02-18-2023 , 05:05 PM
Quote:The main use of disk imaging is for backup. It is also useful as a temporary measure when decommissioning a disk. The original disk can be thrown away immediately, giving the owner time to go through the contents at a later date to look for useful and important files. Disk imaging is also used by forensic investigators to take a complete copy of an entire device for examination offsite while allowing the suspect to regain the use of that device quickly.
Here is our list of the best disk imaging software available:
NinjaOne Backup – EDITOR'S CHOICE A cloud platform backup service for MSPs or IT departments with OS imaging or full disk copying plus other backup strategies. Backup locally or to the cloud. Start with a 14-day free trial.
ManageEngine OS Deployer – EDITOR'S CHOICE An on-premises package that provides OS imaging and deployment service for PC operating systems, device drivers, and settings. This system is available in free and paid versions with three editions and it installs on Windows and Windows Server. Start 30-day free trial.
Acronis Cyber Protect – FREE TRIAL Acronis Cyber Protect is a combination of disk imaging and file backup utilities. It is available for a wide range of operating systems and also includes anti-malware.
Acronis Disk Director – FREE TRIAL A business disk imaging solution from Acronis that include low-level disk editing for recovery of lost or damaged files.
Clonezilla Available for workstation and server operating systems, this free disk imaging system is lightweight and suitable for individual computers or entire networks.
EaseUS Todo Backup A choice of file backup or disk imaging in three plans for the Business Edition. It installs on Windows.
AOMEI Backupper A range of plans for disk imaging and backup/restore services, including a Free edition. It installs on Windows and Windows Server.
Macrium Reflect A range of backup and disk imaging plans for Windows, Windows Server, and Azure cloud.
SmartDeploy A centralized software asset management system that includes disk imaging and installation for an unlimited number of endpoints. It runs on Windows Server.
Paragon Drive Copy Professional Part of Paragon Hard Disk Manager, this backup system is available for Windows and Linux environments.
Iperius Drive Image Backup On-device software that can be controlled from a central console and has an option of storing disk images in the cloud.
FOG A free, open-source system that installs on Linux but can take a disk image of Windows, Unix, macOS, and Linux devices across a network.
A disk imaging system can also be used as a virtual drive. These are usually read-only, which is a good security feature as it means that important information can’t be damaged, lost, or altered by the users who are given access to it.
The field of backup provision has become dominated by cloud services, making disk imaging less common in business. However, since manufacturers are less inclined to include a DVD drive in their hardware these days, disk imaging can now be used to deliver software packages, which otherwise would have been shipped on a physical DVD. A disk image is useful because it acts like containerization and can hold a complete bundle of services within a secure environment together with the main application software.
Disk imaging can also be useful for organizations that need to onboard a large number of similar devices – a common setup with all of the necessary software can be stored on a disk image and copied to each new device over the network. This process can be automated, saving technician hours of work.
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