Acronis and Intel have announced a strategic collaboration to deliver real-time, AI-powered threat detection for endpoint security devices. The partnership integrates Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud with Intel Core Ultra processors, aiming to strengthen cybersecurity for managed service providers (MSPs), managed security service providers (MSSPs), and enterprise customers without compromising device performance.
The solution leverages artificial intelligence to detect advanced cyberattacks, including ransomware, zero-day exploits, and fileless malware, by analysing behavioural patterns directly at the endpoint. By combining Acronis’ multi-layered cyber protection with Intel’s hardware-enabled AI acceleration, the companies intend to address both evolving security threats and performance challenges faced by IT teams.
Enhancing Detection While Preserving Performance
Traditional antimalware tools often struggle to identify emerging threats and can impact device efficiency, leading to slower systems and increased support requests. To overcome these challenges, the Acronis–Intel integration shifts intensive behavioural detection tasks from the CPU to the neural processing unit (NPU) embedded within Intel Core Ultra processors.
Through Intel’s OpenVINO technology, Acronis reports that the offloading process reduces CPU load by up to 92% in internal performance tests. This optimization is designed to ensure that endpoint security devices remain responsive, extend battery life, and minimize disruption to end users while still delivering advanced protection.
Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud functions as a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, consolidating multiple cybersecurity capabilities into one environment. Its offerings span antimalware, email protection, data loss prevention (DLP), endpoint detection and response (EDR), extended detection and response (XDR), backup automation, and disaster recovery. By combining security, data protection, and system resilience, the platform provides an integrated approach that reduces operational complexity for IT teams.
The system is aligned with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cybersecurity framework, supporting the core functions of identifying, protecting, detecting, responding to, and recovering from threats.
Industry Commentary and Technology Impact
“Cyber protection must be natively integrated and AI-powered to address modern cyber threats,” said Gaidar Magdanurov, President at Acronis. “Our collaboration with Intel empowers MSPs and corporate IT to deliver real-time endpoint security at the device level with minimal impact to system performance, protecting the productivity of users.”
Carla Rodríguez, Vice President and General Manager of Client Software Enabling at Intel, echoed the significance of the partnership: “Together Intel and Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud are delivering fast, AI-powered security right on the device. By running complex security tasks on an AI PC with Intel Core Ultra processors, we enable partners like Acronis to deliver breakthrough protection with lower latency and improved performance and privacy.”
The companies emphasized that today’s cybercriminals increasingly rely on sophisticated, stealth-based attack methods that traditional signature-based systems cannot catch. By using behavioural analytics and anomaly detection powered by AI at the endpoint, the combined solution is designed to identify unusual activities that may signal emerging or unknown threats.
This approach, coupled with the efficiency gains provided by NPUs, is intended to reduce the burden on IT teams who often manage fragmented toolsets across multiple systems. By consolidating protection into a single platform like Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, the solution aims to simplify workflows, cut operational costs, and deliver consistent endpoint security across businesses of varying sizes.
Market Reach and Adoption
Acronis reports that Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud is available in 26 languages and deployed across 150 countries. More than 21,000 service providers currently use the platform to safeguard over 750,000 businesses worldwide. Its integrated model is positioned to help partners reduce time spent managing disparate security products and accelerate response to incidents.
For Intel, the collaboration highlights its broader efforts to embed AI-driven workloads into semiconductor designs. NPUs, now integrated into its Core Ultra line, are tailored to accelerate machine learning processes directly on devices, reducing dependency on cloud resources while maintaining speed and privacy.
The combined Acronis–Intel solution underscores an industry trend toward embedding AI-enhanced cybersecurity directly into endpoint hardware. By balancing advanced protection with efficiency, Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud and Intel aim to protect users from an expanding range of threats while minimizing operational disruptions.
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