ExaGrid EX Series vs IBM ProtectTIER comparison

Why PeerSpot?

ExaGrid and IBM are both solutions in the Deduplication Software category. ExaGrid is ranked #7 with an average rating of 9.0, while IBM is ranked #13. ExaGrid holds a 4.9% mindshare in DS, compared to IBM’s 2.7% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of ExaGrid users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 60% of IBM users who would recommend it.

ExaGrid EX Series

Read 7 ExaGrid EX Series reviews

2,336 Views
2,289 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM ProtectTIER

Read 7 IBM ProtectTIER reviews

3,211 Views
771 Comparison Views

60% willing to recommend

ExaGrid EX Series

IBM ProtectTIER

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 8, 2026

IBM ProtectTIER and ExaGrid EX Series compete in data protection and storage optimization. ExaGrid EX Series has an advantage due to its advanced features and perceived value.

Features: IBM ProtectTIER offers robust deduplication, efficient data recovery, and scalable storage operations. ExaGrid EX Series is noted for its tiered storage architecture, fast backup, and seamless integration with existing IT infrastructures, providing an innovative approach that enhances performance and scalability.

Room for Improvement: IBM ProtectTIER could enhance its integration capabilities, offer more flexible pricing options, and improve user interface design. ExaGrid could reduce its initial setup costs, expand support for diverse backup software, and further refine its deduplication process for older data in the retention zone.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ProtectTIER provides straightforward installation with reliable customer support, offering a streamlined setup process. ExaGrid EX Series also ensures efficient deployment with its flexible architecture and responsive support team, improving the overall deployment experience with a focus on adaptability.

Pricing and ROI: ProtectTIER's setup costs are competitive and deliver consistent ROI through reliable performance. ExaGrid EX Series, while potentially higher in initial costs, offers substantial ROI due to its innovative features and cost-effectiveness over time. The superior long-term benefits of ExaGrid justify its pricing despite ProtectTIER’s attractive cost structure.

To learn more, read our detailed ExaGrid EX Series vs. IBM ProtectTIER Report (Updated: November 2026).

Buyer's Guide

ExaGrid EX Series vs. IBM ProtectTIER

November 2026

Download the complete report

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

ExaGrid EX Series

Ranking in Deduplication Software

7th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

IBM ProtectTIER

Ranking in Deduplication Software

13th

Average Rating

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Backup and Recovery (63rd)

Mindshare comparison

As of November 2026, in the Deduplication Software category, the mindshare of ExaGrid EX Series is 4.9%, down from 7.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM ProtectTIER is 2.7%, up from 1.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Deduplication Software Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
ExaGrid EX Series	4.9%
IBM ProtectTIER	2.7%
Other	92.4%

Deduplication Software

Featured Reviews

Daniel Gillber

Information Technology advisor at Lotus Consulting

Improvements in data storage efficiency and customer support experience

ExaGrid EX Series and Veeam was easy to set up, and it worked seamlessly. It was very simple to use. We rarely needed to touch the ExaGrid boxes, except for upgrades. With the systems engineer from ExaGrid, and with our common knowledge of backup software, it was very easy to use. The performance was good, the interface was good, and the GUI was good. When ExaGrid introduced the air gapped feature, it was almost complete. Almost every hardware vendor has an air gapped feature, but they were significantly ahead of other vendors. The air gapped and immutable storage are very nice features. The price compared to other competitors was good with better features. It is not a cheap product, but compared to the features, it is a good competitor.

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Avdhesh Garg

Technical Lead at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees

Provides a short-term backup, archive, and cataloging for 20,000 people in our organization

The backup for a large amount of data is slow. When there's a large amount of data, sometimes the backup isn't completed in time. I have a 24 hour cycle, so it doesn't get completed in 24 hours with the large amount of data. With Veritas NetBackup, I can take 20 terabytes of backup in a day.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the ease of use and data deduplication. It's extremely easy to use and does a very good job of data deduplication and compression."

"The solution easily integrates with the backup targets, such as Veeam."

"The most valuable features of the solution are deduplication and landing zone."

"The tool has improved backup and recovery times. One of the key features contributing to this improvement is the landing zone and deduplication retention zone. When data is in the landing zone, the process is fast, ensuring smooth backup and recovery operations at high speeds. However, the process becomes slower for long-term backups moved to the retention zone due to fragmentation. So, if the data is older than a few days, the speed may be limited, especially for non-deduplicated data in the landing zone."

"One of the main features is the landing zone, it is a particular space where the information is not duplicated."

"It is a solid and a quite simple solution, which is a good combination. The customers like the simplicity and its scale-out capacity. They like the support pricing, and even the extension capacity pricing, a fixed price, which the executive is offering in Czech market."

"One of the most valuable aspects of the ExaGrid EX Series is the support."

"ExaGrid EX Series and Veeam was easy to set up, and it worked seamlessly."

More ExaGrid EX Series pros

"I will highly recommend this product for excellent and quick backup solution in small and large IBM I Series environment."

"In terms of stability, I've found it to be very stable. I've walked into the server room when it was at 60 degrees Celcius, and it was still running fine."

"In terms of stability, I've found it to be very stable."

"The most valuable feature is the incremental backup."

"If you are looking for a reliable and scalable enterprise-class solution, you should consider this solution."

"The cataloging is the best feature, as it takes millions of frames for the backup and, because it's incremental, it takes less time to complete."

"The solution is highly stable."

"The most valuable features are the self-service features and the ability to search the data."

More IBM ProtectTIER pros

Cons

"The one place where we are sometimes losing the opportunity with ExaGrid is that a few customers still require a fiber channel connectivity, which is not always possible."

"I would like for them to develop direct cloud integration with a third-party cloud. Direct integration with AWS and other cloud providers."

"The solution could improve by switching to a flash-type solution rather than the spinning drives that they currently use. However, we have not had any failure with the spinning drives. The flash-type drives are more up-to-date and are something that is in their roadmap."

"The support is not that fast to deal with our concerns. It is next day support, they could improve on the speed."

"The tool reduces storage footprint. However, clients are now storing data for longer durations with increasing requirements to retain backups for longer periods, particularly as a defense against ransomware attacks. As a result, the retention zone with duplicated data is experiencing more demand, leading to space constraints. This necessitates using higher-end, more expensive models to address the issue."

"When speaking about a scale-out, you want to have better equipment. You cannot just add a disc to the foreign equipment. You have to buy another one and put it together, like parallel."

"The product's documentation can be made more precise."

"The configuration wizards are still complex and hard to navigate. These should be easier to manage."

"It is unmanageable. Support would be good."

"These days, we are thinking about pushing another solution because of the poor support from IBM."

"My advice to anybody who is considering this solution is to conduct a proof of concept first because everybody's needs are different, and this product is not suitable for every kind of backup."

"The backup for a large amount of data is slow. When there's a large amount of data, sometimes the backup isn't completed in time."

"IBM ProtectTIER could improve by being more user-friendly."

"I would like the possibility to back up the infrastructure and then replicate it upon on restart, without having to orchestrate the starting of the VM."

"Setting up the system to work with legacy equipment is a bit complex at times."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The current agreement has 21 terabytes of free space and it cost approximately $35,000."

"I rate ExaGrid EX Series' pricing eight to nine out of ten."

"The previous solutions I have used both included the Backup Software and the Appliance making it hard to compare to this solution. However, overall the solution is reasonably priced for the features you receive. ExaGrid EX Series is priced better than HP, Dell, and possibly Commvault which I have compared in the past."

"In comparison to other solutions, it's affordable. They're all too expensive."

"My company had to pay 1,60,000 EUR for the system we use, and the payment was made just once for the system and five years of full support."

"We have a capacity-based license, which is managed centrally for all the sites of my company."

"The customer can decide how they want to purchase a license. However, the price of the solution is expensive."

"IBM ProtectTIER is an expensive solution."

"This solution is very expensive."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

Construction Company

Outsourcing Company

Construction Company

17%

Manufacturing Company

13%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	5
Midsize Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with ExaGrid EX Series?

Everything can always be better, so I would give it a nine.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for ExaGrid EX Series?

We used ExaGrid EX Series as a landing zone for Veeam software. Initially they did not have immutable storage, but when they released that feature, we implemented it. We used it with Veeam software...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering ExaGrid EX Series?

I was a customer. My overall rating for ExaGrid EX Series is 9 out of 10.

See all answers

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 2% of the time

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Compared 10% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 7% of the time

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Compared 6% of the time

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Compared 5% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

ExaGrid EX Series

November 2026

Download ExaGrid EX Series product report

Buyer's Guide

Deduplication Software

October 2026

Download IBM ProtectTIER product report

Also Known As

EX Series

No data available

Overview

ExaGrid EX Series provides ease of use, strong data deduplication and compression, and a fast recovery landing zone. It integrates seamlessly with backup environments and is known for competitive pricing, particularly in the Czech market, despite requiring higher investment.

ExaGrid EX Series is highly valued for onsite backup and recovery, often paired with Veeam software, specifically for virtual machine backups. It offers improved backup and recovery speeds, excellent scale-out capacity, and an innovative air-gapped feature that enhances data protection. The system's integration with Veeam, Oracle Storage, and VMware allows efficient data management. Feedback highlights the need for direct cloud integration and better next-day support parts. There's a call for fiber channel connectivity and enhanced documentation. Transitioning to flash drives is a consideration for more modern infrastructure, although the current technology remains effective.

What are the Key Features of ExaGrid EX Series?

Data Deduplication and Compression: Minimizes storage needs and reduces costs.
Fast Recovery Landing Zone: Ensures quick and reliable data retrieval.
Scale-Out Architecture: Facilitates expansion by adding appliances, optimizing capacity.
Seamless Backup Integration: Works effectively with Veeam, Oracle Storage, VMware.
Air-Gapped Feature: Adds an extra layer of protection against data breaches.

What Benefits Should Users Consider in Reviews?

Improved Backup and Recovery Times: Enhances operational efficiency.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing, especially in certain markets.
Reliable Performance: Delivers high-quality data management and protection.
Simplicity of Use: Reduces complexity in data operations.

ExaGrid EX Series excels in sectors requiring robust data protection, such as finance and healthcare. Its compatibility with Veeam and VMware suits organizations with extensive virtual environments. Industries with stringent data integrity requirements benefit from its air-gapped feature and high deduplication efficiency, ensuring secure operations.

ExaGrid

IBM ProtectTIER is designed for backup and recovery, providing efficient data management for IBM I Series environments. It offers valuable features like self-service, high adaptability, and data search capabilities.

IBM ProtectTIER stands out in environments requiring robust backup and recovery solutions, particularly suited for IBM I Series. Known for its efficiency in managing large volumes of data, it integrates a command-line interface, automatic workload distribution, and a virtual tape library. While highly functional, improvements in redundancy management, interface complexity, and user-friendliness are needed. It also faces challenges in integrating with legacy systems and ensuring fast backup speeds for substantial data loads.

What are the key features of IBM ProtectTIER?

Self-service: Empowers users to manage backups with ease.
Data Search: Facilitates quick retrieval of required data.
High Adaptability: Adjusts efficiently to data shrinkage needs.
Command-line Interface: Provides effective control over operations.
Incremental Backup: Ensures efficient data storage and saving resources.
Workload Movement: Automatically distributes tasks across storage tiers.
Virtual Tape Library: Configurable for multiple drives, enhancing capacity.

What benefits should users look for?

High Efficiency: Processes and catalogs millions of frames quickly.
Risk Reduction: Uses impressive raw capacity ratios to minimize risk.
Ease of Use: Offers capabilities that simplify backup and recovery tasks.

Organizations use IBM ProtectTIER to manage backup and recovery successfully, deploying it in physical and hybrid infrastructures. It supports short-term backup and archiving for internal IT within diverse deployment methods, accommodating thousands of users and multiple clients while securing database backups effectively.

IBM

Sample Customers

NCI Group, North Attleborough Public School, North Kingstown School Department, NPS Pharmaceuticals, Prudential Douglas Elliman, Rathbone Brothers PLC, Rio Hondo College, Ruder Finn, Sarah Lawrence College

Durham Police Department, Re-Store LLC, CenterGrid, pixx.io GmbH, Australian Government Department of Defence, QD, Refresco Gerber

Buyer's Guide

ExaGrid EX Series vs. IBM ProtectTIER

November 2026

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