ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY
Distribution of Acronis global hosting locations .
and they are interoperable . I can move data from physical to virtual to cloud with a single console ,” explains Zanni .
The Acronis Backup solution and Acronis Cloud storage is available from datacentres across the world . Large enterprises have the choice of selecting in which datacentre to back-up their Acronis Image and data in order to comply with their own business continuity policies . For small and medium enterprises , Acronis has been offsetting the initial cost of cloud storage in multiples of 1 Terabyte to encourage data migration to the cloud .
For on-premises end-user installations , Acronis follows a license based pricing approach . When there is cloud based backup , the pricing changes and is dependent on storage space consumed by the end-user . The same pricing approach is used by Acronis with its regional channel partners . Acronis uses a two-tier channel structure to reach its commercial and business end-customers , while 100 % of its sales is indirect in the region .
Channel partners that are selling Acronis Backup software on-premises use a license based payment approach with the storage space provided for by the end-user . However , when the enduser is backing up the Acronis Image into the Acronis Cloud and using the Acronis Backup administrative console
to synchronise between onsite and cloud folders , the pricing used by channel partners is based on storage space consumed in the Acronis Cloud .
Since all Acronis global datacenters are based outside the Middle East and Africa region , regional Acronis channel partners are moving towards a third model of pricing and service offering . Channel partners can now combine the Acronis Backup administrative console with localised cloud storage within the country or within the region , using local and regional service providers and datacenters .
In this case also , the unit of pricing will remain as the storage space consumed through the channel partner outside the Acronis Cloud . However , the unit value of the pricing charged by Acronis to the channel partner will be less in comparison to when the Acronis Cloud is used by the end-customer .
“ They do not have to use our datacentre . They can use a datacentre service provider that is local , or public cloud , or AWS , Google , Microsoft Azure ,” adds Zanni , implying that end-customers can choose to save their data on a cloud platform of their choice . They could opt for such cloud storage , building their disaster recovery and business continuity capabilities , while ensuring compliance with country specific data privacy legislation .
Acronis channel partners can negotiate to buy volume space in the Acronis Cloud and slice and dice the cloud storage space using their own metrics . But for every end-user accessing storage space in the Acronis Cloud , channel partners will need to attach a unique instance of Acronis Backup administrative console . Service providers have the further option of white labelling Acronis Backup software to boost their selfbranded cloud backup and disaster recovery services to enterprise customers .
“ Today we are offering Acronis Backup in our datacenters . So , you can build out a virtual IT environment in our datacentre . Next year it will be enabled in service provider datacentres as well ,” adds Zanni . “ What we have done , we have taken that solution and we are democraticising it .” Acronis Backup will also be split into two versions - one for small businesses and the other for the middle range markets .
How should end-users cope with latency in their networks and increasing costs associated with high speed data transfer rates ?
Using localised and regional datacenters is an important part of coping with network latency and availability . The next most important initiative is to have a priority schedule of which files and folders to backup into the cloud . Understanding the nature and quality of the network being provided by the service provider is also important . The backup software being used should also be smart enough to pause and continue from the last point of data transfer in case of a network interruptions .
Acronis can provide its own service level agreement built around its global datacenter operations , if it has a turnkey contract with the end-user . If the end-user has a service level agreement with a service provider , then the Acronis Backup service level agreement will terminate with this service provider . With the increasing momentum towards digital transformation in the region , for all types of businesses , Acronis and at its channel partners will continue to witness fast growth in demand for easy to use , data and cloud based solutions .
20 Issue 05 INTELLIGENT TECH CHANNELS