Acronis has introduced a new premium offering in its endpoint security technology for Managed Service Providers (MSPs), known as the Acronis Extended Detection and Response (XDR) security tool. This tool, which is launching today for the Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud platform, aims to enhance the automated capabilities of the existing EDR platform by providing a single console for monitoring data sources, detecting threats, and automated triage capabilities like account locking.
The move by Acronis to add security capabilities to its portfolio is in line with the trend seen among other backup vendors, such as Rubrik and Commvault, who are also expanding into the cybersecurity space. According to Jerome Wendt, president and founder of Data Center Intelligence Group, while these additions are useful, they may not replace other dedicated security platforms in terms of capabilities and technical expertise.
Wendt also noted that Acronis’ security additions may appeal to MSPs looking to reduce costs on employee training and software, especially when compared to vendors offering standalone security platforms like CrowdStrike or SentinelOne.
The new XDR capability is designed to provide extended security visibility by enabling MSPs to detect anomalous actions and events on corporate endpoints and take remedial actions using security and recovery tools. Previously, MSPs using the EDR platform had to manually resolve issues, but now with XDR, they can expand their security response through a single agent and console, as explained by Gaidar Magdanurov, president of Acronis.
Magdanurov highlighted that XDR is equipped to handle sophisticated threats like ransomware as a service and AI-driven attacks, which can create new ransomware strains before patches or signatures are available. By collecting low-level alerts for incident reports and using machine learning for real-time monitoring, XDR aims to eliminate alert fatigue and contain attacks early through automatic quarantining of devices and revoking account permissions.
Despite the comprehensive security offerings from vendors like CrowdStrike and SentinelOne, Magdanurov believes that these solutions might be too complex for MSP employees. XDR seeks to simplify and automate these processes while providing MSPs with tailored features like multi-tenancy.
The rise of ransomware attacks has driven IT customers to seek integrated security features directly within their technology stack, according to analyst Matt Ball from Canalys. This demand for a more holistic approach to cybersecurity has led to a growing need for platforms like XDR, which can address security concerns and adapt to evolving threats through machine learning and exposure to attacks.
Looking ahead, the challenge for Acronis will be to strike a balance between feature-rich offerings and affordable pricing for both MSPs and their customers. In a price-sensitive market, like the one we are currently in, customers will ultimately decide where they see the most value.
In conclusion, the introduction of Acronis’ XDR security tool represents a significant step towards enhancing endpoint security for MSPs, offering automated capabilities and extended security visibility to address evolving cyber threats effectively.