Acronis, a provider of new generation data protection, has launched Acronis Access Connect, its latest file and print sharing solution for small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises.
Launched across the Australia and New Zealand region, Acronis Access Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP) is an industry solution designed to integrate Macs into businesses and enterprises.
With this new release, Acronis Access Connect adds broad support for mobile workers to securely access files using iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets.
This combined support across the range of PC, Mac and mobile platforms lets employees use the devices they choose, while enabling IT departments to deliver server access and print sharing experience for users.
“Acronis Access Connect is easy to use for both IT and employees,” says Lincoln Goldsmith, General Manager A/NZ, Acronis.
“Mobile workers can access their work files wherever they need them. Minimal or no training is required, especially for users familiar with Mac and Windows file sharing environments.
“For IT managers and professionals, Acronis Access Connect eliminates SMB protocol bugs, performance issues and compatibility problems related to integrating Macs into Windows environments, reducing help desk calls by as much as 70 percent.
“It installs in a matter of minutes on Windows servers, delivering immediate time-to-value for IT administrators and support personnel.
"Employees will be more productive when working with files on their PCs, Macs and mobile devices, whenever and wherever they choose.”
As bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies continue to transform the way employees work, Goldsmith says Mac devices are becoming more common in the workplace.
In fact, a 2014 survey by Dimensional Research found that user preference is the top reason given by IT administrators for supporting Macs.
The survey also found that 66 percent of businesses are already using Macs today, and more than 70 percent officially support Macs as a company endpoint.
While many employees may prefer working with Macs, Goldsmith believes there are still challenges from an IT perspective when it comes to file-sharing, including compatibility, search performance issues and a poor user experience.