Acronis launches AI protection for managed service providers

Acronis has launched GenAI Protection for managed service providers to monitor and secure the use of generative AI tools in client environments. The product is aimed at businesses that rely on service providers to manage IT and security.

The launch addresses what Acronis describes as a growing problem of "shadow AI", in which staff use unsanctioned consumer AI tools without formal oversight. For smaller businesses, this can mean limited visibility into where sensitive information is being entered and how AI systems are being used.

The offering enables managed service providers to identify and track unsanctioned AI usage across customer environments, apply policies and reporting, and reduce risks linked to data exposure and misuse. It is delivered through a central console integrated into the Acronis platform.

GenAI Protection is designed to help service providers prevent sensitive data, including personally identifiable information and protected health information, from being shared with public or unauthorised AI tools. It also aims to detect and block prompt injection attempts and other malicious efforts to manipulate AI systems.

Channel focus

The move reflects the central role managed service providers play in the small and medium-sized business market, where many organisations lack dedicated teams for AI governance or specialist security oversight. According to Acronis, existing consumer AI tools often do not provide the visibility businesses need, while many business-focused systems are not built for channel delivery.

GenAI Protection is designed to be provisioned, managed and sold by service providers as part of a broader managed service. This allows partners to oversee generative AI interactions alongside data, applications and endpoints from a single platform.

"Generative AI adoption is accelerating, but it introduces new risks that businesses are not fully equipped to manage," said Gaidar Magdanurov, President, Acronis.

"MSPs are uniquely positioned to help businesses adopt AI securely, but until now they haven't had the right tools to monitor and manage it effectively. GenAI Protection enables MSPs to turn AI security into a managed service, creating new revenue opportunities while protecting their customers from emerging risks."

Market demand

Acronis is introducing the product as generative AI use spreads quickly across business functions, especially in smaller organisations seeking productivity gains without adding headcount. That trend has widened the gap between the speed of adoption and the controls available to monitor it.

Industry analysts have also pointed to a rise in informal AI use through software-as-a-service products and direct use of consumer AI applications by employees. This creates new security and compliance concerns for service providers responsible for customer IT environments.

"AI is now mainstream for SMBs, with over half using AI tools, led by marketing and sales seeking scale, productivity, and efficiency," said Matthew Ball, Chief Analyst, Omdia.

"While most adoption runs through SaaS, growing use of consumer AI, sanctioned or not, generates new security risks that create new requirements for MSPs to actively manage."

Broader platform

GenAI Protection is the first phase of Acronis's Cyber Workspace initiative, which is intended to bring AI monitoring and security features into its wider platform. Further functions are planned as part of that broader workspace offering, although the current announcement focuses on visibility, policy control and protection against data leakage and prompt manipulation.

Acronis positions the launch as part of a broader effort to extend security and management tools for service providers supporting small and medium-sized companies. The product is now generally available worldwide.

Acronis says it works with more than 21,000 service providers, whose partners protect more than 750,000 businesses across 150 countries.