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IBM ProtectTIER Reviews

Vendor: IBM
3.6 out of 5
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What is IBM ProtectTIER?

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.

Get the Deduplication Software Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about IBM ProtectTIER, Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain), Dell PowerProtect Data Manager and more!
IBM ProtectTIER is the #13 ranked solution in top Deduplication Software and #89 ranked solution in best Backup and Recovery Software. PeerSpot users give IBM ProtectTIER an average rating of 7.2 out of 10. IBM ProtectTIER is most commonly compared to Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain): IBM ProtectTIER vs Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain). IBM ProtectTIER is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 53% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 20% of all views.
Buyer's Guide
Deduplication Software
August 2025
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IBM ProtectTIER mindshare

Product category:
Deduplication Software
As of August 2025, the mindshare of IBM ProtectTIER in the Deduplication Software category stands at 1.1%, down from 1.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Deduplication Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
IBM ProtectTIER1.1%
Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain)28.1%
HPE StoreOnce18.9%
Other51.9%
Deduplication Software
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

IBM ProtectTIER reduces risks in data domains, adapts data shrinking, and offers high raw capacity ratios. They find incremental backup valuable. The command-line interface is praised. Users appreciate the automatic workload movement between storage tiers without human intervention. Cataloging is a standout feature, handling millions of frames efficiently and reducing backup time. It is found to be 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."
  • "Overall IBM ProtectTIER is a great solution. It is easy to use."
  • "The solution is highly stable."

Room for Improvement

IBM ProtectTIER has a steep learning curve and complex configuration wizards. Users find the technical support lacking. Integrating it with legacy equipment can be challenging. The system needs to be more user-friendly. Backups for large data volumes are slow and sometimes incomplete within a 24-hour cycle, unlike Veritas NetBackup, which handles 20 terabytes in a day.
  • "The backup for a large amount of data is slow."
  • "IBM ProtectTIER could improve by being more user-friendly."
  • "Setting up the system to work with legacy equipment is a bit complex at times."

ROI

IBM ProtectTIER provided a significant increase in data storage efficiency, which led to substantial cost savings. Users experienced shortened backup and recovery times, enabling better resource management. Many highlighted the simplified data protection process, enhancing operational productivity. Data deduplication was especially praised for reducing the overall storage footprint. Organizations integrating IBM ProtectTIER reported enhanced data reliability and security, contributing to a positive return on investment.

Pricing

The licenses for IBM ProtectTIER are capacity-based, allowing organizations to condense data. It is managed centrally, with the ability to decide on the purchasing options. Users find the solution expensive, with costs reflecting the capacity and data management needs.
  • "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."

Popular Use Cases

IBM ProtectTIER is primarily used for data deduplication and backup optimization. Users emphasize its effectiveness in reducing storage consumption and enhancing data recovery times. It is chosen for its robust data protection capabilities, scalability, and ease of integration with existing systems. Users find it reliable for managing large volumes of data, providing seamless backup processes, and ensuring quick restoration in case of data loss incidents.

Service and Support

Customers appreciate IBM ProtectTIER's support team for their knowledge and quick response times. Feedback highlights personalized assistance and effective problem-solving. Clients find the customer service approachable and commend it for enhancing user experience. Users notice a smooth interaction during issue resolution and value the technical competency of support staff. IBM ProtectTIER's assistance team impresses with efficient handling of client queries, ensuring a seamless experience. Users express consistent satisfaction with the support quality provided.

Deployment

Users experienced a range of complexities with IBM ProtectTIER's initial setup. Some found it straightforward and quick, typically taking a day or two, depending on the environment. Others noted that while it is easy, it demands significant resources and knowledgeable personnel for proper management. Some encountered difficulties due to the intricate configurations required. Having competent engineers from IBM or a business partner facilitated the process despite its complexity.

Scalability

IBM ProtectTIER is considered scalable. Scaling was executed swiftly with added capacity during implementation. Both administrators and support teams confirmed scalability, with capabilities suited for enterprise companies yet potentially less ideal for small to medium-sized businesses. Around seven customers currently utilize it effectively. Rating stands at four out of five for handling increasing account demands.

Stability

Users perceive IBM ProtectTIER as very reliable. They report that the system performs well, even under high temperatures, maintaining operational status at 60 degrees Celsius. Many regard it as highly stable and rate its stability positively, giving scores such as four out of five. Stability is frequently highlighted as a strong aspect of IBM ProtectTIER.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Download our Deduplication Software Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
20%
Computer Software Company
20%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Retailer
6%
Educational Organization
4%
Logistics Company
4%
University
4%
Government
4%
Healthcare Company
4%
Insurance Company
4%
Performing Arts
4%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
4%
Comms Service Provider
4%
Legal Firm
2%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Non Tech Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%

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IBM ProtectTIER customers

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

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Deduplication Software
Backup and Recovery

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IBM ProtectTIER Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Technical Lead at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees4.0No summary available
Sr. Consultant, pSeries & Open Systems at Glasshouse Systems4.5No summary available
Technical Lead at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees3.0No summary available
Section Head: IT Infrastructure (Networks, Servers and Security) with 51-200 employees4.0No summary available
Information System Consultant at CFAO Technologies2.0No summary available
Project Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees5.0No summary available
Service Manager at a tech services company with 11-50 employees4.5No summary available