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Regional Key Account Manager at ACT
Real User
Valuable deduplication feature; capacity software increases price
Pros and Cons
  • "Good starting capacity and scalability."
  • "They still have hardware different from the software."

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case of our customers is to do backup for their data.

What is most valuable?

One of the most valuable features is that it looks for the deduplication, which can reduce the amount of the data.

What needs improvement?

One improvement to the solution would be in the integration with backup software. They still have hardware different from the software.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been working with Data Domain for around 10 years.

Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability and performance of the solution is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Data Domain is suitable large enterprises. Because it's scalable, the solution is targeted toward medium to large enterprises.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is good. It's better than others, but if they are not familiar with the problem, they have to take their time. But in general, they are good.

How was the initial setup?

I have a team that takes care of the deployment. They say it's easy but it takes some time, in terms of policies and integrating with infrastructures the customer already has. These are the challenges but it's easy to use.

A medium project takes around seven days to implement and integrate. A large project, 200 terabytes or 300 terabytes of data, will take around 15 days to 20 days to integrate with all the servers and backup software.

The solution comes with three years warranty and support from the vendor, but we have a lot of users with electrical outages, or unexpected errors happen. So we replace the hardware in terms of the hard disk or the controller, or we do maintenance in terms of upgrading the firmware on all of it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution was cheap; now it's becoming more expensive. For example, if you buy it for 10 terabytes, you have to buy 10 terabyte also of software for it. It's called the capacity software. It increased our prices.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I've compared Data Domain to NetBackup Appliance. The pros for Data Domain are the starting capacity and the scalability, but the pro for the NetBackup Appliance is it's being integrated with their backup solution, which is NetBackup software. In terms of the integration with the software and the ability to have it, if you have a problem with your backup, you can restore it on the same machine. So, it's better in terms of NetBackup. 

Overall, whenever we integrate Data Domain with NetBackup software, it's been good.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate the solution a seven out of ten. It's a good product that we recommend.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
PeerSpot user
reviewer1166613 - PeerSpot reviewer
Lead Engineer at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Reasonably priced with good reporting and monitoring features
Pros and Cons
  • "The stability is excellent."
  • "They need to make migration easier."

What is most valuable?

The cost is quite good if you look at the product. 

It should provide everything that an enterprise needs. 

It can back up all the workloads on-prem, off-prem, and mainly the VM infrastructure. You should be able to replicate to another site. 

The reporting and monitoring features that it provides are great. 

It offers security with the software.

The stability is excellent.

The solution scales well.

What needs improvement?

The new niche players are currently very good, but some things that they lack. As an example, NetApp Filer. There is no real partnership between different vendor platforms such as EMC or NetApp. They don't really talk that much. There needs to be better ease of use with like APIs and automation and things of that nature. Some vendors are more API friendly, some vendors are not. Being API friendly will help.

EMC is just coming out with their global deduplication future with virtual addition and things like that. Which is still in the works.

They need to make migration easier. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is very stable. there are no bugs or glitches. It doesn't crash or freeze. There is not any other storage, deduplication storage appliance, that will match Data Domain. That is pretty much as stable a product as we have seen.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution can scale well.

How are customer service and support?

Overall, technical support has been pretty good. However, the support recently, the support that is coming in from India, is not as good as what we used to get before. In the past year, we have seen a significant drop in call response.

How was the initial setup?

When we installed the solution, pretty much the software all was new. It was Legato earlier and then it was using Networker version eight everywhere else. When we started deploying it, we started with version nine. We pretty much started with the latest versions of the software. There were some growing pains, however, we were able to step up the enrollment and it was good in the end. Beyond a few issues right at the outset, it was a good experience. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The cost is quite reasonable. 

What other advice do I have?

Earlier, when we started deploying, we had to use a single DDBoost user for each EMP. I don't know our storage unit, however, now, with the latest release, we can use multiple users. That is one good reason why people should start using this solution, as there is one DDBoost user per entry. That way, it is easier to migrate or move across, for example, during your tech refresh. When they offer some kind of a load balancing feature in front of Data Domain it will be a good thing. We know that they always have it in the roadmap, however, we have never seen that come through.

I'd rate the solution at a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)
June 2025
Learn what your peers think about Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain). Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
856,873 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Senior SAN Administrator at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Stable and scalable
Pros and Cons
  • "I find the data to be most valuable."
  • "I would like to see integration with public cloud."

What is our primary use case?

We use model number 6800. The operating system is 7.4.

What is most valuable?

I find the data to be most valuable. 

What needs improvement?

The price is on the high side.

I would like to see integration with public cloud.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) for almost ten years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is, thus far, stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. 

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is okay. It's not bad.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I did not work with other solutions prior to using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain).

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was handled solely by the Dell EMC, so it was okay and not that complex. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price is a bit steep. 

We pay for the support every three years. 

What other advice do I have?

I am an end user.

I feel the solution works fine for us. 

There are around four or five people working with this solution in our company.

My advice to others looking into implementing this solution is that they acquire the requisite knowledge. It is important to be properly trained in how to use it. 

I rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) as an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Kenneth Etsula - PeerSpot reviewer
General Manager at Dataposit Ltd
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Ease to use, effective deduplication, but lacking integration
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of Dell PowerProtect DD are ease of use and deduplication."
  • "Dell PowerProtect DD could improve by having better integration with other backup solutions."

What is our primary use case?

We are using Dell PowerProtect DD as a location for a backup repository.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of Dell PowerProtect DD are ease of use and deduplication.

What needs improvement?

Dell PowerProtect DD could improve by having better integration with other backup solutions.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Dell PowerProtect Data Domain (DD) for approximately five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the stability of Dell PowerProtect DD a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is not scalable.

We have less than ten people using the solution.

I rate the scalability of Dell PowerProtect DD a two out of ten.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I have not used other solutions prior to Dell PowerProtect DD.

How was the initial setup?

The setup of Dell PowerProtect DD is straightforward. The implementation process took approximately one day.

What about the implementation team?

I did the implementation of the solution using the documentation provided with the help of the vendor.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of the solution and support for Dell PowerProtect DD is expensive. We have customers that cannot upgrade to a newer version of the solution because the support is too expensive.

Most people would rather buy a simple Synology hardware backup solution than
spend a lot of money on this solution. It's simple for us to operate, such as sharing
a drive or creating a drive, but it is not for everyone.

I rate the price of Dell PowerProtect DD a two out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

One engineer is suitable to maintain this solution.

I rate Dell PowerProtect DD a six out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1998144 - PeerSpot reviewer
Pre-Sales Consultant at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Reseller
Top 10
Good deduplication and compression with helpful compatibility with other products
Pros and Cons
  • "We have found the product to be scalable."
  • "The pricing could be lower."

What is our primary use case?

We're a system integrator, and we're providing services for a number of customers. It's not like we are using these products ourselves.

What is most valuable?

The deduplication and compression are great. 

We started looking at Data Domain together with the Dell Cyber Recovery solution to have them work together.

The solution is stable.

We have found the product to be scalable. 

The interface is fine.

It has good documentation.

Compatibility with other products is okay.

What needs improvement?

I cannot speak to the exact areas that need improvement at this time. 

The pricing could be lower. 

For how long have I used the solution?

We've used the solution for a couple of years now. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It's a stable, reliable product. It doesn't crash or freeze. There are no bugs or glitches. The performance is good. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable and pretty simple to grow. We work mainly with medium to enterprise-level organizations, and it works well across both. 

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is quite good. We find them to be helpful and responsive. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We are mostly also working with Dell. 

How was the initial setup?

I've never handled a deployment and, therefore, cannot speak to the implementation process. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The cost could be lower. Sometimes it's not very competitive.

The licensing depends on the specific solution sizing, however, there are cheaper solutions that I have seen in the market. For example, HP tends to cost less. 

What other advice do I have?

We are a partner of Dell and a reseller. 

I'm a presales consultant.

It's a very stable product. It has some drawbacks in that it's quite expensive compared to other solutions. We mostly use it for enterprise customers. So they could improve a bit on the options for pricing. Beyond that, it's a solid product.

I'd rate the solution seven out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
PeerSpot user
reviewer1777704 - PeerSpot reviewer
Storage Analyst III at a energy/utilities company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Highly reliable, scalable, and beneficial duplication security
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features of Dell EMC PowerProtect DD are the duplication security and uptime."

    What is our primary use case?

    We use Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for backing up a target.

    What is most valuable?

    The most valuable features of Dell EMC PowerProtect DD are the duplication security and uptime.

    Dell EMC PowerProtect DD works well with other solutions, such as NetWorker. It's really easy to pass over to Data Domain and vice versa. 

    For how long have I used the solution?

    I have been using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for approximately 10 years.

    What do I think about the stability of the solution?

    The stability of Dell EMC PowerProtect DD cannot be beaten, it is highly stable and reliable.

    What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

    The scalability of Dell EMC PowerProtect DD is very good.

    We have around 2000 employees and all the infrastructure that goes with it. We back up maybe 250 to 300 servers.

    How are customer service and support?

    I have had excellent support because I am not using overseas support. I try to have support agents in Utah USA, and Canada.

    How was the initial setup?

    The implementation of Dell EMC PowerProtect is straightforward. However, there are lots of options available. There are three different types of compression. It mainly dupes the data, and it also does local compression on the data domain itself. Once you choose the compression, you then have to decide whether you're going to do an entry backup or a straightforward input, big bucket type of backups, and only have one directory for your data.

    When you purchase Dell EMC PowerProtect DD, you always have help from EMC. They will help you get familiar with whatever is new to you. 

    When you spend the kind of money for this solution you do receive good support to help you through any issues, it is not complicated.

    What about the implementation team?

    We have two people that manage the solution, but the two people are more to cover sickness, training, vacation time, et cetera. A single person can do the maintenance.

    What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

    The price of Dell EMC PowerProtect DD could improve, it is expensive.

    What other advice do I have?

    My advice to others is to ensure they understand the solution well so that when they do implement it, it is done correctly for the business. Lots of different companies use it in different ways. I was with EMC for 10 years and I have spent the last 15 years supporting EMC customers, every implementation is unique because everybody has different ways of doing things. They don't always follow best practices, they will follow their business best practice rather than the vendor's best practice. They want a different thing out of a backup environment.

    If my business said that they were going to change to a different backup product, I'd be looking for another job because I wouldn't trust my data with anything else.

    I rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD a ten out of ten.

    Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
    PeerSpot user
    Nick Hamilton - PeerSpot reviewer
    Enterprise IT Architect at ESTI Consulting Services
    Reseller
    Beneficial inline data deduplication, simple migration, and knowledgeable support
    Pros and Cons
    • "The most valuable feature is the inline data deduplication."

      What is our primary use case?

      We use Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for deduplication, data protection, and data recovery. We use many different versions, including the newest versions.

      What is most valuable?

      The most valuable feature is the inline data deduplication.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using Dell EMC PowerProtect DD for approximately 13 years.

      I have used the solution all the way from when it was called Data Domain to when EMC bought it, to when Dell bought EMC, and now it is called Power Protect. 

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      Dell EMC PowerProtect DD is highly stable and reliable. I have not had a time when the system did not work and in an emergency this is critical.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      The solution is simple to scale.

      We have at least a dozen clients that use Dell EMC PowerProtect DD, and they like how it works

      How are customer service and support?

      The Dell support is excellent, they have a lot of knowledge and can work us through our issues quickly.

      How was the initial setup?

      The initial setup is straightforward and is very easy to migrate to the next generation of solutions.

      What about the implementation team?

      The solution requires one or two supporting staff and is low maintenance.

      What was our ROI?

      I would rate the ROI a five out of five.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      The solution is expensive. However, if you pay less you receive less, it is cost-effective.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would recommend this solution to others and it is a good choice.

      I rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD a ten out of ten.

      Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
      PeerSpot user
      reviewer1619904 - PeerSpot reviewer
      Owner at a construction company with 5,001-10,000 employees
      Real User
      Good deduplication, good support, and easily scalable
      Pros and Cons
      • "It works within backup windows and has got good deduplication."
      • "It can probably have integration with other OEMs. It should also have more features for ransomware protection."

      What is our primary use case?

      We are just using it for backing up the workloads using Avamar. We are using its latest version.

      What is most valuable?

      It works within backup windows and has got good deduplication.

      What needs improvement?

      It can probably have integration with other OEMs. It should also have more features for ransomware protection.

      It could be more competitively priced.

      For how long have I used the solution?

      I have been using this solution for four years.

      What do I think about the stability of the solution?

      It is stable.

      What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

      It is easily scalable. We have around 2,000 people in our organization.

      How are customer service and technical support?

      It is very good.

      Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

      We were using HPE StoreOnce about four years ago.

      How was the initial setup?

      It is straightforward. It only takes a couple of hours to implement.

      What about the implementation team?

      I can do it myself. For its deployment and maintenance, I only need a couple of engineers.

      What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

      It could be more competitively priced. Its licensing was for five years. Obviously, the support will get renewed at some stage, but that's it.

      What other advice do I have?

      I would recommend this solution to others. I would rate Dell EMC PowerProtect DD a nine out of 10.

      Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

      On-premises
      Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
      PeerSpot user
      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
      Updated: June 2025
      Buyer's Guide
      Download our free Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.