<figure><img alt="#TechieTuesday" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>Your Windows operating system and installed applications can create many changes ‘under the hood’ without you knowing about it. This can cause Incremental or Differential images to be substantially larger than expected. This article describes a feature in Macrium Reflect to log files that have been changed in each Incremental or Differential image.Please Note: Macrium Reflect must be at v6.3 or later. Please take the ‘Other Tasks’ &gt; ‘Check for updates’ menu option in Reflect if you are running an earlier release.<h4>What are Incremental and Differential Images?</h4>Incremental images will only backup data blocks that have changed since the last Image or, in the case of Differential, Full image in the backup set. Images are created at File System cluster level and each block is MD5 hashed and compared. Blocks with the same hash signature aren’t included in the Differential or Incremental image file. A data block is usually 16 clusters in length.See also: <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/How+backup+sets+are+created+and+maintained">How backup sets are created and maintained</a><h4>How to show changed files</h4>If the following registry entry is set, Reflect will perform a reverse ‘look-up’ to identify the file for each cluster that is backed up.Please Note: This may increase the time taken to backup and should only be used for diagnosis.Key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Macrium\Reflect\SettingsName:LogIncrementalChangesType:DWORDValue:1 Once the registry entry is set, perform another Differential or Incremental Image and, once complete, delete the registry entry created above. Then use Windows Explorer to navigate to: ‘C:\ProgramData\Macrium\Reflect’ in Windows Explorer and sort by Modified Date:<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>In addition to the normal ‘.html’ and ‘.vsslog’ files you will also see files with ‘.inc.log’ at the end. There will be one for each NTFS partition in the Differential or Incremental.The first file, {IMAGEID}-XX-YY.inc.log, is the log for the first NTFS partition, the next file is , {IMAGEID}-XX-YY1.inc.log and,in the above example, {IMAGEID}-XX-YY3.inc.log is the last last NTFS partition in the image.<h4>Example log output</h4>MFT Record - 32 - .\$Extend\$RmMetadata\$TxfLog\$TxfLog.blf MFT Record - 34 - .\$Extend\$RmMetadata\$TxfLog\$TxfLogContainer00000000000000000002 MFT Record - 38 - .\Windows\Prefetch\AgGlGlobalHistory.db MFT Record - 39 - .\Windows\Prefetch\AgGlFaultHistory.db MFT Record - 43 - .\Windows\Prefetch\AgRobust.db MFT Record - 45 - .\Windows\Prefetch\AgGlFgAppHistory.db MFT Record - 1236 - .\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\SelfUpdate\WuPackages.xml MFT Record - 1333 - .\Program Files (x86)\TeamViewer\Version8\TeamViewer8_Logfile.log MFT Record - 1353 - .\ProgramData\Microsoft\RAC\PublishedData\RacWmiDatabase.sdf MFT Record - 1592 - .\Users\Dev\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Current Session MFT Record - 1783 - .\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG MFT Record - 13900 - .\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-PrintService%4Admin.evtx MFT Record - 15637 - .\Windows\WindowsUpdate.log MFT Record - 15741 - .\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-Windows Defender%4Operational.evtx MFT Record - 15743 - .\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Microsoft-Windows-Windows Defender%4WHC.evtx MFT Record - 15755 - .\Users\Dev\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\IndexedDB\http_localhost_2904.indexeddb.leveldb\LOG MFT Record - 15868 - .\Windows\bootstat.dat MFT Record - 21541 - .\Windows\security\database\secedit.sdb MFT Record - 21544 - .\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\NTUSER.DAT MFT Record - 21565 - .\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\NTUSER.DAT MFT Record - 22562 - .\Windows\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Temp\MpCmdRun.log MFT Record - 22649 - .\Windows\System32\7B296FB0-376B-497e-B012-9C450E1B7327-5P-1.C7483456-A289-439d-8115-601632D005A0 MFT Record - 22650 - .\Windows\System32\7B296FB0-376B-497e-B012-9C450E1B7327-5P-0.C7483456-A289-439d-8115-601632D005A0 And so on......... Each log file lists the MFT record and full path name to the file(s) that have changed.Please note: There will be many MFT metadata files (prefixed by ‘$’) that are not visible to Windows Explorer or any other windows utilities, but these are always included (if changed) in Diff/Inc image files.Please note: This doesn’t mean that all clusters in the listed files have changed it means that the file clusters are scanned and differences have been detected.Download a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a> use.

Your Windows operating system and installed applications can create many

Techie Tuesday: New Feature — Logging file changes for Incremental and Differential Images

<figure><img alt="macrium-disc" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>From everyone at Macrium we want to say a massive thank you to over 7,000 of you who took time to fill out our research survey! We are truly overwhelmed with the response rate and look forward to sifting through the results to create a fascinating research report that we can benchmark over time to determine changes in the backup and disk recovery market.Using a random number generator, we have picked out our 10 lucky winners of a free Macrium Reflect Home edition — keep an eye on your emails to see if you hit the jackpot!Just a little sneak preview, we found it fascinating that over 20% of those surveyed do not currently have an up-to-date backup plan in place and 21% have sadly lost data over the last year.Merry Christmas from everyone at Macrium!

From everyone at Macrium we want to say a massive thank you to over 7,000 of

Overwhelming survey response!

Note: These steps require Macrium Reflect v6.3 or later. To upgrade to the latest release take the ‘Other Tasks’ &gt; ‘Check for updates’ menu option.This post describes the steps involved to setup a ‘one-click’ system restore. Using Macrium Reflect you can automatically and easily return a Windows PC to a previously imaged system recovery point.<ul><li>System restore is completed without any user interaction during the restore process.</li><li>Using Rapid Delta Restore (RDR) recovery is fast!</li><li>BitLocker encrypted drives can be restored without requiring re-encryption after restore.</li><li>The restore can be password protected to prevent accidental or unauthorised recovery.</li></ul><h4>Add the Macrium recovery boot menu</h4>The first step is to add the Macrium boot menu. Take ‘Other Tasks’ &gt; ‘Add Recovery Boot Menu’ in Macrium reflect and follow the instructions here: <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Adding+a+boot+menu+option+for+Reflect+recovery">Adding a boot menu option for system Image recovery</a>.Adding a boot menu is optional but will enable simple one-click restore when the PC starts. Without a boot menu you can still automatically restore by booting into optical rescue media or an external USB drive.<h4>Create an image of drive C:</h4>Start Macrium Reflect, select ‘Image this partition only…’ for drive C.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>Choose a location that will be accessible when the recovery media boots, this could be a spare partition on an internal drive or an external USB disk or flash drive. In this example we’ll choose drive ‘F:\’, an internal partition.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><h4>Prepare the auto restore XML file</h4>Once the image completes we can prepare the xml file to automatically restore the image. To do this we need to step through the restore wizard but we aren’t going to start the restore.Start Macrium Reflect, click the ‘Restore’ tab, select the image created above and click the ‘Restore Image’ link.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>In the Wizard that opens, click through to the final wizard page and press the Ctrl+Shift+S keys together.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>In the save dialog that opens, save the file ‘macrium_restore.xml’ to the root of any local drive that is accessible when Windows PE starts,In this example we’re saving to the root of the same drive that contains the image file, drive ‘F:\’.Note: Do not save to drive C: as this drive be overwritten during the restore process.<h4>Password protect the restore</h4>The auto restore can be password protected for security. Instead of Ctrl+Shift+S press Ctrl+Shift+P and a Password dialog is displayed:<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>After entering a password you’ll be prompted with the ‘Save As’ dialog as shown above.This password must be entered to start the restore process.Finally, Open Windows Explorer, navigate to ‘macrium_restore.xml’ and make the file read-only, This ensures that the restore can be repeated. If the file is not read-only it will be deleted as soon as the restore starts.Right click on ‘Macrium_Restore.xml’, select ‘Properties’, click ‘Read-only’ and click ‘OK’:<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>That’s it! Now whenever you take the Macrium System Recovery boot menu option your system will be automatically restored using the image created above.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>

Note: These steps require Macrium Reflect v6.3 or later. To upgrade to the

New Feature: Automatic System Restore

<figure><img alt="#TechieTuesday" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>Note: It isn’t absolutely necessary to unlock a BitLocker encrypted drive when restoring an image of the encrypted partition. The partition will restore without a problem and will be automatically re-encrypted on reboot, however, unlocking the drive in Windows PE enables intelligent sector copy imaging and cloning, <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Rapid+Delta+Restore+-+RDR">RapidDelta Restore (RDR)</a> and also free access to the drives contents using PE Explorer.<h4>Automatically unlocking BitLocker encrypted drives</h4>Macrium Reflect can include the components and decryption keys necessary automatically to unlock Microsoft BitLocker encrypted drives in Windows PE.In the <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Creating+rescue+media">Rescue Media Wizard</a> select ‘Include optional components’ and ‘Automatically unlock BitLocker encrypted drives’<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>When Windows PE starts any BitLocker unlocked drives that are were attached when the recovery media was created will be automatically unlocked in PE.<h4>Unlocking BitLocker encrypted drives using a USB stick</h4>Automatically unlocking encrypted drives when PE starts may present an unacceptable security risk for some users. Automatic unlocking requires no user intervention and the Macrium Reflect boot menu is able to access encrypted drives without password entry. An alternative method is to de-select the ‘Automatically unlock BitLocker encrypted drives’ option in the rescue media Wizard:<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>You can then save BitLocker Encryption Key files (.BEK) and/or BitLocker password TXT files to the root of any USB stick. This could also be a Windows PE rescue media USB stick.<ol><li>In Windows Explorer, right click on any BitLocker encrypted drive and click on ‘Manage BitLocker’.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>In the newly opened window click ‘Back up your recovery key’</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>In the BitLocker Drive Encryption wizard select ‘Save to a USB flash drive’ and chose the USB device you want to save to.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>After choosing the USB device you want to save the Recovery Key file to, click ‘Save’ and then ‘Finish’ in the BitLocker Drive encryption wizard. This action will save a .BEK file and/or a recovery password text file to the chosen USB device. Note: The .BEK file is a protected operating system file, it is hidden by default and won’t be visible within Windows Explorer. it can be made visible by changing Folder Options and de-selecting the option to ‘Hide Protected operating system files’.You can add as many keys as you have encrypted drives.</li></ol>When Windows PE starts ensure that your USB flash drive is attached to your PC. Your encrypted drives will then be automatically unlocked when Macrium Reflect initializes.Note: <a href="http://updates.macrium.com/reflect/v6/v6.3.1665/details6.3.1665.htm">PE 10 1607</a> is only relevant when using BitLocker XTS or iSCSI, otherwise it’s a wasted download. So, if you are already using PE 10 then Reflect checks for XTS BitLocker encrypted partitions and only downloads 1607 if you are.You can force a rebuild using PE 10 1607 by setting the following registry entry and rebuilding your rescue media.Download a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a> use.

Note: It isn’t absolutely necessary to unlock a BitLocker encrypted drive when

Techie Tuesday: Adding BitLocker support to Windows PE

<figure><img alt="#TechieTuesday" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><h4>Introduction</h4>Macrium ReDeploy overcomes issues with Windows boot processes to run a Windows installation on new hardware. There are a variety of scenarios where you move a windows installation to a new machine, for example:<ul><li>Due to hardware failure or planned upgrade.</li><li>Moving between a physical and a virtual machine (P2V / V2P).</li><li>Changing a non-raid to a raid installation or legacy SATA to AHCI SATA.</li></ul>Aspects of the Windows boot process can cause a boot failure after significant changes to the hardware, ReDeploy can overcome these.Discovering hardware and association with matching device drivers is time consuming and must be undertaken while windows is being installed. It is skipped during a normal Windows boot making the boot delay acceptable.Early in the boot process, the boot loader loads the Windows kernel (the core of the operating system) and the critical drivers required to get Windows up and running. If the new hardware configuration requires a new driver to read the disk containing the operating system then Windows will fail to boot.When the kernel and critical drivers are loaded, the kernel starts. The kernel and its associated hardware abstraction layer (HAL) need to match the motherboard for best enabling. Drivers are optionally loaded to handle specific central processing unit (CPU) features. For a stable system, the driver needs to match the hardware, in this example, the CPU model.ReDeploy detects changes to critical system features, locates relevant drivers and injects them into your Windows operating system so it boots.ReDeploy makes the complex process of getting an off-line Windows operating system running, as easy and intuitive as possible. It does not, however, install the complete driver set for the new hardware. You can complete the driver installation for devices such as network and graphics adapters when your windows installation boots on your new hardware.You need to run ReDeploy from the Windows PE Reflect rescue CD. This allows the new hardware to be detected and the configuration of the Windows system modified to enable it to boot.Note: To transfer to a Windows Server install to new hardware use Macrium Reflect v6 Server edition for ReDeploy.For non-server (workstation) installs use ReDeploy included with v6 Home, Workstation or the Server Edition. Please note that ReDeploy is not included in 30 trial versions of Macrium ReflectNote: ReDeploy modifies an existing offline operating system to work with new hardware. Restore your system image to the PC being deployed before running ReDeploy. There is no need to reboot your PC after restoring an Image and before you run ReDeploy.<ol><li>Boot the target PC with the Windows PE rescue CD or USB equivalent. (There is a link to a video on creating a Windows PE rescue CD at the bottom of this page).</li><li>Click ReDeploy Restored Image to new hardware.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>If you have a multi-boot system, then you will be presented with a list of operating systems, select the operating system to be redeployed. Click Next.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>Specify driver locations for your mass storage devices (such as RAID card).</li><li>If you haven’t already, insert a driver disk for the hardware you are going to boot from. This will typically be the motherboard or RAID card driver CD.</li><li>Click Add to add driver locations. You can also specify additional paths such as network folders.</li><li>Click Map Drive to add a network share.</li><li>Click Next.</li><li>ReDeploy searches through user specified driver locations. If none are specified or no matching drivers are found then it searches removable devices such as CD’s and disk drives. ReDeploy also searches through Windows’ database of drivers.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>ReDeploy seeks drivers for all discovered mass storage devices and displays a list with details, Click Next.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>For each mass storage device, there are three possibilities:</li><li>The driver is already installed. It might still need to be enabled at boot, this is done automatically.</li><li>The driver is located, either from a CD, user specified path or from the Windows database. This driver is installed on completion of ReDeploy.</li><li>No matching driver is located.</li><li>If no driver is located, or you choose to override the displayed driver, then use locate driver to manually specify an .inf file. If you have multiple mass storage interfaces in your system, you only need to locate drivers for hardware that contains the Windows system and active partitions.</li><li>Review displayed options, leaving them as default if possible. Click Next. If you are having trouble booting these options can help to resolve issues. For more information about them options see below:</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>OptionDescriptionDisable reboot on system stopSet this option to stop automatic rebooting if a blue screen of death (BSOD) occurs while Windows is loading or running. If this option is not set and Windows generates a BSOD, there will be no time to note the BSOD error codes.Display boot drivers as they loadSet this option to show which drivers are being loaded as Windows loads. Once Windows is loading and running without issue this option can be reverted using the Windows MSCONFIG utility. You can use the Pause/Break key to freeze the list as it scrolls past, use space to un-pause.Enable boot loggingSet this option to log drivers being loaded by Windows as it loads. The resulting log file ‘ntblog.txt’ can be found in the windows folder. Once Windows is loading and running without issue this option can be reverted using the Windows MSCONFIG utility.Disable CPU DriverSet this option to disable CPU drivers. This may be useful if you see BSOD’s in the selected HAL drivers or system lockup on entering standby or shutdown.Set Hardware Abstraction LayerSet this option to choose which Hardware Abstraction Layer is to be used in the selected Windows operating system. The recommended HAL for this machine is the one initially selected. If you have the incorrect HAL configured, your Windows installation is unstable and can cause random BSOD’s or lock ups after Windows boots. In particular, if you are redeploying from or to Virtual Box with an advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) unchecked (the default) or very old physical hardware, set a new HAL.Allow Windows to detect Hardware Abstraction LayerSet this option to allow Windows to determine the best Hardware Abstraction Layer to use at boot time. This is a Vista and later only option.</li><li>Enable SATA AHCISet this option to enable support for generic SATA AHCI hardware. You will typically also need to enable an option in your BIOS for your mass storage hardware to operate in this mode. This is a Vista and later only option.</li><li>Review the actions to be be performed and click Finish to apply them to the target operating system.A log file ReDeploy.log saves to the drive containing the redeployed operating system.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ol><li>After clicking Finish to inject drivers and apply your settings you see a confirmation dialog, and you can reboot your OS which should now be compatible with your new hardware.</li></ol>Note: Check there is a tick in the checkbox against Check for unsupported devices each time the rescue media loads before burning the Windows PE rescue CD, so that you can add additional drivers when you boot on new hardware.Download a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a> use.

IntroductionMacrium ReDeploy overcomes issues with Windows boot processes to

Techie Tuesday: Re-deploying Windows to new hardware using Macrium ReDeploy

<h3>Disk imaging vs. disk cloning: What&rsquo;s the difference?</h3>
<figure><img src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" alt="#TechieTuesday" /></figure>
The reason for the confusion about the difference between disk imaging and disk cloning is that both achieve the same end result &mdash; they replicate the contents of a hard drive. Data, files, software, the master boot record, allocation table, and everything else needed to boot and run your operating system, both a disk image and a disk clone can comprehensively capture everything that makes your machine run. This means they are both powerful techniques that can help you to quickly recover your PC if your hard drive fails or becomes&nbsp;corrupt.
However, the subtle technical differences between a disk image and a disk clone are important. While you shouldn&rsquo;t see one approach as being &ldquo;better&rdquo; than another, once you compare them, you&rsquo;ll have a much better sense of the relative benefits and disadvantages of both. This means you&rsquo;ll be able to make an informed decision about the right way to go about copying a hard drive for your&nbsp;needs.
In this post we&rsquo;ll take a closer look at what a disk image is, what a disk clone is, and how to go about evaluating the right approach.
Create a disk image to backup your PC or a disk clone to move your hard drive with <a href="https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree">Macrium Reflect&nbsp;Free</a>.
<h3>What is a disk&nbsp;image?</h3>
A disk image stores all of the information required to completely restore specific disks (or their individual partitions) exactly as they were when the image was taken. It essentially compresses all the data on your hard drive into something that can be more easily stored (and, if needed, later recovered).
If you want to, you can even store several compressed disk images onto one large external storage device (provided it has enough storage, of course). This which gives you multiple options when it comes to restoring an&nbsp;image.
While this is a reliable way to backup your PC &mdash; after all, a disk image is a pretty comprehensive copy of your hard drive, repeating the process can be slow. Moreover, images can fill your backup media very&nbsp;quickly.
Fortunately, there is a way round this, Once you have created an initial full image, you can then create differential and incremental images. These are both quicker to execute than full images and create much smaller image&nbsp;files.
<h4>What is a differential image?</h4>
A differential image stores the changes that have been made to the imaged file system since the last full image. Subsequent differentials can be taken, but only one differential and the full are required in order to fully restore the system. This is quicker than creating a full image. However the longer the time between the full image and the differential image, the larger the differential image file is. That means it&rsquo;s going to take longer to create&nbsp;it.
<h4>What about incremental images?</h4>
Incremental images differ from differential images in that they only store file system changes since the last image, either full, differential or incremental. The resulting backup set therefore consists of a full image and a number of incremental images which must all be present in order to restore the system correctly.
Ultimately, this demonstrates one of the key advantages of disk imaging &mdash; its flexibility. However, as you can see, this flexibility comes at a cost &mdash; time. Disk imaging can be a slow process; this might not ordinarily matter but sometimes you might just want to move your hard drive quickly with as little fuss as possible. This is where disk cloning comes&nbsp;in.
<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ct_9qmbf3aA" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h3>What is disk&nbsp;cloning?</h3>
A disk clone is an an exact copy of an entire hard drive, or specific partitions on a hard drive. Unlike a disk image, it is uncompressed, which means it can immediately be moved to a different drive. Once you do this, everything on the target disk will be overwritten and you&rsquo;ll be left with two identical drives.
<h4>When is disk cloning&nbsp;useful?</h4>
Disk cloning offers a key advantage over disk imaging: it&rsquo;s much faster. For example, if you are upgrading to a larger hard drive or moving from a large magnetic hard disk to a smaller and faster SSD, cloning your hard drive will provide you with a really quick way to get up and running in no&nbsp;time.
When you Clone a hard drive, you can boot from the target disk on the same system with the state of your computer at the time you undertook the clone. But Windows cannot boot from a USB connected drive; this is a restriction imposed by Windows. You can clone to a hard drive installed in your computer or to a hard drive installed in a USB hard-drive Caddy. If you clone your system disk to a USB connected external drive then, to boot your clone the physical disk must be removed from the USB caddy and attached to your Motherboard SATA&nbsp;port.
&nbsp;
<h3>Conclusion: how does disk imaging and disk cloning&nbsp;compare?</h3>
Disk imaging and disk cloning are both incredibly powerful techniques that can help you replicate and recover data. However, despite their similarities, they are both well suited to specific use cases &mdash; disk imaging gives you the flexibility that you need to reliably and consistently backup your PC, while disk cloning gives you the speed and convenience to replicate and move your existing hard drive incredibly.
Ultimately, then, deciding which approach to use comes down to what you&rsquo;re trying to do. So, while you might want to use cloning to move your existing HDD to an SSD, once you&rsquo;ve done this, you should probably use imaging to successfully backup your systems in a way that&rsquo;s safe and storage-friendly.
You can read more about disk cloning and imaging here: <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Backup%2C+imaging+and+cloning">Macrium KnowledgeBase: Backup, imaging and&nbsp;cloning</a>
Download a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a>&nbsp;use.

Disk imaging vs. disk cloning: What’s the difference?The reason for the

Techie Tuesday: image or clone?

<figure><img alt="#TechieTuesday" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>Absolutely the first thing you need to do after purchasing and installing Macrium Reflect is create rescue media.If you lose your Windows operating system, you can start your PC using Macrium Reflect rescue media on CD, DVD, or USB stick. This makes creating rescue media the first thing you need to do with Macrium Reflect. It contains a bootable, lightweight version of Windows and a full version of Macrium Reflect.This lightweight version of Windows is called Windows Pre-installation Environment (also known as Windows PE or WinPE) and is provided by Microsoft. When you create rescue media, Macrium Reflect downloads Windows PE automatically for you and writes it to your media. It downloads just those components you need to rescue your system.You have the option of restoring to a new system or virtual machine using Macrium ReDeploy to reconfigure your windows installation for the new hardware.Windows PE and the rescue environmentWindows PE is a reduced version of Microsoft Windows that is designed to boot from CD, DVD or USB on a wide range of hardware. When you run the rescue media wizard, Macrium Reflect automatically downloads the Windows PE components from Microsoft and builds the rescue environment locally. The Macrium Windows PE rescue media has the following features:<ul><li>Fixes for boot problems</li><li>Macrium ReDeploy to prepare Windows to load on new hardware</li><li>RAID support</li><li>USB 3.0 support</li><li>CD boot</li><li>USB boot</li><li>Boot menu</li><li>Full version of Macrium Reflect</li><li>Reduced download size compared with full Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) — 150 MB to 450 MB (depending on PE version and 32- or 64-bit support)</li></ul>Windows PE hardware supportThe Macrium Rescue Environment needs to include support for your hardware such as USB ports, network interfaces, and in particular for your storage device if for example you use RAID disks. The default Windows PE environment supports a good selection of hardware and you can add support for further devices. When Macrium Reflect creates a rescue CD or USB, it analyses your system hardware and tries to locate drivers for unsupported devices by looking on your system. If it can’t find appropriate drivers, Macrium Reflect prompts you to provide drivers. You can provide drivers by finding driver packages on the local hard drive, looking for driver CDs supplied with the system, or downloading drivers from the web. After you provide these additional drivers, Macrium Reflect adds them to the Windows PE environment.Note: You cannot add support for booting media because booting takes place before drivers are loaded. For example, if your CD drive is connected via an unsupported SCSI interface card or your boot menu lies on an unsupported RAID array, then the Windows PE cannot boot. Booting using a USB stick is a good workaround in this case as all USB 2 interfaces are supported by default.Note: You can also overcome this issue using <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Driver+load+issues+in+WinPE">this solution</a>.CD, DVD and USB rescue mediaYou can boot your computer into Windows PE from a CD, DVD, USB stick or USB attached external hard disk. For convenience or for automated restores to your system disk, you can add Windows PE to a boot menu that’s displayed when your system first starts. Although, do not rely upon this local copy as a rescue mechanism because it could be lost if you suffered hard disk failure or corruption leaving you without a method for rescuing your system.Macrium Reflect creates custom Windows PE systems for each installation type by downloading the required components from Microsoft.<h4>The Rescue Media Wizard</h4><ul><li>Insert your blank CD, DVD or USB stick.</li><li>From the Backup tab of the task pane, below Other Tasks, click Create bootable Rescue media.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>Accept the default Windows PE environment selected by Macrium Reflect or Click ‘Change PE Version’ to use a different version of Windows PE for your rescue media:Explanation of the ‘Change PE version’ dialog…</li><li>The device is supported by default in WinPE</li><li>There is a compatible driver in the host operating system</li><li>There is a compatible driver already present in the collection of drivers on previously created rescue mediaClick Next and add device drivers if required.This dialog enables you to add drivers for any Network and Disk controllers that are unsupported in Windows PE.A device driver is a collection of files (also referred to as a driver package) and generally comprises of:</li><li>The driver software, these files have a .SYS extension.</li><li>The driver information, or INF, file which contains the installation instructions for the drivers, these files have a .INF extension.</li><li>An optional security catalog that signs those drivers for operating systems that require signed drivers, commonly used on x64 operating systems, these files have a .CAT extension.</li><li>One or more optional supporting software library files (Dynamic Link Library) that contain further code to support the driver software, these files have a .DLL extension.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>Windows PE (WinPE) is packaged with a large collection of drivers but there are many devices that are not part of the WinPE driver package. If your device is not compatible then you must add its driver so WinPE recognizes it and communicates with your device.</li><li>The wizard checks whether your device requires drivers adding to WinPE. It builds a list of devices in your computer that are either Hard Drive/RAID controllers, Network Interface Cards, USB controllers or USB hubs. For each of these devices it checks if:</li><li>Example of adding a device driver…</li><li>Click Next. to prepare and build the Windows PE imageNote: If you have already built the Windows PE image for this rescue media then the wizard will skip this step and advance to the <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Creating+rescue+media#Creatingrescuemedia-3">Burn page</a></li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>PE Architecture Either 32 bit or 64 Bit. The default option is selected to match the architecture of the host Windows OS.</li><li>Include optional components Select this option to add BitLocker Encryption and iSCSI support to the rescue media. Please note that adding these components may several minutes to the creation process. See <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Adding+iSCSI+support+to+Windows+PE">Adding iSCSI support to Windows PE</a> for more information on using iSCSI in Windows PE</li><li>Automatically unlock BitLocker encrypted drives Select this option to automatically unlock all BitLocker encrypted drives when Windows PE starts. See <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Adding+BitLocker+support+to+Windows+PE">Adding BitLocker support to Windows PE</a> for more information on using Windows PE to access BitLocker encrypted drives.</li><li>Default base WIM Use the standard Microsoft Windows PE base installation. Macrium Reflect executables will be added to this to crate the rescue media,</li><li>Custom Base WIM Use your own customized WIM for the rescue media. This is an advanced topic not covered in this help. Click Next to begin the WIM build process. If necessary, files will automatically be downloaded from Microsoft to complete the build process.</li></ul>You can also select the PE Components .zip file by clicking the ‘Browse’ button in the download dialog. The PE .zip file can be downloaded by using the Reflect download agent ‘ReflectDL.exe’. See <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Installing+and+updating+Macrium+Reflect+offline">Installing and updating Macrium Reflect offline</a> for more information on downloading the PE components separately.<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>A detailed log of the build process is saved to: ‘C:\ProgramData\Macrium\waik\waiklog.txt’</li><li>Once complete you can choose where to burn the media</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>Rebuild Click this button to advance to the<a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Creating+rescue+media#Creatingrescuemedia-2"> ‘Prepare Windows PE image’</a> wizard page to rebuild the Windows Image (WIM). Note: If updates are available for your rescue media then you will receive a message box prompting you to rebuild.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>Check for unsupported devices Select this option and Windows PE will prompt to add drivers for unsupported Network Interface and Disk controllers when started.</li><li>Prompt for key press Select this option to enable the ‘Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…’ prompt when your PC starts. This is useful if you want to bypass Windows PE and boot into your host Windows OS.</li><li>CD/DVD burner Select this option to choose a CD/DVD device that you are using to create your rescue media. To save the rescue media to an .ISO image file for burning with any burning software. Click the drop-down list of burners and select ‘Create an ISO image file’:</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>USB DeviceSelect this option to save your rescue media to a bootable USB stick or external hard drive.Enable multiboot MBR/UEFIOnly applies if you are saving your rescue media to a USB device. This option enables the USB device to boot both legacy MBR and GPT/UEFI for modern motherboards. Please consult your motherboard user manual for information on choosing these boot options at PC startup.</li><li>Note: CD/DVD media is always created multi-boot MBR/UEFI</li><li>Technicians USBApplies to Macrium Reflect Technicians license keys only. See <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Technicians+portable+application+support">Technicians portable application support</a> for more information</li><li>Click Finish.to create your rescue media</li></ul>To complete the process, boot from your Rescue media to ensure it works correctly.After Windows PE loads, Macrium Reflect runs. The Windows PE user interface for Macrium Reflect is identical to that of the main application and offers the same core functions.If you are using USB media, you can make the Macrium Rescue Environment compatible with multiple computers:<ol><li>Use the Rescue media wizard to create a bootable USB rescue device on one computer.</li><li>Repeat the process with each other computer in turn using the same USB device.</li></ol>You can read more about <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Creating+rescue+media">creating rescue media here.</a>Download a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a> use.

Absolutely the first thing you need to do after purchasing and installing

Techie Tuesday: The Macrium Rescue Environment

<figure><img alt="cmc_agent" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><a href="http://www.itworks.co.uk/">IT Works</a> in Scotland have been using Macrium for a number of years to ensure their clients’ desktops and servers are protected should disaster strike. They were one of the first of Macrium’s resellers to trial the new central management console and Martin Paul from IT Works has some great feedback on this fantastic new tool from Macrium Software.“The software allows IT Works to focus more effectively, thereby effectively reducing the risk associated with data loss and downtime. This gives peace of mind for the client in knowing that their systems/data is available to them when they need it most”.Shedding light on risksMartin was pleased that the interface allowed IT Works to quickly and easily shed light on any potential risks and let them know when anything has failed and keep quiet when it hasn’t!Martin has been particularly impressed by the software updates.“With any other software updates, there is a 50% chance it may fail and break. But I can trust Macrium updates every time. It is incredibly quick, in fact no other software updates are quite as fast!”For IT Works, CMC offers them a new commercial opportunity to push out to their client base with a solution that works effectively and easily. Martin and the team at IT Works are looking forward to completing their training.“The interface is incredibly slick and responsive with support that is second to none”.You can download a 30-day trial of the CMC <a href="http://macrium.com/cmc.aspx">here</a>.

IT Works in Scotland have been using Macrium for a number of years to ensure

New CMC helps reduce risks associated with data loss and downtime

<figure><img alt="image2016-7-21-15-27-10" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>It’s finally here! We’re pleased to announce the release of <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Central+Management+Console">Macrium’s Central Management Console (CMC)</a>. To tell us a bit more about CMC and Macrium’s plans for the future, we speak to Stephen Macpherson, Sales Director at Macrium Software.<h4>What made Macrium decide to create a CMC?</h4>We had been getting lots of requests from our customer base for a management tool and it was a very obvious extension to our product portfolio as well as a nice compliment to the speed and power of the Macrium Reflect family.<h4>What are the main features of the CMC?</h4>I think the main feature is the ability to manage large numbers of Macrium Reflect end-point back up agents making the job of the IT Administrator much easier. They can simply manage deployment of the agents, quickly configure backup jobs, manage repositories and monitor the backup process. Of course, the recovery is vital too and incredibly fast and easy.You can see a full list of all the features <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Central+Management+Console">here</a> and also try out a free trial!<h4>How does CMC work with the existing Macrium Reflect product family?</h4>All existing stand-alone products will work with the CMC although they do need to be version 6.1 or later. Almost all Reflect products can be incorporated into the CMC which makes central management much more straight forward than in the past.<h4>Who do you see benefiting from the new CMC?</h4>It will benefit administrators who already have Macrium solutions in their estate and want to reduce their administrative workload. They may also want to take advantage of the great backup capabilities we have across more machines, and CMC allows you to do that really easily.<h4>What’s next for Macrium?</h4>We’re currently looking into integration with cloud backup repositories which we have already been testing and at the same time considering a managed service provider version. We will continue to provide a steady stream of updates supporting the latest versions of Microsoft operating systems.You can read more about the CMC (and download it for free) <a href="http://www.macrium.com/cmc.aspx">here!</a>!

It’s finally here! We’re pleased to announce the release of Macrium’s Central

Macrium Central Management Console in a Nutshell

<figure><img alt="#TechieTuesday" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>A disk with bad sectors is permanently damaged and, if the bad sectors are in use by the file system, it is very likely that data in the damaged area is unrecoverable. This can signify that your hard drive is coming to the end of its life. It is possible, however, to manage the situation and create an Image for restoring or mounting and copying files and folders. See this Wikipedia article <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_sector">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_sector</a> for more information.If a bad sector is encountered during image creation then you receive this error in your backup log:Backup aborted! Unable to read from disk — Error Code 23 — Data error (cyclic redundancy check). This is considered a fatal condition because data cannot be read and the image aborts.<h4>Run chkdsk on the problem drive to reallocate file system clusters to undamaged disk sectors:</h4><ol><li>Open a command prompt with elevated privileges. See <a href="http://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/KNOW/Running+an+elevated+command+prompt">Running an elevated command prompt</a> for help with this.</li></ol><ul><li>Run chkdsk c: /r from a command prompt, replacing c: with the appropriate drive letter.</li></ul><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure><ul><li>The /r switch is important and causes the entire file system to be checked for bad sectors. This requires a reboot to complete and may take some time. This operation maps out any bad sectors in use by the file system.</li></ul><ol><li>Immediately create an Image of your drive. This ensures all file system clusters are located on good sectors. It’s important to realize that you have lost data if clusters are relocated, as the data contained in them is unrecoverable. Consider replacing your disk.</li><li>If you receive Error Code 23 in your log after running chkdsk, run chkdsk repeatedly until an image is created without error.</li><li>if you are running Windows Vista or later, after restoring an Image to a new disk, run chkdsk c: /b to re-evaluate all the bad clusters restored on your drive. If you are running Windows XP, Boot into the Windows PE rescue CD and run chkdsk c: /b to re-evaluate all the bad clusters restored on your drive.</li></ol><h4>Set Macrium Reflect to ignore bad sectors when creating an image</h4>If running chkdsk is unsuccessful, force Macrium Reflect to continue on Error 23.<ol><li>Select Other tasks &gt; Edit defaults &gt; Advanced.</li><li>Select Ignore bad sectors.</li><li>Click OK.</li></ol><figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>If the option ‘Log each bad cluster detail’ selected then each sectors will be reported in the Image log, e.g:Read Error: Bad sector found in cluster 2353222 Read Error: Bad sector found in cluster 2353223Otherwise a summary of bad clusters will be reported at the end.Bad Sectors: 112 Clusters located in bad sectors. Data may be lostDownload a 30-day Trial of Macrium Reflect for <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=home">Home</a> or <a href="http://www.macrium.com/Download.aspx?type=business">Business</a> use.

A disk with bad sectors is permanently damaged and, if the bad sectors are in

Techie Tuesday: Imaging disks with bad sectors

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# Introducing Macrium Site Manager 8.1

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve made a series of improvements to Macrium Site Manager. The latest version, Site Manager 8.1, will be available for you to use from Wednesday 14th June 2023. This update improves the user experience and includes integrations for seamless use alongside other products.

## How do I Upgrade to Macrium Site Manager 8.1?
You’ll be able to update Site Manager from Wednesday 14th June 2023. When you log in, you’ll see a notice explaining some steps you need to take before doing so. Please note - The change is not automatic. You will need to actively opt into the update by clicking the button presented to you after login.

## What’s New With Macrium Site Manager 8.1?
Here is a breakdown of the improvements we’ve made since version 8.0.

### Speed Improvements
Macrium Site Manager 8.1 includes all Reflect 8.1 changes, including speed improvements.

### Macrium Boot Media Agent
- There’s now an automatic connection to the Macrium Site Manager server. This allows server-initiated restores and full monitoring and control of all rescue media-based operations.
- You can now restrict access to rescue media to specific users or groups using the permission management systems in Macrium Site Manager, including full active directory integration.
- Auto-repository mapping reduces time to manually restore backups using Macrium Site Manager rescue media. This removes the need for the user to manually map a repository and provide server paths, username and password (for logged-in users).
### Macrium SiteDeploy Integration
- Add license keys and start trials from the improved first-run wizard for both Macrium Site Manager and Macrium SiteDeploy.
### Simplify Disaster Recovery
- For disaster recovery from rescue media, computers can automatically be identified and backups for that computer can be listed directly in the Macrium Reflect restore interface, with no manual steps required.
### Improved Interface
- Improved computers page which gives you better visibility of repository usage and easier access to backups.
- Improved intuitive rules for partition selection makes partition selection easier than ever.
- The Macrium Site Manager initiated restore wizard has been updated to make the process of restoring a computer simpler and faster.
### Post-Backup Power-Saving Options
- Better management of out-of-hours backups, with added ability to shut down, reboot or suspend computers after backup completion. This is especially the case when combined with the existing Wake-on-Lan features in Site Manager.
Find out more about the upgrades in Macrium Site Manager 8.1 in our [video demonstration](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQRHp36T4fQ) and access the [release notes here](https://knowledgebase.macrium.com/display/MSM8/Release+Notes). 

We hope you enjoy exploring the benefits Site Manager 8.1 has to offer and encourage you to [share your thoughts](https://www.macrium.com/contact) and feedback to assist with our continual improvement programme.

The latest version of our sitewide backup system, Macrium Site Manager 8.1, is now available for you to use. Here's the improvements we've made.

Introducing Macrium Site Manager 8.1

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<figure><img alt="" src="/no-image-to-display.jpg" /></figure>In this thread of #BackupFAQ blog post you can find answer to common questions we receive from our customers, where we explain all you need to know about Macrium Software, our Products and the Backup industry. Leave a comment if you have suggestions for our next publication.This week we explain how support works and how its renewal may affect your licence.<h3><a href="https://www.macrium.com/support">Macrium Support &amp; Maintenance</a></h3><h3>What does Standard support include?</h3>Macrium Reflect business editions (Workstation, Server, and Server Plus for Exchange and SQL), all include 12 months free Standard Support &amp; Maintenance included in the purchase of each license, which is renewable for subsequent years. Standard Support includes access to support via email, our KnowledgeBase and our customer forum.We also offer a Premium Support option which includes priority response and telephone support.Both Standard and Premium Support include Upgrade Protection, so Minor updates (for example v7.1 to v7.2) and Major upgrades (for example v7 to v8) are free while the subscription is current.<h3>What does Home Essentials support include?</h3>When you purchase Macrium Reflect Home Edition, Macrium Home Essentials Support is provided free for one year.Macrium Home Essentials Support includes access to support via email, our KnowledgeBase and our customer forum. Many problems can be solved by finding solutions within the Forum, KnowledgeBase (KB) Tutorials, Help Tutorials and YouTube videos; these are instant solutions rather than having to wait for Macrium Support to respond (usually within 24 hours during weekdays).After the year of Home Essentials ends you will still have full and permanent access to our active and helpful customer forum and KnowledgeBase.<h3>Does Home Essentials support include upgrades?</h3>Minor updates (for example v7.1 to v7.2) are free. Major upgrades (for example v7 to v8) are chargeable but with an upgrade discount — usually around 40% to 50% off the price of a new license.<h3>What is the difference between the Macrium Reflect Home Essentials Support and Macrium Reflect Standard Support?</h3>Workstation licenses include eligibility for support when using Reflect in a business environment, which is explicitly NOT supported for users of the Home edition.Workstation licences have Standard Support and Maintenance that can be upgraded to Premium 24x7 Support, and is renewable as an optional fee each year. It also allows you to get Major updates for free.With the Home Edition, Essentials support cannot be renewed after 12 months unless a new license is purchased.NB: 30-Day Trial users (of any edition) receive email support and we will answer any questions while evaluating our software for the full 30 days of the trial.<h3>What are the big differences between standard and premium support?</h3>Both offer access to the Support Forum, KnowledgeBase, Upgrade Protection and remote support via email. But Premium support offers benefits that can be key when a disaster strikes: It offers the option of receiving Telephone Support, having Case Priority, 24x7 coverage and a typical response time of 12 hours instead of 24 hours.<h3>Do you offer email and Forum support for the Free Edition?</h3>The free edition is not supported although users do have access to view the Forum, KnowledgeBase and YouTube videos. We have over 6 million users of Macrium reflect Free worldwide and there is no way we could provide support for a free product. Of course we hope the Free Edition will demonstrate the value of Macrium Reflect and result in people who are willing to pay for additional value. But if you want to keep using the free version, you’re welcome to do so: it is not time limited in any way (unlike the 30-Day Trial).<h3>How does the support renewal process work?</h3>The Business Support and Maintenance subscriptions are for 12 months and must be renewed to retain access to support and maintenance. All business edition licenses without a current support subscription are eligible for an upgrade with a discount of up to 50%.Any business edition of Macrium Reflect (Workstation, Server, Server Plus, and Technicians Licenses) that have a current support subscription, are eligible for a free upgrade to the current version. If the support subscription for a license expired within the last 90 days it is still possible renew it, so the license will be eligible for a free upgrade.Home Essentials Support is for 12 months only and cannot be renewed, unless a new license is purchased.Please note: the upgrade discount only applies to previous purchased versions, it does not apply when upgrading from the free or 30-Day Trial to the latest full purchased version.<h3>Will my licence still work if my support has expired and I don’t renew it?</h3>Yes, Macrium Reflect Home, Workstation, Server, and Server Plus licenses are perpetual and independent of the support subscription.Each Macrium Reflect Workstation, Server, and Server Plus Editions license key is for one computer and it should be only transferred to another computer for legitimate upgrade/replacement purposes. When you purchase any of these editions you have the software licenses for life, there is no annual fee to pay, independently of having renewed your support or not.The exception is when you upgrade an old version to a current version. Your old license key becomes invalidated and replaced by the new upgrade license key.<h3>What about the Technicians and Deployment Kit Licenses?</h3>These two license types run alongside the other business editions. These license are ideal for IT technicians or service companies who might maintain a large number of PCs and may wish to back them up prior to carrying out work. Without the Technicians License, each PC requires separate licensed copy of Macrium Reflect, because the usual licensing arrangement is machine specific. Using a Technicians license allows the technician to backup or image each PC using a single license.The Technicians Deployment Kit License allows up to 5 technicians to create “Master” or “Golden” images and deploy them to an unlimited number of workstations and servers. This enables internal IT departments and commercial IT specialists to set up PCs without having to purchase a separate license for each workstation or server providing the software is not installed on more than one PC at a time.The Technicians and Deployment Kit licenses last for one year, after which they can be renewed. If the subscription is not renewed they will downgrade to a standalone Server Edition license and Portable Application Support* will no longer function.Macrium Premium Support &amp; Maintenance is included with Technicians and Deployment Licenses, while the license subscription is active.<h3>*What is Portable Application Support?</h3>Portable application support ships exclusively with Macrium Reflect Technicians Licenses. In addition to allowing you to create a bootable USB stick from which you can rescue your systems, you can also optionally add Portable Application support to your media. This will allow you to run Macrium Reflect on your licensed PCs directly from the USB stick, without needing to install Reflect on the workstation or server first. The base install of Macrium Reflect may only be installed on a single PC at a time. If you wish to move this install, you will have to uninstall and reinstall the software.We hope you have enjoyed this post. We will come back soon with more #FAQs updates.You can download a 30-day Trial of <a href="https://www.macrium.com/products/business/standalone/workstation">Macrium Reflect Workstation</a> or <a href="https://www.macrium.com/site-manager">Site Manager 7.</a> Technical support for Trial users evaluating our software is available via <a href="https://www.macrium.com/support">email.</a>

In this thread of #BackupFAQ blog post you can find answer to common questions

#BackupFAQ — If my support expired does it affect my software licence?

# 6 best ways to love your data

It’s been said and repeated countless times, but data is the most valuable resource in the world. Your data. Everyone’s data. Companies are still clamoring to learn everything and anything about you to sell on to the highest bidder, hackers are hoping to get a valuable nugget for ransom leverage, and others are just collecting… collecting and waiting for a time when it can be best used. 

Sounds more like a horror story than a romance, but you aren’t powerless! There are a few important ways to show your data some love, and what better time to do it than International Love Data Week? 

## Check out these International Love Data Week events

First of all, let’s have a little fun and schedule in some great online events that are going on! Here are a few that jumped out, but be sure to check out [the complete list here](https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/cms/4544 "www.icpsr.umich.edu"). There are plenty of online and in-person events to choose from. 

[**Falling in Love with Data**](https://villanova.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElcOmorzksGNT1cyET8YgVcX2yAOAnRLbu "https://villanova.zoom.us") - This beginner workshop will provide an overview of ICPSR, an online data archive available to social science researchers.

[**Dating with Data: 50 Years of Romantic Relationships**](https://calendar.lib.vt.edu/event/10275825 "calendar.lib.vt.edu") - How have US attitudes toward inter-racial, inter-religious, and LGBTQ+ relationships changed over the past half century? Find out what surveys from 1972-2022 say while sharing some Valentine's Day treats as part of International Love Data Week!

[**Love Data Week - Data Privacy**](https://library.temple.edu/events/1389 "library.temple.edu") - Learn about data privacy from Dina Gayanova, a data privacy and cybersecurity attorney in Holland & Knight's Philadelphia office.

[**Data for Social Good**](https://uncw.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcuCurTgrHtfdskbF47WpbT4f5Gap_kHO#/registration "uncw.zoom.us") - Data can be used to bring about changes that matter. Hear from various researchers about how they have used data to make an impact on society. They will reflect upon how they first recognized what impact their data could have, and how they then worked towards turning that data into a form to be practically used beyond academia.

**[Love Data Week: Introduction to Data Visualization with Tableau](https://library.temple.edu/events/1436 "library.temple.edu")** - Do you like data? Do you like good looking graphs? Do you like presenting information in eye-catching ways? If you answered yes to any of those, you might be interested in learning more about data visualization.

## Choose a privacy-focused alternative search engine

Google isn’t the only kid on the block anymore. There are new alternatives every day, but if you’re looking for an option that keeps your privacy front and center, why not give these a spin? Ecosia even plants trees the more you search! 

[DuckDuckGo](https://duckduckgo.com/ "DuckDuckGo.com")

[Startpage](https://www.startpage.com/ "www.startpage.com")

[Ecosia](https://info.ecosia.org/privacy "info.ecosia.org")

Disclaimer (and minor rabbit hole for you to fall into)

[Global surveillance alliances are an important](https://www.techspot.com/article/2515-surveillance-intelligence-alliances/ "www.techspot.com"), and sometimes invisible, piece of the cyber security puzzle. It’s important to educate yourself on your country’s laws and alliances, as all the good intentions a company may have are still subject to the law.

## Regularly check your app security settings

You’ve heard the saying, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” Luckily, in most jurisdictions, the law has finally caught up with technology and we’re now able to choose what information we share. The apps we love to use have a tendency to love using us back, but it’s important that all parties involved are okay with that trade.

So keep an eye on [your security settings](https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-check-app-permissions-ios-android-macos-windows/ "www.wired.com"), actually [read your EULAs](https://measuringu.com/eula/ "measuringu.com") (or at least give it a good college try), and take a few moments to consider what you’re giving in exchange for that “free” product or service.

## Learn about the most common cyber security threats

[Cyber criminals are constantly changing and adapting their techniques](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware/home "www.ncsc.gov.uk") for getting their hands on your info, but the absolute best protection against it: knowledge. Learn about the different ways your information can be accessed and stolen so it’s more obvious to you when you see it.

Even things as simple as keeping different passwords for different accounts, and turning on 2-factor authentication can go a long way.

## Best VPNs in 2023

This could be a blog post in itself (and probably will be soon) but we’d be remiss if it wasn’t included in this list. There are a variety of VPNs out there to suit your needs and price point, whether it’s just a browser extension or something for your whole household.

[TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/vpn/best-vpn "www.techradar.com") has done a really great review of all the major VPNs out there right now, so have a read for the most current info and get started. Most offer free 30 day trials!

## Protect your data with backup and recovery software

And of course, rely on [Macrium Reflect 8](https://www.macrium.com/ "www.macrium.com") to protect your home PCs. Whether your data is compromised by hackers, lost due to human error, or destroyed due to a natural event, a well-planned backup strategy will protect you when you need it most.

Running regular backups is like a good insurance policy, and routinely checking you can restore them is the easiest way to trust your data is in good hands. And with [Macrium Image Guardian (MIG)](https://www.macrium.com/mig "www.macrium.com/mig"), you can rest easy knowing that even your backup files are safe from ransomware.

To celebrate International Love Data Week, we’re offering 20% off Reflect 8 Home! (from now until 20th February 2023) So put all these practices in place, get yourself top-notch backup and recovery software, and share the love with someone whose data you want to protect, too!

![macrium-software-adoption-certificate-lovedateweek23.png](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/macrium_software_adoption_certificate_lovedateweek23_84a3327e78.png)

It’s been said and repeated countless times, but data is the most valuable resource in the world. Your data. Everyone’s data. Companies are still clamoring to learn everything and anything about you to sell on to the highest bidder, hackers are hoping to get a valuable nugget for ransom leverage, and others are just collecting… collecting and waiting for a time when it can be best used. 

Sounds more like a horror story than a romance, but you aren’t powerless!

6 best ways to love your data

Similar to the [federal government](/the-federal-government-and-cybersecurity-risks "The Federal Government and Cybersecurity Risks"), state and local governments have cybersecurity threats. While the federal government is in charge of the U.S. as a whole, state and local governments manage cities, towns, tribals, and municipalities. This difference also leads to shifts in the way governments establish cybersecurity. On a state-to-state or city-to-city level, applications may change based on a number of factors. 

## What Does Cybersecurity Look Like on the State and Local Level?

State and local governments are vulnerable to cybercriminal activity as “they collect, process, store, and transmit vast amounts of sensitive data.” The wrong hands can weaponize and misuse data.

In 2020, hackers carried out 79 individual [ransomware attacks against U.S. government organizations](https://icma.org/blog-posts/practical-measures-local-government-avoid-ransomware "icma.org"). It cost downtime and recovery of nearly $18.88 billion. Clearly, ransomware is pervasive. The attack suspended “municipal operations, ultimately disrupting infrastructure services for 911 systems, utilities, and payment platforms with state and local governments.” 

[Cybercriminals target local governments](https://www.nlc.org/wp-contenthttps://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/2020/04/SML_2020Report_web-1.pdf "www.nlc.org"), which can “threaten to erode the trust that residents have in critical institutions.” The increasing reliance on IoT and automated systems may invite cyberattacks. They take advantage of gaps in security and the multiple entries of technology. Inadequate security measures and negligence within municipalities generate cyber risks.

![1406439_state-and-local-gov-graphic-3-2_071522.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406439_state_and_local_gov_graphic_3_2_071522_3fc6314d14.jpg)

From a [review of local government cybersecurity in 2020](https://icma.org/articles/pm-magazine/look-local-government-cybersecurity-2020 "icma.org"), local governments have three ways of cybersecurity structure: 

1.  **Centralized**: A single IT department is responsible for managing all the cybersecurity in a town or city. As a benefit, it ensures an extensive coverage of risks.
2.  **Decentralized**: Every department must run its own cybersecurity. Unlike centralized, a police department or building division in a town government must deal with IT matters individually.
3.  **Federated**: For local governments that operate with federated, it’s shared. The chief information security officer (CISO) assumes part of the authority for cyber protection. Local offices and departments take on the rest. The disadvantage of this model is that the CISO does not set the precedent for local government departments. A lot of breaches and cyberattacks can happen from a lack of education surrounding proper cybersecurity protocols. If a CISO is unable to totally control a local government’s cybersecurity, departments may be susceptible to hackers.

## Cybersecurity Preparedness

As with federal government agencies, local and state governments commonly take action post-attack. 

An example comes from the Riverside Ohio police and fire department in 2018\. The department servers suffered an unrecoverable data loss from 10 months of information. Unfortunately, it “effectively shut down the police department’s records management system.” Surprisingly, Riverside went through another data loss only a month after the initial shutdown. Since the first time, they ran daily backups in case it happened again, which it did. In March 2018 and May 2019, [two attacks occurred in the local government](https://icma.org/blog-posts/practical-measures-local-government-avoid-ransomware "icma.org") of the city of Baltimore as well. 

An [IBM news report](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-02-27-IBM-Survey-Only-38-of-State-and-Local-Government-Employees-Trained-on-Ransomware-Prevention "newsroom.ibm.com") examined the results from a poll. In it, U.S. city and state employees assessed their readiness for cyberattacks. Overwhelmingly, more than natural disasters and terrorist attacks, 73% of government employees feared “impending ransomware threats to cities across the country.” 

![1406447_stateandlocalgovgraphic1_071922.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406447_stateandlocalgovgraphic1_071922_969ebd5e0d.jpg)

Moreover, respondents revealed the prevalence of ransomware attacks. A poll showed that the departments of 1 in 6 employees had a ransomware attack. This evidence has not stimulated proactive prevention. Only 38% of employees received “general ransomware prevention training.” 

Along with cybersecurity structure in local government, there are obstacles to achieving uniform and effective cybersecurity across states, towns, and cities.

## Problems in Governments that Cause Cyber Risks 

Other factors contribute to the flaws in cybersecurity at this level of government. [IoT emerges as a feature in buildings](https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5356053/global-smart-buildings-market-by-technology-ai "researchandmarkets.com") that will only continue, according to Smart Buildings Market for 2021-2026\. The research estimates that “over 78% of new construction will involve at least one facet of IoT and/or related smart buildings market-related technologies over the course of the next five years.”

More state and local governments will incorporate these types of technologies into their offices. "[T]hese internet-connected devices and systems greatly increase exposure to cybersecurity risks.” IMCA reviewed the [consideration for IoT safety in municipalities](https://icma.org/blog-posts/cybersecurity-considerations-implement-iot "icma.org"). They go in hand with the accessibility and streamlined application that IoT offers. Technology is not dangerous but a lack of cybersecurity resources is.

![1406375_stateandlocalgovgraphic1_071422.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406375_stateandlocalgovgraphic1_071422_91111930fa.jpg)

Risks for administering IoT devices:

*   Weak or hard-coded passwords
*   Old and unpatched embedded operating systems and software
*   Insecure data transfer and storage
*   Lack of secure updates

![1406389_state-and-local-gov-graphic-2-2_071822.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406389_state_and_local_gov_graphic_2_2_071822_43e47181bc.jpg)

The Center for Digital Government (CDG) surveyed 103 state and local officials to [determine why governments lacked an effective security strateg](https://www.govtech.com/sponsored/how-state-and-local-governments-can-make-their-security-operations-ready-for-the-future "govtech.com")y:

*   46% said lack of cybersecurity skills among their workforce
*   40% said issues with integrating security tools
*   36% said the inability to rapidly respond to threats

The following security and compliance challenges include: 

*   Legacy 
*   Unpatched and non-supported networks increasing exposure
*   Excessive manual processes 
*   Limited enterprise visibility around the endpoints connected to networks

From the survey, 66% of participants acknowledged that “their data-sharing practices are only somewhat mature or not mature at all."

Governments experience challenges with data accessibility and sharing. They have difficulty transforming data into actionable intelligence. It's a result of different data formats and storage environments. “At the same time, governments must deal with an ever-evolving regulatory environment and an increasingly privacy-focused landscape that makes it safer for them to limit data sharing rather than expose themselves to added risks.”

Data analytic challenges from a CDG survey:

*   41% said security
*   38% said privacy concerns
*   35% said data quality
*   34% said data silos

The article poses a few solutions:

*   Governments need to better align their data with people, technologies, and processes for the connection to be seamless.
*   Storing and indexing data calls for reconfiguration for security. 
*   Muncipilatites must leverage modern technologies to support data sharing across departments.
*   Cybersecurity is a necessity and data contains confidential information that demands protection. 

On top of this, 52% of state and local government IT/Security professionals agreed their budget hasn’t improved. This could hinder [training on ransomware prevention](https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-02-27-IBM-Survey-Only-38-of-State-and-Local-Government-Employees-Trained-on-Ransomware-Prevention "newsroom.ibm.com/").

## What Regulations Constitute State and Local Cybersecurity? 

The EU implements the [General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)](https://gdpr.eu/what-is-gdpr/ "gdpr.eu"), a data privacy and security law that provides regulations for organizations worldwide to control cybersecurity. Some states have begun implementing cybersecurity mandates on their own. Following this, the U.S. is starting to catch up with statewide mandates such as the [California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)](https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa "oag.ca.gov"). The act provides guidance for California businesses and organizations, mostly to protect consumers and let them have greater control over their personal information and what businesses can take advantage of. 

Additionally, the [2018 California Civil Code on Security of Connected Devices](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB327 "leginfo.legislature.ca.gov") places a new requirement on manufacturers. On January 1, 2020, manufacturers began following these guidelines. IoT devices are now sold with the right security features to protect data and privileged information. The code will reduce "unauthorized access, use, adaption, disclosure, or destruction."

The New York City chief technology officer issued the New York City Internet of Things. It defines IoT safety and security practices. The new order creates processes to evaluate city technology. ICMA's “Cybersecurity Considerations to Implement IoT,” also gives recommendations for improvement.’”

The Committee on Homeland Security wants to introduce [The State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act](https://homeland.house.gov/imo/media/doc/State%20and%20Local%20Cyber%20Act%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf "homeland.house.gov"). The proposal stems from fears that the federal government is slow to cybersecurity. Stretched state and local budgets and current defenses cannot stand against foreign hackers.

The act develops "a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program." Advocates plan to tackle cybersecurity risks for state and local governments.

A National League of Cities report, “[State and Local Partnerships for Cybersecurity](https://www.nlc.org/wp-contenthttps://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/2020/04/SML_2020Report_web-1.pdf "www.nlc.org"),” believes in a collaborative approach. Cities and states can strengthen national cybersecurity infrastructure together. 

Currently, “Delaware is the only state that offers voluntary statewide cybersecurity training for state non-executive and local government employees.” Out of the 50 U.S. states, only 16 mandate cybersecurity training. Nine states lack cybersecurity training programs completely. 

Organizations are fighting to unify and structure the inconsistencies among states.

## How to Secure Critical Local and Government Data 

Beyond firewalls and antivirus software, a simple and inexpensive (compared to ransomware costs) solution is keeping backup images and copies of data. In this way, governments will have another layer of protection in case of ineffective cybersecurity. 

Security is central to software design at Macrium. Our applications give you complete control over where your data is stored and will operate fully offline for the most secure, air-tight networks.

Macrium Software provides extensive backup imaging for this reason. Check out our website to learn about installing effective backups to prevent data loss at [Macrium.com](https://www.macrium.com/ "macrium.com").


State and local governments are vulnerable to cybercriminal activity as “they collect, process, store, and transmit vast amounts of sensitive data.” The wrong hands can weaponize and misuse data. In 2020, hackers carried out 79 individual ransomware attacks against U.S. government organizations. It cost downtime and recovery of nearly $18.88 billion. Clearly, ransomware is pervasive. The attack suspended “municipal operations, ultimately disrupting infrastructure services for 911 systems, utilities, and payment platforms with state and local governments.” 

State and Local Government Cybersecurity Risks

Here in the northern hemisphere, summer has rolled round again, bringing record temperatures across Europe and North America with it. While a cold shower or an icecream might be enough to cool us down, things aren’t so simple for the devices that we trust to store our data. Have you ever wondered why data centres are so cold? The answer is slightly more complex than “to keep the IT people cool”.

We all know that excess heat is bad for our devices. You may have even seen pictures or videos of competitive overclockers using liquid nitrogen to stop their CPUs overheating, and if you haven’t: [tomshardware has got you covered](https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/how-to-competitive-overclocking-overclocker-tips,5636.html "tomshardware.com"). However, proper cooling isn’t just important for CPUs, it is also important for storage devices.

First, it can be beneficial to define what is a good temperature for a storage device. Although the exact numbers will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, some basic outlines are

Solid State Drive (SSD) - 0 °C to 60°C (32°F to 140°F)

Hard Disk Drive (HDD) - 0ºC up to 70ºC (32ºF to 158ºF)

For more information you should read the manufacturer’s specification. This example is from a [Samsung 870 EVO](https://www.samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/sata-ssd/870-evo-1tb-sata-3-2-5-ssd-mz-77e1t0b-eu/ "samsung.com"):

![20220725-why-you-should-keep-your-data-cool-this-summer.png](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/20220725_why_you_should_keep_your_data_cool_this_summer_1f814025b5.png)

What happens if the temperature of the drives rise above this? Well, basically, nothing good. Many modern devices are smart enough to monitor their own temperature via their firmware. If temperatures reach a certain level, they may throttle their own performance to prevent further overheating. Whilst this is good as it prevents the drive from further overheating and potentially damaging components, this may also lead to reduced performance including reduced I/O performance. This [large-scale case study](https://users.ece.cmu.edu/~omutlu/pub/flash-memory-failures-in-the-field-at-facebook_sigmetrics15.pdf "users.ece.cmu.edu") of flash memory failure in the field at Facebook’s datacentres notes:

_“Higher temperatures lead to increased failure rates, but do so most noticeably for SSDs that do not employ throttling techniques.”_

Not only have they noticed a correlation between shorter flash storage lifespan with higher temperature, but drives that don’t implement performance throttling at higher temperatures had noticeably shorter lifespans than their counterparts that do.

In [this whitepaper](https://aiot.innodisk.com/wp-contenthttps://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/2020/07/Achieving-Extensive-Data-Retention-in-High-Temperature-AIoT-Applications-1.pdf "aiot.innodisk.com"), innodisk also draw a correlation between temperature and a decrease in data retention. 

_“Data retention decreases in higher temperatures and with increasing program/erase (P/E) cycles as both these factors induce a higher rate of charge leakage.”_

Charge leakage occurs when the dielectric barrier designed to trap a charge in the flash cell degrades, if the dielectric degrades too much, the cell can no longer hold a charge and thus can’t be programmed. For more information about the structure of NAND flash cells, I recommend reading [this blog post](/how-do-ssds-work#:~:text=SSDs%20are%20fundamentally%20made%20up,SSD%20and%20the%20host%20interface. "macrium.com"). Higher temperatures mean that charged particles in the flash cell move more, further eroding the dielectric layer. 

As for HDDs, [in this article by Backblaze](https://www.backblaze.com/blog/hard-drive-temperature-does-it-matter/ "backblaze.com") they indicate that in their datacentre there was no significant correlation between drive temperature and drive failure rate. In their ‘Hard Drive Temperature Takeaways’ they state:

_“As long as you run drives well within their allowed range of operating temperatures, keeping them cooler doesn’t matter.”_

However, this leaves a lot of room for speculation if the HDD exceeds the operating temperature, something that might not be that difficult as temperatures spike globally, and the average user does not have datacentre cooling to rely on.

The good news, however, is that there are steps we can take to help our storage devices out. Most methods to keep data cool may seem like common sense: from keeping devices away from direct sunlight, placing the device in an area with good air circulation, to avoiding heavy workloads in high temperatures and turning the device off when not in use; there are a lot of things we can do to reduce the temperature of our devices.

On the very hottest days, if you can’t keep your storage cool, just turn it off; that’s what Google and Oracle do.

[https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62202125](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62202125 "bbc.com")

Keeping devices as cool as possible will not only prevent potential damage from overheating but many also improve data retention.


Here in the northern hemisphere, summer has rolled round again, bringing record temperatures across Europe and North America with it. While a cold shower or an icecream might be enough to cool us down, things aren’t so simple for the devices that we trust to store our data. Have you ever wondered why data centres are so cold? The answer is slightly more complex than “to keep the IT people cool”.

Why you should keep your data cool this summer

company

# Macrium Software one of UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech™

[Manchester, UK] The 2023 UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech™ list has been launched by Great Place To Work® UK, recognising Macrium Software among the list of organisations in the Small and Medium category.

Macrium Software’s employees anonymously reported that innovation and collaboration within the business make the company a great place to work.

> “The company culture is extremely friendly, I always feel comfortable going to my colleagues for help. Hard work is definitely recognised and management appreciates the extra effort that's made. I have felt extremely welcomed when working with different departments and have always been given help and resources when needed. It's a really nice feeling to enjoy working and knowing that I can ask for help if it is needed!”

An employee survey comment

## Great Place To Work® UK - Best Workplaces in Tech™️ list 

Now in its sixth year, the Best Workplaces in Tech™️ list celebrates companies adept at developing dynamic, collaborative cultures that serve as a catalyst for innovation and personal growth for all.
Great Place To Work® UK administered its research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based tech employees to determine the Best Workplaces™ list.  

The surveys asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. 

Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of employee experience across all departments and seniority levels. 

Macrium Software is one of just five businesses in the North West to make the 2023 list in the category. The business also received Great Place to Work’s certification and featured on its .. lists earlier in 2023. 

## People are “Our Greatest Asset”

Macrium Software’s CEO, Nick Sills, said:

> “At Macrium Software, we recognise that our people are our greatest asset. We take great pride in fostering a supportive and positive working environment, where each individual can thrive and reach their full potential. We believe that by investing in our employees' professional and personal development, we can achieve the highest levels of success and innovation as a company. As a team, we are dedicated to creating a culture that values collaboration, creativity and mutual respect and we are committed to providing our employees with the resources they need to excel both in and outside of the workplace.”

## Keeping People “At the Heart of the Business”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said:

> “The Best Workplaces in Tech™️ list is created using the anonymous feedback collected from employees within the technology industry about their workplace experience. In one of the country’s fastest-growing industries, it’s fantastic to see these Tech organisations putting their people strategy at the heart of the business and implementing policies, practices and programmes that sustain an impactful and consistently great employee experience for all. A huge congratulations to Macrium Software for making one of our most prestigious lists.”

---ENDS---

### About Macrium Software 

Macrium Software is the industry leader in image-based backup and recovery software. We’re a vital part of digital security and business continuity plans for enterprise businesses, SMBs, and IT professionals across all industries and sectors. In a world where data is the most valuable resource, we've made it our business to protect yours. 

[www.macrium.com](https://www.macrium.com/)

Follow Macrium Software online: [Twitter](https://twitter.com/macrium), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/paramount-software-uk-limited), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/macrium/), and [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/macrium/)

© 2023. Paramount Software UK Limited. Macrium Reflect® is a registered trademark of Paramount Software UK Limited. 

### About Great Place To Work®

Great Place To Work® is the global authority on workplace culture, on a mission to make every company a great workplace for all. Every year, they receive direct feedback from over 10 million workers around the world telling us how they really feel about their employer. 

Their survey is completely confidential and anonymous, so people can feel comfortable to be honest about their workplace, and companies can gain detailed insights into how they can better serve their people.

Only those employers who have the highest levels of trust, job satisfaction, and who empower ALL their employees to thrive both in and outside of work are awarded official Best Workplaces™ recognition.

For more information, visit [www.greatplacetowork.co.uk](https://www.greatplacetowork.co.uk/)

Macrium Software has been named as one of the UK's Best Workplaces in Tech™ by Great Place To Work®, the global authority on workplace culture.

Macrium Software one of UK’s Best Workplaces in Tech™

The retail industry is not exempt from cyberattacks. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed shopping from in-store to online. However, our overall reliance on digital technology has transformed retail. Cyberattacks cost retailers millions of dollars in ransomware prices. With today’s digitally focused business environment, investing in cybersecurity is a top priority.

Let’s review the current state of cybersecurity in retail and how preparation can save this sector from corrupt hackers.  

## How Is Retail a Target for Cyberattacks?

A main driving force for why cyber attackers target the retail industry is customer information. Credit card payments and personal information are highly advantageous to cybercriminals. Storing online data to re-enter shopping accounts is risky if there is not proper cybersecurity established. 

![1406759_Retail-Graphic-1-1_080122.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406759_Retail_Graphic_1_1_080122_4cd6d06fba.jpg)

IT Pro published an article about [why retail is ranking in cyberattacks](https://www.itpro.com/security/cyber-security/360747/why-retailers-are-the-most-targeted-sector-for-cyber-attacks "itpro.com"). Criminals who have access to customer databases “can send phishing emails pretending to be a legitimate business.” At this time, they can “ask for personal details, send malicious links, or include malware that can wreak havoc on a customer’s PC.” 

The article also signifies this risk is not exclusive to online shopping. The Internet of Things (IoT) is practicable in today’s business environment. Physical objects integrate with technology to be more available and adaptable. IoT devices in the retail industry include point of sales (PoS) systems and security cameras. As they incorporate technology features, there is more access for hackers. Malware-infected PoS systems are a threat to the private information of businesses and customers.

Progressive technology gives cyber attackers multiple points of entry. The retail industry can avoid costly repairs and preserve the image of its business. For either online shopping or in-person, establishing basic cybersecurity protocols is a preventative defense. 

[The Consumer Goods Forum](https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/global-learning-mechanism-resources/cyber-attacks-the-increasing-risk-for-retail/ "theconsumergoodsforum.com") reports that “retail is more vulnerable to cyberattacks due to the nature of its online traffic and the design of its e-commerce websites.” Phones, stored customer data such as payments and personally-identifying information, and online shopping convenience make enforcing cybersecurity a challenge.

User-friendliness is a conflict. Retailers worry that “robust security measures can make the purchasing process seem time consuming and difficult, driving customers to abandon purchases.” If a customer-focused retail approach overshadows security measures, hackers will continue to plague retail industries. This is one obstacle the retail industry encounters when balancing between security and customer satisfaction. 

However, retailers who have not yet experienced cyberattacks or are unaware of current threats will soon realize that it’s not one of the other. Cybersecurity plays a considerable role in the authority, trustworthiness, and reliability of a company. In the worst cases, customers will leave a company when their personal security is at risk. 

![1406766_Retail-Graphic-2-1_080122.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406766_Retail_Graphic_2_1_080122_770d7c7acb.jpg)

## Aftermath of Ransomware on the Retail Industry

Beyond the first sting of a cyberattack hit, there are other consequences that ruin a business. [Retail Touchpoints](https://www.retailtouchpoints.com/blog/cybersecurity-data-privacy-and-esg-highlight-risk-trends-for-retail-and-consumer-markets "retailtouchpoints.com") lists five impacts regulations and investigations have on retail companies:

*   Financial exposure
*   Reputational risk
*   Limited options given the optics of litigating against the government
*   Time and resource-intensive
*   Business disruption

These impacts are critical for retail businesses to see that there are not only financial losses, “but also the potential for brand damage and loss of data.” The article shares two types of data: customer-related and intellectual property linked to confidential business operations. 

Online shopping opens the doors for us to purchase global goods and services. The U.S. economic regulations don’t always agree with those in Spain or the Netherlands. Cybersecurity practices from one country to another can lead to gaps in cyber safety across the marketplace. Along with the changing landscape of how technology is distributed and used in retail, it can be hard to keep up and maintain standardized cybersecurity. 

![1406779_Retail-Graphic-3-1_080222.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406779_Retail_Graphic_3_1_080222_efe22548db.jpg)

## What Are the Responses for Ransomware and Encryption in Retail?

[The Sophos’ State of Ransomware in Retail 2021](https://assets.sophos.com/X24WTUEQ/at/8c5hfmh8h8w3sh72b8v65hr/sophos-state-of-ransomware-retail-2021-wp.pdf "assets.sophos.com") (PDF) surveyed “5,400 IT managers across 30 countries [with] 435 respondents from [the] retail sector.” The key findings from the survey showed: 

*   Ransomware hit 44% of retail organizations in 2021
*   Cybercriminals encrypted 54% of organizations’ data after a ransomware attack
*   32% of businesses paid the ransom after their data was encrypted
*   On average, ransom payments cost US$147,811
*   Most often, only 67% of data is recovered when businesses pay the ransom
*   The average bill to resolve a ransomware attack is US$1.97 million for retailers who must factor in lost opportunity, downtime, network cost, device cost, ransom paid, and people time
*   For retailers who went through encryption, 56% use backups to restore data
*   Compared to the global average, the retail industry isn’t as equipped with encryption prevention: 34% vs 39%
*   The global average for cyberattack preparation is 82%, while the retail industry is only 78% 
*   50% of retail respondents who don’t believe they will be attacked are relying on strategies proven ineffective from ransomware
*   13% of participants do not have any concerns about ransomware

![1406785_Retail-Graphic-4-1_080222.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/1406785_Retail_Graphic_4_1_080222_d32fed45ed.jpg)

Among the recommendations Sophos provides the retail industry, they suggest making backups. In the line of defense, backup is a crucial aspect. They point to the downfall of losing data, regardless of paying the ransom. As there is rarely a full data recovery from cyberattacks, having backups is reassuring. 

Firewalls may fail and cybercriminals are becoming far more advanced than existing infrastructure security. Even with layers of cybersecurity protection, once a hack occurs, backups can redeem stolen data. They may eliminate the need to pay the ransomware.

The report also referenced the “3-2-1” backup plan. Companies should have three separate copies, two types of backups, and one offline and offsite copy that cyberattackers can’t reach.

Security is central to software design at Macrium. Our applications give you complete control over where your data is stored and will operate fully offline for the most secure, air-tight networks.

Macrium Software is a backup and image recovery solution. Along with other malware plans and protection software, backups are valuable ways to keep data despite malicious cyber activity. Check out our website to learn about installing effective backups to prevent data loss at [Macrium.com](https://www.macrium.com "macrium.com/8-home").

20220801-the-retail-industry-and-cybersecurity-risks.png

The retail industry is not exempt from cyberattacks. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed shopping from in-store to online. However, our overall reliance on digital technology has transformed retail. Cyberattacks cost retailers millions of dollars in ransomware prices. With today’s digitally focused business environment, investing in cybersecurity is a top priority.

The Retail Industry and Cybersecurity Risks

Macrium Software Great Place To Work Tech Sept 2023

Macrium-Software-Great-Place-To-Work-Tech-Sept-2023-1200x630.jpg

# What is a Sysadmin? Celebrating the Quiet Heroes of IT

Today is system administrator (sysadmin) [appreciation day](https://sysadminday.com/). As a company operating in the tech industry, we want to stop and highlight the crucial, but often underappreciated, work of these professionals that keep our computers and servers alive, our people in communication and organisations around the world in business.

In this blog post, we will delve into the world of sysadmins, explore their roles and the traits that make them successful. For those curious about a career in this field, we’ll also provide insights into how to get ahead in the profession.

## What Does a Sysadmin Do?

Sysadmins are so ubiquitous and manage so many tasks that it’d be easier to ask, “what don’t they do?” But here are some of the responsibilities their roles may cover on a daily basis. 

![Macrium-Software-Sysadmin-Day-Graphic-LinkedIn-Twitter-1200x627-July-2023-01.jpg](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/Macrium_Software_Sysadmin_Day_Graphic_Linked_In_Twitter_1200x627_July_2023_01_60939b1463.jpg)

### Build Machines

A fundamental task of a sysadmin is building and configuring machines that meet their business’ specific needs. This includes setting up workstations, servers and other hardware components, ensuring they function optimally to support the company’s operations.

### Data Security

Data security is crucial in today's digital landscape. Sysadmins play a critical role in implementing and maintaining security measures to safeguard sensitive information from unauthorized access, data breaches and cyber threats.

### Virus Protection

Protecting systems from viruses and malware is an ongoing battle. Sysadmins are responsible for installing and managing antivirus software, conducting regular scans and promptly responding to any security threats that may arise.

### Write Code

Automation is key to improving efficiency. Sysadmins often write code or use scripting languages to automate repetitive tasks, manage configurations and streamline a business’ processes.

### Keep Users Connected

Sysadmins are the bridge between technology and end users. They provide technical support, troubleshoot issues and ensure that users can connect and collaborate seamlessly.

### Maintain Servers

Maintaining servers is a core responsibility of sysadmins. They monitor server performance, address hardware and software issues and ensure that critical systems operate smoothly.

### Configure Servers

Sysadmins also configure servers, which involves setting up user accounts, managing permissions and optimizing server performance.

### Update Servers

Keeping software and operating systems updated is vital to their security and performance. Sysadmins are responsible for applying patches and updates to servers and other systems to ensure they remain secure and efficient.

## What Traits Do You Need to Be a Successful Sysadmin?

Being a sysadmin requires a unique set of traits that go beyond technical skills. Successful sysadmins possess a combination of technical expertise and personal qualities that allow them to excel in their roles. Essential traits a sysadmin needs include the following. 

### Clear Communication

Effective communication is essential for sysadmins, as they often need to explain technical concepts to non-technical users. Clear and concise communication helps them provide instructions, troubleshoot issues and collaborate across teams.

### Responsiveness

In the fast-paced world of IT, being responsive to user requests and technical issues couldn’t be more important. A successful sysadmin promptly addresses problems and ensures minimal downtime to keep business operations running smoothly.

### Curiosity

Curiosity drives sysadmins to continuously learn and explore new technologies. Staying curious enables them to adapt to the ever-changing IT landscape and find innovative solutions to complex problems.

### Problem Solving

Sysadmins are natural problem solvers. They possess the ability to analyze issues, identify root causes and implement effective solutions to resolve technical challenges as quickly and painlessly as possible.

### Proactiveness

Being proactive is essential for Sysadmins. It allows them to anticipate potential problems and address them before they escalate. Proactive sysadmins implement preventive measures and monitor systems to prevent issues from occurring in the first place.

### Patience

Technical issues are frustrating and sysadmins often encounter complex problems that require patience and time to solve. Patience and persistence are essential traits for a sysadmin, equipping them to work through challenges methodically and solve problems - both for users and themselves.

## How Can I Become a Sysadmin?

If the role of a system administrator has your attention, there are various skills you can build and paths you can take to embark on a career in this much-demanded area.

- **Education and Training:** Pursue a degree or certification in computer science, IT or a related field. Formal education provides a strong foundation in IT principles and concepts.
- **Gain Technical Experience:** Obtain hands-on experience with computer systems, networks and operating systems. Internships, volunteer work, or personal projects can help you build practical skills.
- **Develop Problem-Solving Skills:** Nurture your problem-solving skills by tackling technical challenges and finding creative, independent solutions to common challenges.
- **Learn Scripting and Automation:** Automation is a key aspect of sysadmin work. Familiarize yourself with scripting languages like [Python](https://www.python.org/), [PowerShell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PowerShell) or [Bash](https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/bash-scripting-tutorial-linux-shell-script-and-command-line-for-beginners/). 
- **Networking and Collaboration:** Join IT groups, network within communities, attend industry events and connect with professionals in the field to expand your network and learn from experienced sysadmins.
- **Certifications:** Consider completing industry recognized certifications like [CompTIA](https://www.comptia.org/) [Network+](https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network) etc. These certifications validate your skills, catch the attention of recruiters and ultimately, make you more attractive to employers.
- **Stay Updated:** Keep yourself informed about the latest trends and developments in IT by reading [tech blogs](https://techworldtimes.com/top-technology-blogs/), attending webinars, listening to [podcasts](https://explodingtopics.com/blog/tech-podcasts) and exploring online resources.

## Happy Sysadmin Day - Explore Our Open Roles

We hope this blog shows our appreciation for sysadmins everywhere - thank you for all you do! If you’re looking for a career in IT, we invite you to explore our open roles - take a look and apply [here](https://www.macrium.com/careers-and-culture). 

Macrium-Software-Sysadmin-Day-Blog-Hero-July-2023.jpg

Join us in celebrating sysadmin day as we highlight the quiet heroes of IT,  what it is they do and what it takes to become a successful sysadmin. 

What is a Sysadmin? | Macrium Software 

# Macrium Software Launches Deployment Product with Potential to Save IT Professionals “Days of Work”

MANCHESTER, UK (17th May 2023)  - [Macrium Software](https://www.macrium.com), the industry leader in image-based backup and recovery software, has announced the launch of Macrium SiteDeploy®, a new product with the potential to save IT professionals days of work on Windows operating system (OS) deployment. 

In a digitally transforming world, the need for organizations to access and restore their devices remotely and at scale, whether PCs, laptops, thin clients or servers, is only becoming greater. 

Macrium SiteDeploy® is designed to reduce the number of manual steps performed during the deployment process. This can significantly cut complexity and reduce deployment time, potentially saving IT teams days of work*. 

For example, deploying 100 Windows PCs using Macrium SiteDeploy® with Microsoft Sysprep answer file injection could equate to a time saving of 16 hours, or two working days, compared to the manual processes widely used in the industry. This could free up time, resources and budget for businesses to focus on strategic priorities and innovation.

“Despite how crucial and ubiquitous it is across all organizations and industries, creating and deploying images remains a headache for IT professionals,” explained Nick Sills, CEO of Macrium Software. 

“A  full deployment process can involve many manual steps. This means it often takes significantly longer than projected, costing businesses time and money. On the other hand, much of the software on the market to automate deployment includes convoluted features. These are often unnecessary and can get very expensive, very quickly.”

Imaging and deployment are required in many scenarios across most businesses and organizations. It enables multiple or large numbers of endpoints - e.g., computers, servers or thin clients, to be built or restored to a set state. This standardizes OSs, so apps, software and security settings run consistently across devices. It also reduces the time and resources needed and offers greater control over configuring and managing IT infrastructure. 

### Cutting complexity 

A common challenge with imaging and deployment is how complicated the deployment process can become. One of the causes of this is the need for businesses to deploy to different types of hardware. Using Macrium’s proprietary software ReDeploy and Driver Harvesting, Macrium SiteDeploy® can alleviate this by ensuring deployments work across disparate hardware. Macrium SiteDeploy® also automates partition resizing, taking away yet another step often performed manually by IT admins.

Its intuitive dashboard empowers users to deploy, monitor and manage large volumes of endpoints from one place. Offering greater control over system and process management, Macrium SiteDeploy® also allows IT admins to organize images and repositories using custom tags, even at scale.

### Faster deployment 

Another key aim behind the development of Macrium SiteDeploy® is to cut the time deployment takes. With a built-in Preboot eXecution Environment (PXE) and the ability to inject templated answer files for Microsoft Sysprep, Macrium SiteDeploy® can save hours in setup time. The answer file allows admins to reduce manual configuration and bypass the out-of-box experience with preconfigured admin accounts and active directory settings.

The launch of Macrium SiteDeploy® comes following a two-month beta testing program. The response from early adopters, who ranged from Sysadmins at SMEs and large businesses to PC build technicians and IT professionals in healthcare and education, has been “overwhelmingly positive”, continued Sills.
“Feedback from our first wave of users includes that Macrium SiteDeploy® saved them significant amounts of time and would remove the need for specialized training. Several are eager to adopt it in the long-term and believe they can easily make a business case to do so,” he continued. “This bears testimony to the exciting potential Macrium SiteDeploy® holds for a diverse range of businesses and organizations.”

“We are proud to bring Macrium SiteDeploy® to the market and look forward to seeing the tangible benefits it will bring to our new and existing customers.”

As businesses prioritize digital transformation and work to scale up their remote operations, the global OS imaging and deployment software market is projected to grow by 14% between 2022 and 2030⁺. 

## [Request A Demo](https://share-eu1.hsforms.com/1PXyODNMKQVSw5TJHWSmPgQfz1ls)

To learn more about Macrium SiteDeploy®, please visit: [https://www.macrium.com/products/business/technicians/sitedeploy ](/products/business/technicians/sitedeploy)

*During testing carried out by Macrium Software, manually completing admin tasks after a new image was deployed to a PC took an average of nine minutes and twenty five seconds. Macrium SiteDeploy® enables the user to bypass this process. Test results available on demand.

⁺Global OS Imaging & Deployment Software Market Segmentation, Regional Research Reports. Source: [https://express-press-release.net/news/2022/11/04/1286789](https://express-press-release.net/news/2022/11/04/1286789) 

—ENDS—

**About Macrium Software**
Macrium Software is the industry leader in image based backup and recovery software. We’re a vital part of digital security and business continuity plans for enterprise businesses, SMBs and IT professionals across all industries and sectors. In a world where data is the most valuable resource, we've made it our business to protect yours. www.macrium.com 


© 2023. Paramount Software UK Limited. Macrium Reflect® and Macrium SiteDeploy® are registered trademarks of Paramount Software UK Limited.

**Sales Enquiries:**
Stephen Macpherson 
Director and Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Macrium Software
Email: [stephen.macpherson@macrium.com](mailto:stephen.macpherson@macrium.com)

**Media Enquiries:**
[marketing@macrium.com](mailto:marketing@macrium.com)

1672658_SiteDeploy-Promotional Images_1200x627_Op1_063023.jpg

MANCHESTER, UK (17th May 2023)  - Macrium Software, the industry leader in image-based backup and recovery software, has announced the launch of Macrium SiteDeploy®, a new product with the potential to save IT professionals days of work on Windows operating system (OS) deployment. 

Macrium Software Launches Deployment Product with Potential to Save IT Professionals “Days of Work”

Macrium-Site-Manager-8-1-Upgrade-Announcement-Blog-Post-Banner-1000px-500px-June-2023.jpg

# How to Create Strong Passwords and Remember Them

Passwords are like door keys. We rarely think about them until we lose them, or worry someone else could have them. 

Considering how heavily we rely on passwords to access the apps, accounts and devices we need to even get off the ground in the morning, it’s surprising how little thought we put into them. 

And this isn’t only true of the general population. “Even people who’d consider themselves security conscious in the physical world can leave their digital twins exposed online,” explains [Professor Daniel Dresner](https://events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:ctq-k1m4j1j0-cod3jy/fse-inaugural-lecture-series-department-of-computer-science-prof-daniel-dresner "events.manchester.ac.uk - Professor Daniel Dresner"), Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Manchester. 

“Using passwords is a flawed system. And as cyber criminals adopt technologies such as machine learning, passwords are likely to become obsolete."

“But until something better comes along, it’s a good idea to level up your password game.”

## Why are We so Bad at Creating Secure Passwords?

News articles about password mistakes and cyber security attacks are a dime a dozen. We’re saturated with warnings that if we don’t change our passwords, someone will clear out our bank accounts and sell everything we own on the dark web. 

“Much of this is sensationalism with a side order of fear, uncertainty and doubt,” Dresner adds. 

“However, as too many things we want to access online rely on passwords, it's still a very good idea to be careful out there.”

Despite daily stories of data breaches and the accompanying finger-wagging, [more than two thirds of people](https://www.techradar.com/news/exclusive-most-people-still-make-up-their-own-passwords-and-reuse-them "techradar.com") use the same password across multiple accounts.

So, with a stream of security and password-related advice coming at us, why aren’t we listening?

## Remember, Remember…

“It’s often about memory,” Dresner continues. “Anyone is capable of  creating a strong password on the spot. But remembering it when we need it is a different story.” 

“So many websites demand mental algorithms from us. They make remembering the combination of letters, numbers and special characters so far from what we might be comfortable with.” 

“This causes us to downgrade our attempts to create a secure password. So instead, we end up creating one that’s guessable.”

“And if we can guess it, you can be sure the criminals’ software will be able to as well.”

## My Passwords are Probably Fine, Right?

Another trap many of us fall into is assuming hackers won’t target us individually. [Around one third of people](https://www.techradar.com/news/exclusive-most-people-still-make-up-their-own-passwords-and-reuse-them "techradar.com") don’t feel that they’re in danger of being hacked. 

Surely a hacker wouldn’t concern themselves with one account when they could go after big businesses and hold them to ransom instead? Right? Wrong!

## What do Cybercriminals do with Stolen Passwords?

Cyber criminals can do significant damage once they’ve accessed your account. Some of their motivations include, but aren’t limited to, the following.

### To Steal your Money

 A cyber criminal could guess the password to one of your accounts which holds payment information. From there, they can perform an account takeover. This involves changing your password, locking you out and using your payment details for their own ends. This is also a key part of identity theft.  

### To Steal your Identity

To many people, identity theft sounds like a far-fetched concept that only happens in movies. On the contrary, it’s surprisingly common and up there with credit card fraud as one of the top motivations behind cyber crime. Duplicating someone’s identity can be done with minimal data. Email addresses, bank accounts or credit cards may be opened with basic details such as a name, address and date of birth. Criminals can then use this to access money or benefits in your name. This could damage your credit score and your chances of gaining approval for mortgages or other forms of credit.

### To Target your Friends or Employers

Spear phishing, or carefully targeted attacks, see cyber criminals break into your accounts and gather details on the people you know or the company you work for. They can then use this to pose as you and solicit more information from their targets. One click on a malicious link or a seemingly innocent comment could give a criminal all they need to compromise a friend, a loved-one or an entire business.

## What Can you do to Mitigate Risk?

To mark [World Password Day,](https://www.nicybersecuritycentre.gov.uk/world-password-day "nicybersecuritycentre.gov.uk") we partnered with [Professor Dresner](https://events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:ctq-k1m4j1j0-cod3jy/fse-inaugural-lecture-series-department-of-computer-science-prof-daniel-dresner "Professor Dresner") to offer tips on how to create strong passwords you’re more likely to remember.

## How to Create Strong Passwords and Remember Them

*   **Don’t complicate it** - We all know the advice to create passwords with combinations of special characters, upper and lower case letters and numbers, etc. Thankfully, this is no longer considered best practice. Instead, the National Cyber Security Centre recommends using [the ‘three random words’ method](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/blog-post/the-logic-behind-three-random-words "www.ncsc.gov.uk"). A password comprising random words unrelated to you or your life is likely harder to crack and easier to remember. Whether a website’s password complexity requirements will allow you to do this is another story, explains Professor Dresner. “Don’t blame the customers and employees. Blame the people who expect us to use systems that are not only unintuitive but actively deny us the opportunity to follow the science of good passwords.”
*   **Adopt a password creation convention** - Echoing the three random words method, adopting  a convention could help you create secure and memorable passwords. Examples include the [Bruce Schneier method](https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2014/03/choosing_secure_1.html "schneier.com"), or the [person-action-object (PAO) memory method](https://artofmemory.com/blog/pao-system/ "artofmemory.com"). 
*   **Consider using a password manager** - Uptake of password managers was initially slow, but they are becoming increasingly popular as they prove their worth. They work by storing multiple usernames and passwords in one place and pre-populating the fields on a login screen. They can also generate and store random passwords for you. Examples include [Keeper Security](https://www.keepersecurity.com/ "keepersecurity.com"), [Dashlane](https://www.dashlane.com/ "dashlane.com"), [1Password](https://1password.com/ "1password.com") and [Nord Pass](https://nordpass.com/ "nordpass.com").
*   **Two-factor and multifactor authentication** - While many people see extra steps to login as inconvenient, data shows that it can significantly boost security. [According to Microsoft](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-entra-azure-ad-blog/your-pa-word-doesn-t-matter/ba-p/731984 "techcommunity.microsoft.com"), your account is more than 99.9% less likely to be compromised if you use multi-factor authentication. Many websites give you the option of switching this on or off when you register. You also don’t have to use it every time you log in. Typically it kicks in again after periods of inactivity or when logging in using a new device. 

## Great Password Resources

Taking the above on board will definitely improve your password security. But twinning this with ongoing awareness is even better. 

Here are some great tools for keeping password security front-of-mind in the long-term. 

*   Find out if your data has been breached and in which major incidents at [Have I been Pwned?](https://haveibeenpwned.com/ "haveibeenpwned.com")
*   Hold yourself accountable for password security by taking the [Password Pledge](https://www.nicybersecuritycentre.gov.uk/world-password-day#toc-0 "nicybersecuritycentre.gov.uk") and spreading the word by sharing.
*   For IT professionals and system owners, the National Cyber Security Centre offers [this excellent guide](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/passwords "ncsc.gov.uk") to creating password strategies.

## Perfect Your Backup Plan

If this post has got you wondering how you can better protect your most valuable data, from documents and music libraries to photographs and PDFs, download a free trial of Macrium Reflect [for home users here](/products/home "Macrium Reflect Home") and [business users here](/products/business/standalone/workstation "Macrium Reflect Workstation"). 

![A headshot of Professor Daniel Dresner of the University of Manchester, wearing a dark green suit, bowtie and glasses.](https://strapistoragemacrium.blob.core.windows.net/strapi-uploads/uploads/professor_daniel_dresner_a0f9690081.png)

## About Professor Daniel Dresner

Daniel is the first Professor of Cyber Security at [the University of Manchester](https://www.manchester.ac.uk/ "manchester.ac.uk"), which he joined after 22 years with The National Computing Centre. He takes a diverse community-based approach to cyber security and runs exercises to help people learn how to cope with the risk of online harms. 

He is a founder of the [IASME Consortium](https://iasme.co.uk/about/ "iasme.co.uk"), where he applied his work in standards development to champion cyber security for SMEs. 

He is a vocal advocate of the local cyber ecosystem and furthers the opportunities cyber security offers innovation and growth as part of the [Greater Manchester Cyber Foundry](https://gmcyberfoundry.ac.uk/ "gmcyberfoundry.ac.uk") and the [DiSH – Digital Security Hub](https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/digital/global-digital-influencer/greater-manchester-cyber-ecosystem/greater-manchester-digital-security-hub-dish/ "greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk") in Manchester City Centre.

Daniel has regularly lectured about risk and cyber defence to cohorts from India and the Western Balkans at the [Defence Academy of the United Kingdom](https://www.da.mod.uk/ "da.mod.uk") for the Chevening Programme. Daniel also revived The Ratio Club thought leadership group for cybernetics – which included Alan Turing – as part of his research work promoting the balance between people and technology.

He contributes to books and conferences and appears on the BBC explaining cyber security to the wider community. He is a Fellow and Founder member of the [Chartered Institute of Information Security](https://www.ciisec.org/ "ciisec.org"). Daniel was voted one of the top 20 cyber security influencers worldwide 2018-2021 and Best Educator at the [Security Serious Awards 2022](https://www.securityserious.com/ "securityserious.com").

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-dresner-fciis-6382381/ "linkedin.com")    [Twitter](https://twitter.com/DanielGDresner "twitter.com")



Macrium-Blog-World-Password-Day-2023-Graphic-5000px.png

Using passwords is a flawed system. But until something better comes along, it’s a good idea to level up your password game. To mark World Password Day, we chatted with Manchester professor Danny Dresner FCIIS to bring you practical tips on creating secure and memorable passwords.

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