Azure Backup vs Synology DSM comparison

Microsoft and Synology are both solutions in the Backup and Recovery category. Microsoft is ranked #18 with an average rating of 8.0, while Synology is ranked #52. Microsoft holds a 1.2% mindshare in BRS, compared to Synology’s 1.3% mindshare. Additionally, 92% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Synology users who would recommend it.

Azure Backup

Read 60 Azure Backup reviews

5,918 Views
5,681 Comparison Views

92% willing to recommend

Synology DSM

Read 10 Synology DSM reviews

4,098 Views
4,057 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Azure Backup

Synology DSM

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 2024

Azure Backup and Synology DSM compete in the backup solutions category. Synology DSM has the upper hand due to higher overall user satisfaction.

Features: Azure Backup provides robust cloud-based backup operations, supports a wide range of platforms, and offers automatic backups. Synology DSM offers local network backup, media server capabilities, and user-friendly management tools.

Room for Improvement: Azure Backup could improve interface intuitiveness, simplify settings, and enhance the user experience. Synology DSM could improve mobile app performance, increase third-party integration, and enhance speed and performance.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Azure Backup's deployment process is more intricate and requires technical expertise, but users rate its customer service highly. Synology DSM has a straightforward setup process suitable for less technical users, with mixed feedback on customer support effectiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Azure Backup users report higher costs associated with cloud storage and usage fees but find the ROI justifies it for enterprise environments. Synology DSM's initial setup cost is lower, and users feel it provides excellent ROI for small and medium businesses.

To learn more, read our detailed Azure Backup vs. Synology DSM Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Azure Backup vs. Synology DSM

June 2026

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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

Azure Backup

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

18th

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Synology DSM

Ranking in Backup and Recovery

52nd

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of Azure Backup is 1.2%, down from 3.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Synology DSM is 1.3%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Azure Backup	1.2%
Synology DSM	1.3%
Other	97.5%

Backup and Recovery

Featured Reviews

Sanjay Sahu

Project Manager at Capgemini

Has supported secure data storage with incremental backups and centralized monitoring

Azure Backup supports all the features that we need, so additional features are not an immediate need for me. The documentation for Azure Backup seems okay for me; it is good overall, but it should be more descriptive for each item. It should elaborate more on how backup and restore are fulfilled in different scenarios. One of the reviews indicates that Azure Backup needs improvements for specific backup options beyond just full VM snapshots. I believe it should be improved actually. Regarding specific backup options, I say there should be improvements compared to how they provided them in older days.

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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

"This solution allows me to restore either the VM or the data, depending on what is needed."

"The daily backups have become easier since we no longer need to handle large backups. The use of Azure Backup as a service has proven reliable and simplified our daily operations. Previously, we relied on LTO backups for data retention, but after migrating to the cloud and adopting Azure Backup, the delivery process has become smoother."

"The hardware is always updated and it's saved us a lot of money."

"I like that it's a simple system."

"Switching to Azure has saved us thousands; the hardware is always updated and we're now able to invest more in our staff which is highly beneficial because it translates to satisfied clients."

"The setup is a very simple and easy process, it's easy to learn and use, and it is not very complicated to configure."

"All of the core features are valuable to us."

"The MARS agent makes it easy to use."

More Azure Backup pros

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

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

"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."

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

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

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

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

More Synology DSM pros

Cons

"The solution is still in its infancy; it's not a mature product yet."

"Azure Backup's licensing model is very challenging because it doesn't give a clear picture."

"We have a concern with the backup when were are working with VMs that are running in Barracuda Firewall because it usually fails."

"One of the reviews indicates that Azure Backup needs improvements for specific backup options beyond just full VM snapshots. I believe it should be improved actually."

"The solution is quite technical. I wouldn't describe it as user friendly. It could be simplified a lot to make it more accessible to the average user."

"In Avamar, the file-based restores are very quick and fast, whereas, in Azure Backup, VM restore is super easy, but if I have to do a file or a folder restore, I have to mount the entire VM image. I have to wait for some time for it to be mounted, and then I have to go inside and then check the file and copy it somewhere. It's a bit of a manual process, whereas in Avamar, you can directly select a file and folder, and it'll recover with whatever permissions you want."

"It doesn't have the option to have a backup from the database. It has backup for the files, folders, and backup only the whole virtual machine. But if I need to do a backup from the Oracle database, from an Exchange server or from SharePoint, this ability isn't there. There is no application backup."

"In the next release, I would like to see the ability to back up to different cloud providers."

More Azure Backup cons

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

"Even though Synology provides a backup solution, it does not recognize the VM movement across cluster hosts."

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

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

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

More Synology DSM cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing of this solution is good, and it is one of the easiest things that you can sell Azure with."

"It's around $10 to $15 per month per virtual machine, along with something extra based on the size of the data."

"We have enterprise-level pricing. I rate the pricing a five out of ten."

"Overall, its cost is better because the VMs are already there, and whatever you back up, there is only the additional cost of that storage, whereas if I have to use Avamar in Azure, a separate cost is there for the Avamar server, and in addition, whatever I take as a backup, there is a separate license with Avamar for that. So, there is a double cost if we have to use Avamar in the cloud."

"We are paying about $100,000 USD per year, just for a couple of servers."

"It is a bit costly initially, but it is well worth it in the long run, especially for fighting against a number of threats, such as ransomware, which the IT industry is facing."

"Pay as you go is the pricing model."

"The product is neither too expensive nor too cheap."

More Azure Backup pricing and cost advice

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

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

"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."

"Synology DSM is a free tool."

"It is quite an affordable solution."

"The price of the solution is very good."

"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."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Construction Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	26
Midsize Enterprise	12
Large Enterprise	24

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

Questions from the Community

How does Azure Backup differ from Veeam Backup & Replication?

Veeam has a version for Azure but there are organizations, like ours, that are considering moving to an Azure environment and wonder if Azure Backup is better than Veeam Backup and Replication (Vee...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Azure Backup?

The pricing of Azure Backup is fine; it is a low-cost solution.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Azure Backup?

Azure Backup can be improved by providing an option and a utility so we can restore quickly instead of any manual intervention. Restoration times require manual backup and manual interventions, and...

See all answers

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Azure Backup

June 2026

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Buyer's Guide

Synology DSM

May 2026

Download Synology DSM product report

Also Known As

No data available

Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)

Overview

Azure Backup provides efficient data protection with features like fast recovery and encryption. It integrates seamlessly with Azure services, offering scalable, secure storage solutions. Users benefit from straightforward configurations and flexible retention, although improvements in hybrid integration are needed.

Azure Backup stands out with its comprehensive data protection capabilities, including features such as incremental backups and geo-replication. It ensures consistent security and performance through its scalability and redundancy. Users find the platform cost-effective and appreciate its seamless integration with Azure services. While Azure Backup excels in many areas, such as ease of use and robust monitoring, challenges persist in hybrid environment integration and application-level backups.

What key features does Azure Backup offer?

Ease of use: Features straightforward configuration and incremental backups.
Fast recovery: Supports rapid data restoration with geo-replication.
Advanced protection: Provides encryption and flexible retention options for data security.
Seamless integration: Works well with Azure services for a unified experience.
User-friendly management: Offers robust monitoring and reporting tools.

What advantages should users expect from Azure Backup?

Cost-effectiveness: Provides affordable data protection solutions.
Scalability: Ensures consistent performance with cloud scalability.
Security: Enhances data security with advanced encryption features.
Efficiency: Simplifies backup processes with efficient scheduling.

Azure Backup is widely used in sectors requiring robust data protection, such as financial services, healthcare, and government. It is ideal for organizations looking to back up virtual machines, manage disaster recovery, or support cloud migrations. Its adaptability allows businesses to safeguard SAP workloads and SQL databases efficiently.

Microsoft

Synology DSM offers a comprehensive disk management and virtualization backup solution, known for its seamless connectivity across Mac, Windows, and Linux systems, enabling both novice and expert users to efficiently organize and secure their digital data.

Synology DSM integrates intuitive features like the Btrfs file system, built-in backups, and Active Backup for Business, streamlining application installations such as Plex Media Server and Docker. It provides robust security and versatility, supporting VPNs, web servers, and virtualization. Synology DSM is utilized for data backup in virtual machines, local user management, file-sharing networks, and remote file accessibility. It assists organizations in centralized data replication and protection, managing multiple terabytes across locations while serving as a firewall and file management system.

What features does Synology DSM offer?

Disk Management: Efficiently manages storage across multiple platforms.
Seamless Connectivity: Supports Mac, Windows, and Linux for a unified experience.
Btrfs File System: Offers advanced data protection and recovery options.
Active Backup for Business: Provides comprehensive backup solutions for critical data.
Versatility: Supports VPN, web servers, and virtualization for expanded utility.

What benefits should users consider?

Security: Maintains data integrity and protection across networks.
Stability: Ensures consistent operation for essential applications.
Ease of Use: Facilitates straightforward installation and management of applications.
Scalability: Handles large-scale data replication and protection efficiently.

In industries like IT and media, Synology DSM is an effective tool for centralized data management and security. Businesses rely on its extensive backup capabilities to manage and protect large datasets, enabling effective collaboration and remote access solutions across locations. Users incorporate its add-ons to enhance network deployment and connectivity, optimizing data flow and operational efficiency.

Synology

Sample Customers

Russell Reynolds Associates, Somerset County Council, Kardem, PCL Construction

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Azure Backup vs. Synology DSM

June 2026

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