Acronis Expands Focus on Managed Detection and Response Under New Leadership
In a strategic move to enhance its service offerings, Acronis has appointed Prakash Panjwani as its new chief executive officer. With a successful history in leading cybersecurity initiatives, particularly during his tenure at WatchGuard, Panjwani’s arrival coincides with Acronis’ intent to streamline cybersecurity spending for managed service providers (MSPs). The company, based in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, aims to leverage its established expertise in backup, disaster recovery, and cyber resilience to delve deeper into the realms of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR).
Panjwani emphasized the importance of telemetry in the realm of MDR, noting that the crux of effective monitoring lies in the volume and speed of data collection as well as the capability to implement timely remediation. According to him, “The best MDR players have to be the ones who are, over time, the most open.” This perspective marks a departure from the often closed ecosystems seen in the industry, with Acronis striving to position itself as an adaptable player through open telemetry ingestion and AI-driven automated remediation.
Having accumulated over a decade of experience as CEO of WatchGuard, Panjwani transformed the company’s services and broadened its portfolio beyond network firewalls. By acquiring numerous companies, he fostered an expansion within the cybersecurity platform tailored for MSPs. His expertise comes at a pivotal time for Acronis, especially as he replaces Jan-Jaap Jager, who led the company since November 2025 and will continue to contribute as a shareholder.
A Focus on MSP Needs
A significant trend in the cybersecurity landscape is the growing desire among MSPs to consolidate their vendor bases. With a myriad of disparate dashboards complicating their operational efficiency, Acronis seeks to capitalize on its financial resources, proprietary architecture, and unique open-api approach to address these market demands. Panjwani asserts that the integration of third-party tools alongside robust telemetry is increasingly valued, especially in combating the overwhelming management of AI and SaaS solutions.
"I just believe that over time there’ll be a lot more consolidation around that MSP space and into platforms," Panjwani noted. He believes Acronis’ size and the diversity of the MSP space position the company favorably to lead in this consolidation effort.
One of the most pressing challenges for MSPs remains technician capacity. Acronis plans to tackle this bottleneck by creating automation specifically designed for the tasks MSP technicians routinely face. By automating up to 80% of these essential workflows, Panjwani aims to dramatically increase operational efficiency, enabling MSPs to take on more clients and enhance their service offerings.
"If you can build with that technician persona in mind, you’re able to automate the little tasks, everything they do," he explained. This design philosophy seeks to refine technicians’ workflows, allowing them to allocate time more effectively.
Long-term Vision and Initial Goals
In terms of growth trajectories, Panjwani identifies a twofold strategy: reinforcing Acronis’ existing relationship with its 21,000 MSP partners and expanding into areas like MDR and XDR. The company aspires to enhance both its internal operational automation and the broader security and resilience solutions provided to end-users.
Acronis aims to maintain its operational focus on seamless integration and functionality, which Panjwani describes as a hallmark of their platform designed specifically for MSPs.
As Panjwani embarks on his new role, he is committed to laying out a detailed roadmap for Acronis. By early next year, he intends to outline his overarching vision, operational targets, and merger and acquisition criteria. His strategy will prioritize acquisitions that align with Acronis’ existing core technologies rather than merely targeting customer bases.
"Build a three- to five-year vision, at least, of what we could be," he remarked, emphasizing the need for adaptability in the ever-evolving technology landscape.
In the initial months of his leadership, Panjwani plans to engage closely with internal stakeholders, MSPs, and end-users. This hands-on approach will allow him to validate strategic assumptions and develop an informed perspective on Acronis’ potential growth avenues.
Performance Metrics and Future Directions
Under Panjwani’s guidance, Acronis will focus on key performance indicators that emphasize growth, partner engagement, and effective service usage rather than solely financial outcomes. By tracking metrics related to onboarding new customers and integrating services, the company aims to derive actionable insights into its operational effectiveness.
"The best way to know what’s actually working for you in the field or not is to see the tendency of the MSP to deploy the services you’re giving them," he stated. Such insights will shape Acronis’ efforts as it propels forward in the competitive cybersecurity landscape.
In summary, Prakash Panjwani’s vision for Acronis signals a pivotal shift towards fostering a cohesive and efficient ecosystem for managed service providers while simultaneously expanding its cutting-edge cybersecurity offerings in MDR and XDR. As the company charts this new course, it positions itself as a formidable player in consolidating vendor options and enhancing operational efficiency for MSPs.