Competitor Comparison
ShadowCradle vs. Acronis — Enterprise Backup Features
An honest comparison. Acronis combines backup and endpoint security into a single platform. ShadowCradle focuses purely on backup and disaster recovery with broader database and cloud app coverage.
All comparisons are based on publicly available product documentation and capabilities. Features may vary by product tier or region.
Choose ShadowCradle when...
- You already have a dedicated security solution
- You protect Dropbox, Box, or non-Microsoft cloud storage
- You need application-consistent backup for Oracle, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB
- You want a purpose-built backup appliance - not software on your infra
- You want built-in multi-site replication without a cloud storage subscription
Acronis Cyber Protect is a strong choice when...
- You want backup and endpoint security from one vendor
- Your environment is endpoint-heavy (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace coverage is your priority
- You prefer software-based deployment on existing infrastructure
- Your MSP delivers security and backup together as a service
Feature Comparison
Feature availability based on standard product tiers. Some features require specific Acronis tiers or add-on licensing - verify with each vendor for your configuration.
| Capability | ShadowCradle | Acronis Cyber Protect |
|---|---|---|
| VM Backup & Recovery | ✅ | ✅ |
| Physical / Endpoint Backup | ✅ | ✅ |
| Live Endpoint AV / EDR Agent | ❌ | ✅ |
| Backup Security Scanning (Malware / Ransomware / Virus) | check - Free | ✅ |
| Database Backup (SQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB) | ✅ | ⚠️ SQL Server, limited others |
| Microsoft 365 Backup | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Workspace Backup | ✅ | ✅ |
| Dropbox Backup | ✅ | ❌ |
| Box Backup | ✅ | ❌ |
| On-Premises Appliance | ✅ | ⚠️ Software / cloud-first |
| Multi-Site Replication | Included in appliance | ⚠️ Via cloud storage tiers |
| Centralized Management Dashboard | Included | ✅ |
| Ransomware Detection | ✅ | ✅ |
| AES-256 Encryption | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unified Backup + Security Agent | Backup agent (security scanning separate) | ✅ |
| Granular File / Item Recovery | ✅ | ✅ |
| Setup Complexity | 30-min guided wizard | ⚠️ Multiple agents, complex policies |
| Pricing Model | Per-appliance, all-inclusive | Per-workload / per-GB / per-endpoint |
| Bare-Metal Restore | ✅ | ✅ |
Category Deep-Dives
Backup vs. Security + Backup
SHADOWCRADLE
✓Backup security scanning: every snapshot checked for malware, viruses, ransomware - free
✓Isolated virtualization: spin up any backup in an air-gapped environment for inspection
✓Network behavior analysis flags suspicious activity from virtualized systems
✓No live endpoint AV/EDR agent - pairs with your existing security stack for live protection
ACRONIS CYBER PROTECT
·Combines backup with real-time anti-malware and EDR in one agent
·Cyber Protect agent handles both backup and live endpoint security
·Useful for organizations wanting a consolidated security + backup product
·Higher resource usage on endpoints due to combined workload
CONTEXT
ShadowCradle scans every backup snapshot for malware and ransomware at no extra cost. What it doesn't have is a live endpoint AV/EDR agent - Acronis's combined approach is stronger for teams that want a single vendor for live endpoint protection and backup.Workload & Cloud App Coverage
SHADOWCRADLE
✓Databases: SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB
✓Cloud apps: Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox, Box
✓VMs, physical servers, files
✓Unified recovery for all workload types
ACRONIS CYBER PROTECT
·Microsoft 365: well-supported across all apps
·Google Workspace: well-supported
·VM backup: comprehensive
·Endpoint (Windows, macOS, Linux): strong
·Dropbox: not natively supported
·Box: not natively supported
·Databases: SQL Server supported; others limited
CONTEXT
Acronis has strong Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace support. ShadowCradle adds Dropbox and Box coverage, and broader database engine support - useful if those are in your environment.Deployment Model: Appliance vs. Software/Cloud
SHADOWCRADLE
✓Physical appliance with local storage - fast on-site recovery
✓All-in-one hardware + software solution
✓Built-in multi-site replication
✓No separate storage subscription needed
ACRONIS CYBER PROTECT
·Software-based - installs on existing servers or VMs
·Cloud storage: uses Acronis Cloud or third-party storage
·Flexible deployment: on-premises, cloud, or hybrid
·Requires storage provisioning (cloud or local) separately
CONTEXT
Acronis is software-first and flexible. ShadowCradle ships as a purpose-built appliance - reducing the infrastructure decisions you need to make, at the cost of some deployment flexibility.Management & Operational Complexity
SHADOWCRADLE
✓30-minute setup wizard - operator-friendly
✓Unified policies for all workload types
✓Single agent, single dashboard
✓No security policy management needed
ACRONIS CYBER PROTECT
·Web-based management console
·Separate policy management for backup and security
·Large number of configuration options across both domains
·MSP multi-tenant console available (Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud)
CONTEXT
Acronis's breadth (backup + security) means more configuration surface area. ShadowCradle's narrower focus on backup makes it easier to learn and operate for teams that don't need security bundled in.Questions to Ask in Your Evaluation
ASK ANY VENDOR
?Do I need backup-only, or do I want security bundled in?
?Can I back up Dropbox, Box, or Google Workspace natively?
?Which database engines get application-consistent backup?
?Is multi-site replication included, or a separate cost/tier?
?Does backup require a cloud storage subscription, or can it be fully on-premises?
SHADOWCRADLE'S ANSWERS
✓Backup-only - pairs cleanly with your existing security tools.
✓Yes - Dropbox, Box, and Google Workspace natively included.
✓SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB - all included.
✓Built into every appliance at no extra cost.
✓Fully on-premises via the appliance. Cloud replication also available.