IBM ProtectTIER vs IDERA SQL Safe Backup comparison

IBM and IDERA are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. IBM is ranked #82, while IDERA is ranked #87. IBM holds a 0.1% mindshare in BRS, compared to IDERA’s 0.1% mindshare. Additionally, 60% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 33% of IDERA users who would recommend it.

IBM ProtectTIER

Read 7 IBM ProtectTIER reviews

210 Views
167 Comparison Views

60% willing to recommend

IDERA SQL Safe Backup

Read 3 IDERA SQL Safe Backup reviews

212 Views
138 Comparison Views

33% willing to recommend

IBM ProtectTIER

IDERA SQL Safe Backup

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

IBM ProtectTIER and IDERA SQL Safe Backup compete in the backup and recovery space. IDERA SQL Safe Backup has the upper hand in feature set and overall performance, but IBM ProtectTIER is preferred for pricing and customer support.

Features: IBM ProtectTIER has scalability, data deduplication, and efficient data reduction. IDERA SQL Safe Backup offers comprehensive backup automation, easy integration with SQL servers, and a rich set of functionalities.

Room for Improvement: IBM ProtectTIER needs better integration with cloud services, user-friendly management tools, and improved initial setup support. IDERA SQL Safe Backup could enhance reporting features, interface responsiveness, and overall user experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM ProtectTIER has a straightforward deployment process, but better support during initial setup is needed. IDERA SQL Safe Backup's deployment is smooth, and its automated features receive positive feedback. Customer support responsiveness is considered better for IDERA SQL Safe Backup.

Pricing and ROI: IBM ProtectTIER offers competitive pricing with a quick return on investment through efficient data reduction. IDERA SQL Safe Backup has a higher cost, but its feature set justifies the pricing, providing substantial long-term ROI. Pricing strategies favor IBM ProtectTIER, whereas IDERA SQL Safe Backup’s robust features make it a worthwhile investment.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM ProtectTIER vs. IDERA SQL Safe Backup Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM ProtectTIER vs. IDERA SQL Safe Backup

April 2025

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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

IBM ProtectTIER

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

82nd

Average Rating

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Deduplication Software (13th)

IDERA SQL Safe Backup

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

87th

Average Rating

5.0

Reviews Sentiment

4.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Event Monitoring (18th)

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of IBM ProtectTIER is 0.1%, down from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IDERA SQL Safe Backup is 0.1%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

ValereFEUGWANG

Information System Consultant at CFAO Technologies

Protects data in hybrid infrastructures, but it is an expensive product with poor support

The main challenge for our customers is to replicate the virtual environment upon restart, without using any additional solutions such as VMware SLM. 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. It would be much better for us. This solution can be made easier to use. Technical support is very frustrating and we are considering other solutions because of it. Stability is something that should be improved. The product is expensive and the licensing should be changed.

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it_user386274

Database Administrator at a consultancy with 1,001-5,000 employees

You can't see any metrics about how long it took you to backup the entire server. We've had a huge reduction in the nightly backup footprint size.

Idera treats a backup of a SQL Server as if it is essentially a single backup job of each individual database. You can't see any metrics about how long it took you to backup the entire server. It doesn't handle restoration to different drives very easily, and it won't create folder structures if they don't exist already. It cannot be used to implement replication on another instance without first converting files back into SQL Server .bak files. There appears to be LOTs of shortcomings. [All of these short-comings are still very much present even after 6 months of feedback to Idera. No solution is in sight.] Still has a focus on individual databases and not for entire server recoveries. Have tried adjusting max threads values, but it seems to have little affect and Idera is still researching the issue.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."

"The most valuable features are the Self-Service, and the ability to search the data."

"Overall IBM ProtectTIER is a great solution. It is easy to use."

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

"The solution is highly stable."

"The command-line interface is good."

"The compression, because it drastically reduces the disk space."

"It has reduced our backup time and simplified our backup processes across all the servers."

Cons

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

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

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

"The backup for a large amount of data is slow."

"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."

"Make sure you check your backups on a regular basis. Backups do get missed with this tool, for whatever reason."

"The way the filtering goes, if you filter on your view, there is no indication that you have made a selection."

"I would like to see the pieces that they have put in the web only to be put into the thick client sitting on the desktop client."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

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

"This solution is very expensive."

"The product's pricing is a good value. They have a straightforward licensing model."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

29%

Computer Software Company

24%

Real Estate/Law Firm

Manufacturing Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Comparisons

Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 100% of the time

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Rubrik vs IDERA SQL Safe Backup

Compared 100% of the time

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Deduplication Software

March 2025

Download IBM ProtectTIER product report

Buyer's Guide

IDERA SQL Safe Backup

April 2025

Download IDERA SQL Safe Backup product report

Also Known As

No data available

SQL Safe Backup

Overview

IBM TS7650G ProtecTIER Deduplication Gateway is designed to meet the disk-based data protection needs of the enterprise data center while enabling significant infrastructure cost reductions. The solution offers industry-leading inline deduplication performance and scalability up to 1 petabyte (PB) of physical storage capacity per system, and can provide up to 25 PB or more backup storage capacity. Combined with IBM or third-party storage, TS7650G ProtecTIER Deduplication Gateway provides a powerful disk-based repository to improve the performance, retention and availability of backup and archive data in a small footprint for energy and cost efficiency.

IBM

SQL Safe Backup helps database administrators to back up and recover instantly across SQL Servers. Unlike its competition, it provides virtual databases with access to back up files without consuming disk space, instant restore, centralized management across SQL Servers, and alert notifications for success and failure of operations.

IDERA

Sample Customers

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

Woman's Hospital; Sisters of Mercy Hospital System; University Medical Center; MetTel; PPG Industries; 3M; Abbott Laboratories; Comcast; Daimler; GameStop; Hormel Foods; Marriott International; Merck; NCR; United Technologies; City of Lynnwood; Linfosys B.V.; TRI-KES; American Customer Care; Merck & Co., Inc.; Service Corporation International; Fresenius Vascular Care Inc.; Bates White; TechPro Inc.; TW Metals, Inc.; Tulane University; ISO Group; Ameriben Solutions; Instron Corporation; Sentric, Inc.; SPIE; GAS Distribution Company of Thessaloniki and Thessaly SA; American Printing House for the Blind; Paysafe; Freeman Decorating Services, Inc.; Sentric, Inc.; Auburn University; Corporate Communications Group; Sagicor Financial Corporation; Crystal Run Healthcare; Principality Building Society; Experiencias Xcaret; Missoula County; Shellpoint Partners LLC; Solix Inc.; Advicent Solutions, Inc.; Phoenix Newspaper Inc.; Park Place Technologies; Kelly & Associates Insurance Group; Boston Medical Center; Service Corporation International; eResearchTechnology, Inc.

Buyer's Guide

IBM ProtectTIER vs. IDERA SQL Safe Backup

April 2025

Free Report: IBM ProtectTIER vs. IDERA SQL Safe Backup

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM ProtectTIER vs. IDERA SQL Safe Backup and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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