these origins matters because they shape the user experience. CrashPlan is file-centric; Acronis is image-centric with security add-ons. Your choice depends on whether you need to back up entire systems or just the data files.

How They Work: Backup Methods and Restoration

CrashPlan uses a client that runs in the background, continuously detecting changed files and uploading them to the cloud. It supports file versioning, so you can recover previous versions of a document. It also allows local backup to an external drive or another computer on your network, which can speed up recovery. However, CrashPlan does not create a bootable system image. If your hard drive fails, you must reinstall the operating system and applications, then restore your files from CrashPlan.

Acronis Cyber Protect can create a full disk image, which is a byte-for-byte snapshot of your entire system, including the OS, applications, and settings. You can restore this image to the same hardware or to dissimilar hardware using Acronis Universal Restore (a paid add-on). Acronis also supports file-level backup and continuous backup, but the default is often scheduled. It offers both cloud and local storage destinations, and you can set up a hybrid approach: local backups for fast recovery, plus cloud for offsite protection.

For restoration, CrashPlan provides a web-based console where you can browse and download files. Acronis offers a similar web console but also allows you to create bootable recovery media (USB or ISO) to restore a system image even if the OS won’t start. This is a critical difference for disaster recovery scenarios.

How to Choose: Key Decision Factors

There is no single “best� option; the right choice depends on your specific business needs. Consider these factors:

• Recovery speed: If you need to get a failed server back up quickly, Acronis’s image-based restore is faster than CrashPlan’s file restore, which requires reinstalling the OS.
• Storage volume: CrashPlan offers unlimited cloud storage for a flat per-device fee, which is ideal if you have large amounts of data (e.g., video files, design assets). Acronis charges per GB of cloud storage, so costs can escalate.
• Security features: Acronis includes anti-ransomware and anti-malware protection, which can stop an attack before it encrypts your files. CrashPlan does not offer these; you’d need a separate security solution.
• Granularity: CrashPlan allows you to back up specific folders and exclude others easily. Acronis also supports this, but image backups are all-or-nothing unless you use file-level backup.
• Compliance: If you must retain backups for a specific period, both allow retention policies, but Acronis offers more granular control over versioning and retention.
• IT expertise: CrashPlan is simpler to set up and manage, making it suitable for small businesses without dedicated IT staff. Acronis has a steeper learning curve but offers more advanced features.

Costs and Pricing Models

CrashPlan for Business is priced per device (computer or server) with unlimited cloud storage. As of 2024, pricing starts around $10 per device per month, but this can vary based on contract length and number of devices. There are no additional charges for storage, but you may pay extra for advanced features like endpoint detection and response (EDR) if you choose the higher tiers.

Acronis Cyber Protect pricing is based on the number of devices and the amount of cloud storage you use. For example, a single server with 1 TB of cloud storage might cost around $150 per year, but this is an estimate and not a guaranteed price. Acronis also offers different editions (Essential, Advanced, and Ultimate), each adding more features like email security, patch management, or EDR. You can also use Acronis with local storage only, which reduces costs but loses offsite protection.

When comparing costs, calculate your total data volume. If you have 5 servers with 2 TB each, CrashPlan would be cheaper if you only need file backup. But if you need image backups and security, Acronis might justify its higher cost. Always get a current quote from both vendors, as prices change.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that CrashPlan can restore a full system. It cannot. If you misunderstand this, you may find yourself without a bootable backup after a disaster. Always test your restore process to ensure you know what you can recover.

Another issue is backup verification. Both services claim to verify backups, but Acronis offers more robust testing, including the ability to mount a backup as a virtual machine. CrashPlan’s verification is less transparent; you may not know a backup is corrupted until you need it.

Acronis users often complain about the complexity of licensing and the management console. It can be overwhelming for small businesses. CrashPlan users sometimes report slow initial backups when they have large amounts of data, though this is common with any cloud backup service.

Also, note that CrashPlan’s unlimited storage is for file backup only; if you want image backup, you’d need a different product (like Carbonite Server Backup). Acronis’s cloud storage is metered, so you must monitor your usage to avoid overage charges.

Comparison: CrashPlan vs. Acronis at a Glance

• Backup type: CrashPlan – file/folder; Acronis – file/folder and full disk image.
• Cloud storage: CrashPlan – unlimited; Acronis – metered (per GB).
• Local backup: Both support local destinations, but Acronis has more options (NAS, external drives, tape).
• Security: Acronis includes anti-malware and anti-ransomware; CrashPlan does not.
• Restore speed: Acronis is faster for full system recovery; CrashPlan is fine for file-level restore.
• Ease of use: CrashPlan is simpler; Acronis has a steeper learning curve.
• Ideal for: CrashPlan – small businesses with large data volumes and no need for imaging; Acronis – businesses that need comprehensive protection and fast disaster recovery.

Safety and Security Considerations

Both services encrypt data in transit and at rest. CrashPlan uses 256-bit AES encryption, and you can choose to manage your own encryption key (though this means you must keep it safe, as you cannot recover data without it). Acronis also uses AES-256 and offers additional security features like blockchain-based notarization and e-signature for verification of backups.

One important safety tip: always test your backups. For CrashPlan, restore a few random files to ensure they are intact. For Acronis, perform a test restore to a virtual machine or spare hardware. This is the only way to be confident your backup is working.

Also, consider the 3-2-1 rule: keep at least three copies of your data, on two different media, with one offsite. Both services can help you achieve this, but Acronis makes it easier with local backup options.

Alternatives to Consider

If neither fits, other business backup solutions include:

• Backblaze Business: Similar to CrashPlan, with unlimited storage and per-device pricing, but no image backup.
• Veeam Backup & Replication: Powerful for virtualized environments, but more complex and requires your own storage.
• Datto: Offers image-based backups and disaster recovery appliances, but is more expensive.
• Microsoft 365 Backup: If you only need to protect Microsoft 365 data (Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive), this is a simple add-on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CrashPlan back up a server?

Yes, CrashPlan for Business supports Windows and Linux servers, but it only backs up files, not the operating system. If your server OS fails, you’ll need to rebuild it and then restore files.

Does Acronis require a subscription?

Yes, Acronis Cyber Protect is subscription-based, with annual or multi-year plans. There is a free trial, but no perpetual license option for new customers.

Which is better for ransomware protection?

Acronis is better because it includes anti-ransomware features that detect and block encryption attempts. CrashPlan does not have such features; you’d need a separate security tool.

Can I use both CrashPlan and Acronis together?

Yes, you could use CrashPlan for file backup and Acronis for system images, but that would be redundant and costly. It’s better to choose one that meets most of your needs.

How long does the initial backup take?

It depends on your data volume and internet upload speed. For example, 100 GB at 10 Mbps upload takes about 22 hours. Both services allow you to throttle bandwidth, but initial backups can take days for large datasets.

What happens if I exceed my Acronis storage quota?

You will be billed for overage, or backups may fail if you set a hard limit. It’s best to monitor your usage and adjust your plan as needed.

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