Synology adds Acronis backup to Bee series storage

Synology has signed a partnership with Acronis that adds a three-year Acronis True Image Essentials licence to every BeeDrive, BeeStation and BeeStation Plus device, expanding the data protection features of the consumer storage range.

The arrangement links Synology's personal and small office storage hardware with Acronis software for full-system backup and recovery on one computer per device.

Users will store backup data on their own Bee series devices. They will also run Acronis software on their computers for system imaging and cybersecurity functions.

The move underlines growing attention on local data ownership and offline copies of personal and household information. It comes as ransomware and accidental data loss remain concerns for home and small business users.

Synology's BeeDrive and BeeStation products sit at the centre of its push into the consumer backup and file management market. The new bundle aims to position them as an all-in-one option for both file-level and full-system protection.

BeeDrive works as a local backup hub for computers and mobile devices. BeeStation acts as a personal cloud server for homes and small teams.

Full-system backup

Each BeeDrive, BeeStation and BeeStation Plus now ships with a three-year Acronis True Image Essentials licence. The licence covers one computer.

The Acronis software creates complete images of a computer, including the operating system, installed applications, settings and user files. The images can be stored on the Synology device.

The software includes integrated ransomware defence and recovery tools. These features aim to restore systems after encryption or other damage.

Sabrina Chen, Director of Digital Life Group at Synology, said the collaboration keeps the Bee range focused on ease of use for consumers and small offices.

"Synology's Bee Series was designed to make personal and small office data protection effortless," said Sabrina Chen, Director of Digital Life Group, Synology. "By working with Acronis and its True Image product, the Bee Series extends that simplicity to full-system backup - ensuring users can protect everything from daily work files to complete computer setups with just a few clicks."

The quote reflects Synology's strategy for the Bee portfolio, which targets users who prefer local hardware over pure cloud services.

AI-driven features

BeeDrive functions as a high-speed personal backup hub for PCs and mobile devices. It connects over local networks or directly.

The device includes Deep Search, an AI-based file discovery engine that runs on the hardware. Users can find files using text inputs, descriptions or locations.

BeeStation focuses on personal cloud storage and collaboration. It offers shared folders and remote access for households and small teams.

BeeStation also includes AI photo organisation features. These tools group and manage large image libraries.

Synology's AI components operate alongside traditional file storage and sharing functions. The company positions them as tools for users who store large collections of photos, videos and documents on-premise.

Ransomware defence

Acronis True Image Essentials adds another layer of protection on top of the Bee hardware and AI functions. The software sits on the user's computer and performs scheduled or on-demand full-system backups.

The ransomware defence component monitors for suspicious activity around files and processes. It links with recovery tools that restore affected data from clean backup images.

Acronis says the approach reduces reliance on cloud-only recovery. The presence of local, versioned system images on a Bee device gives users an offline recovery path if internet access is blocked or remote services are disrupted.

Gabriela Licheva, True Image Lead Product Manager at Acronis, said the combination targets consumers who want integrated backup and cybersecurity software with their storage hardware.

"Acronis True Image Essentials is a natural complement to Synology's Bee Series," said Gabriela Licheva, True Image Lead Product Manager, Acronis. "By combining our leading consumer backup and cybersecurity technology with Synology's intuitive and intelligent storage solutions, we are giving users a seamless, reliable, and secure way to protect the data that matters most."

The partners are directing the offer at modern households, home offices and small teams that use multiple devices and share files frequently.

Synology and Acronis plan further communication around the Bee series and True Image bundle. Representatives from both companies are available for interviews on the collaboration and its future roadmap.