IBM ProtectTIER vs Synology DSM comparison

IBM and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. IBM is ranked #75, while Synology is ranked #22 with an average rating of 10.0. IBM holds a 0.5% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.4% mindshare. Additionally, 60% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

IBM ProtectTIER

Read 7 IBM ProtectTIER reviews

878 Views
676 Comparison Views

60% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

2,683 Views
2,656 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

IBM ProtectTIER

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

IBM ProtectTIER and Synology DSM compete in data protection and storage solutions. Synology DSM has the upper hand due to its extensive features, despite a higher cost.

Features IBM ProtectTIER offers efficient deduplication, high-speed data recovery, and strong security. Synology DSM features extensive application support, robust file-sharing, and scalability, making it attractive for many users.

Room for Improvement IBM ProtectTIER needs smoother integration with existing systems, better documentation, and usability improvements. Synology DSM could enhance backup functionalities, improve setup processes, and also work on usability.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service IBM ProtectTIER has a steeper learning curve but responsive customer service. Synology DSM is easier to deploy with clear guides and robust community support, giving it an edge in this area despite IBM’s excellent support.

Pricing and ROI IBM ProtectTIER offers competitive pricing and reasonable ROI, appreciated by cost-conscious users. Synology DSM has a higher initial setup cost but users feel its long-term ROI justifies the investment due to extensive features, offering better overall value.

To learn more, read our detailed IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM

December 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 881,082 peers since 2012

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

75th

Average Rating

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Deduplication Software (13th)

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

22nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of IBM ProtectTIER is 0.5%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.4%, down from 1.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Synology DSM	1.4%
IBM ProtectTIER	0.5%
Other	98.1%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

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

Michael Adejoh

Solutions Manager at Excel Connect Ventures

Reliable and cost-effective

One area where Synology DSM could improve is in enhancing its ability to detect and respond to security threats during backups and replication. Currently, it lacks the capability to automatically stop backups if it detects a virus or suspicious network activity, as some third-party solutions can. Having AI-driven analytics to identify anomalies and halt backups during potential attacks, along with notifications to administrators, would be valuable. Additionally, providing a dashboard for monitoring the backup environment's security would be a beneficial feature. These improvements would help address security concerns and make Synology more competitive in this aspect.

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

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

"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."

"The solution is highly stable."

"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 command-line interface is good."

"The most valuable features are the basic storage, file management, Btrfs file system, and built-in backups that come with the solution."

"The product performs well. It is easy to use and implement."

"It offers a variety of software options through its package center, allowing users to customize their NAS device to serve multiple purposes."

"The solution's most valuable feature stems from its ease of use, making it the tool's most interesting part."

"Synology DSM is very easy to work and operate."

"The most valuable aspect is its ability to handle multiple disks."

"The most valuable features of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it serves as a backup for our company's virtual machine."

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"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."

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

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

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

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

"There's a surveillance application that allows you to connect IP cameras and stream footage to Synology and it is a great feature, but it's not always clear that adding more cameras may require purchasing additional licenses."

"Synology DSM is a good enough solution for small and medium companies, but I have not seen a big configuration of the solution for a big organization."

"One area where Synology DSM could improve is in enhancing its ability to detect and respond to security threats during backups and replication."

"The product's only shortcoming is pricing, as it is an expensive solution."

"The platform could be much more cost-effective and flexible for integrating third-party products."

"Synology DSM's user interface is not quite intuitive."

"The only bothersome aspect is that the device is aging."

"Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly."

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"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."

"This solution is very expensive."

"IBM ProtectTIER is an expensive solution."

"The licensing part of the solution is free. The hardware is more expensive than the other solutions in the market, but it's okay in the long run."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"The pricing varies widely, catering to a broad range of needs."

"The price of the solution is very good."

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

"The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Backup and Recovery solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

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

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

Ask a question

Earn 20 points

What do you like most about Synology DSM?

The most valuable features of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Synology DSM?

The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Synology DSM?

Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly.

See all answers

Comparisons

Dell PowerProtect Data Domain vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 26% of the time

HPE StoreOnce vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 17% of the time

Rubrik vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 10% of the time

DD Boost vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 9% of the time

Barracuda Backup vs IBM ProtectTIER

Compared 9% of the time

More IBM ProtectTIER Competitors

Veeam Data Platform vs Synology DSM

Compared 7% of the time

UrBackup vs Synology DSM

Compared 6% of the time

NetApp SnapCenter vs Synology DSM

Compared 6% of the time

GoodSync For Business vs Synology DSM

Compared 6% of the time

NAKIVO Backup & Replication vs Synology DSM

Compared 4% of the time

More Synology DSM Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Deduplication Software

January 2026

Download IBM ProtectTIER product report

Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

January 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

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

Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is a comprehensive software platform designed for Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices. It serves as the operating system for these devices, providing a wide range of features and functionalities.

The primary use case of Synology DSM is to centralize and manage data storage for organizations. It allows businesses to store, access, and share files securely across multiple devices and platforms. With its intuitive user interface, DSM simplifies the management of data, making it easy to create shared folders, set access permissions, and monitor storage usage.

One of the most valuable functionalities of Synology DSM is its robust data protection capabilities. It offers various RAID configurations, including SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID), which ensures data redundancy and safeguards against drive failures. DSM also supports advanced backup and disaster recovery solutions, such as Snapshot Replication and Hyper Backup, enabling organizations to protect their critical data effectively.

Furthermore, Synology DSM provides a wide range of productivity and collaboration tools. It offers applications like Synology Drive, which allows seamless file synchronization across devices, and Synology Office, a web-based suite for document editing and collaboration. DSM also supports various third-party applications, including popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, enabling organizations to integrate their existing workflows seamlessly.

Synology

Sample Customers

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

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM

December 2025

Free Report: IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM and other solutions. Updated: December 2025.

DOWNLOAD NOW

881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our IBM ProtectTIER vs. Synology DSM report.

See our list of best Backup and Recovery vendors.

We monitor all Backup and Recovery reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.