Macrium Image Guardian protects your backup files from unauthorised modification. MIG grants write access to existing backups file for Macrium Reflect 7.1, any image tools created by us, and optionally, MS RoboCopy. All other process attempting to update existing backup files will be denied access. MIG protects local NTFS volumes and allows Macrium Reflect 7.1 and later to use the protected volume as a shared network resource. Macrium Image Guardian protection architecture Macrium Image Guardian protecting backups in a networked environment In the above illustration, the PC sharing the backup repository (Shared Volume) has a full install of Macrium Reflect, including MIG. A local drive is shared over the network and MIG has been enabled on that drive in the Macrium Reflect user interface. The other PC’s on the network can backup to this shared drive and do not require MIG to be installed. Backup file write access is automatically granted to Macrium Reflect 7.1, and later, write access for earlier versions of Macrium Reflect and other processes will fail. The PC hosting the share with MIG installed can be used as a standalone Macrium Reflect installation. The protected drive will prevent unauthorised access to backup files on that drive if the local PC creates backups to the protected volume.Macrium Image Guardian Overview
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MIG is an optional component in the Macrium Reflect installer, It is selected by default and is available for Windows 7 and above in all editions of Macrium Reflect except for the Free Edition. After installation, if MIG has automatically protected any local back drives for existing backup definitions then the following message box is displayed the first time Macrium Reflect is started:
Installing Macrium Image Guardian
MIG is active directly after installation and will automatically protect backup destination drives. To turn MIG on or off, take the 'Other Tasks' > 'Macrium Image Guardian Settings..' menu option: When turned on, all saved backup definitions are searched and Image Guardian is enabled for local backup drives When creating a new backups, unprotected target drives will be automatically protected by enabling Image Guardian on the drive. When the PC is restarted, Image Guardian will be re-enabled on all backup drives. This prevents accidentally leaving your drives unprotected by manually turning protection off. Enables the MS utility RoboCopy to delete and overwrite backup files on protected volumes with the /MOV, /MOVE, /PURGE and /MIR parameters. If the target folder is on a protected volume then the the /MIR /PURGE parameters will only delete backup files in the target folder if both of the following conditions are true: This ensures that the synchronisation operation cannot inadvertently, or otherwise, delete files in a folder that is used as a backup destination in Macrium Reflect. RoboCopy and Network Shares Turns off the Image Guardian service.Activating Macrium Image Guardian
Turn on Image Guardian Starts the Image Guardian Service Automatically protect local backup drives Allow RoboCopy to sync and move backup files on protected volumes Parameter Rule /MOVE
/MOV If the source folder is on a protected volume then the /MOVE /MOV parameters will only delete backup files in the source folder if the destination folder is also on a protected volume.
This ensures that existing files cannot be moved to an unprotected volume and compromised./MIR
/PURGEAll overwrite operations If the result of any parameter is to overwrite an existing backup file on a protected volume then this will only be allowed if the target folder is not a backup destination in any saved backup definition xml file. Off Restart service on reboot The service will remain 'Off' until the next Windows startup. If not selected the service will remain 'Off' until re-enabled in this dialog.