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Data Security Provider Acronis to Offer Blockchain Based Data Protection

Last Updated October 6, 2020 6:36 PM
Lester Coleman
Last Updated October 6, 2020 6:36 PM

Acronis, a provider of backup and recovery software, announced an initiative at its 2016 VIP Partner Summit to develop blockchain technology-based applications for data protection, according to IT Brief , an Australia-based technical news source.

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A dedicated research and deployment team will provide “tamper proof” data storage to guarantee privacy and data authenticity. The technology is currently in prototype form.

Blockchain’s Security Promise

Blockchain technology records digital events and can address a wide range of data use cases for organizations globally.

It can provide global security and authenticity for any type of data and minimize the cost compared to centralized systems. The blockchain requires data to update under consensus among participants. The data cannot be deleted.

Blockchain technology can verify documents, signatures and other types of information, noted John Zanni, chief marketing officer at Acronis.

Data protected by blockchain technology can be used for businesses and individuals that have to maintain the integrity of original information.

Zanni offered the example of police officers who have car cameras to record their actions. The blockchain records data in a similar manner.

Tamper-Proof Verification

Should someone touch a document that has been time stamped in a blockchain, it will be stamped again, so there will be a log of the modification, Zanni said. The verification is distributed, rather than recorded by a centralized entity. Someone would need to go to a set of 50 blockchain authorities and convince them allow the change.

Acronis is extending its data storage solutions to monitor data integrity and validity.

Data that can be protected includes medical records, stock transfers, police videos, security camera footage, court records, and archiving that could be subject to audits.

“When harnessed to its full potential, blockchain will bring levels of data authenticity, privacy, and control of data protection that we have not seen before,” said Serguei Beloussov, Acronis co-founder and CEO, according to ZDNET .

Acronis Wins Accolades

Acronis was named a “Strong Performer” in t“The Forrester Wave: Enterprise File Sync and Share Platforms, Hybrid Solutions, Q2 2016” report. Among the 10 providers evaluated by Forrester Research, Inc., Acronis grabbed the highest possible score, five out of five, in the Enterprise File Sync and Share Technology Strategy criterion.

Forrester recognized Acronis for providing “flexible deployment options” that include “a multi-tenant cloud,” an on-premises option that has a content gateway service to connect to existing sources (such as ECM systems, file shares and SharePoint sites), or a hybrid approach installed on-premises but works with cloud storage services.”

Founded in 2003, Acronis protects data for more than 5 million consumers and 500,000 businesses in more than 145 countries. The company holds more than 100 patents.

Featured image from Shutterstock.