Try our new research platform with insights from 80,000+ expert users

DD Boost vs IBM ProtectTIER comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 5, 2024

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

DD Boost
Ranking in Deduplication Software
4th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
39
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
IBM ProtectTIER
Ranking in Deduplication Software
13th
Average Rating
7.2
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
Backup and Recovery (83rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Deduplication Software category, the mindshare of DD Boost is 4.2%, down from 5.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM ProtectTIER is 1.2%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Deduplication Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
DD Boost4.2%
IBM ProtectTIER1.2%
Other94.6%
Deduplication Software
 

Featured Reviews

Daniel Dumitru - PeerSpot reviewer
Speedy data backup with significant space savings and efficient deduplication
DD Boost has been very beneficial in enhancing our data backup processes. We perform backups with less time, and it allows for efficient on-premises recovery and restoration. We use it in conjunction with the Veeam suite. Overall, it has helped us make a big impact by allowing us to have more restore points and optimizing our storage efficiency with faster backups compared to tape backups.
ValereFEUGWANG - PeerSpot reviewer
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.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Data Domain Boost has a unique protocol. I don't think with other vendors you get the same efficiency. I work with some the other products, but this solution has amazing efficiency in comparison."
"To be sincere, I never had problems with the stability of DD Boost."
"DD Boost's best features are deduplication and compression."
"DD Boost has improved our data backup and recovery process. Its data deduplication feature is amazing. The product comes with cloud features. It helps to save time."
"The product is necessary in order to communicate with both Data Domain and NetWorker devices."
"Scalable and stable solution for backup purposes, with good encryption and huge data conversion features."
"The solution can scale."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is deduplication."
"Overall IBM ProtectTIER is a great solution. It is easy to use."
"The command-line interface is good."
"The solution is highly stable."
"The most valuable features are the Self-Service, and the ability to search the data."
"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 cataloging is the best feature. It takes millions of frames for the backup. It's incremental, so it takes less time to complete."
 

Cons

"My customer was interested in ransomware protection. Currently, Dell offers the Cyber Vault solution, which is separate from Data Domain. Ideally, ransomware protection would be integrated directly within DD Boost, without requiring an additional out-of-the-box solution. This feature is currently available with HPE's Zerto and Huawei's Ocean Protect with third-party products like PradoNet. While Cyber Vault exists as a separate solution from Data Domain, having some standard protection for immutable backups into DD Boost would be a valuable addition and make it more competitive with other vendors."
"The solution needs to be more user-friendly for the end-users."
"There are limitations when using the VTL protocol in extreme cases."
"It would be nice if they could have the same tool set right from the smallest to the biggest modules, but being specific frame dependent."
"The experience of restoring VMware or Veeam Backup is difficult, when the backup you are using is a solution for backup, which is already having a deduplication. When you try to restore from Data Domain, it doesn't work perfectly, because Data Domain is already having a deduplication as well."
"This solution should cover more platforms, and there should be more product coverage."
"The multi-tier functionality can be improved, but it is quite good. They could improve replication and perhaps support additional sharing network protocols. I would also like to see better implementation of NFS Version 3, but it is already implemented and quite usable as it is."
"It's a little slow, yet it's working."
"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."
"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."
"IBM ProtectTIER could improve by being more user-friendly."
"The backup for a large amount of data is slow."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"My company must pay approximately 10,000 USD annually, making it an expensive product."
"Dell EMC Data Domain Boost is an expensive product. There are extra costs for support because every year, you have to renew your SLA for support, and the cost is always increasing."
"The pricing is high compared to the competition and should be reconsidered."
"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing charges attached to the product. The price of the product is on a higher scale, meaning not everybody can afford it."
"The pricing is definitely competitive and unmatchable. The price of Data Domain is very attractive compared to HPE, StoreOnce, or its current alternative, which is probably more expensive."
"The cost is monthly."
"The solution comes with a capacity license and it is a one-time purchase. There are additional costs, such as support."
"We scale this product by adding licenses, which are related to capacity."
"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."
"We have a capacity-based license, which is managed centrally for all the sites of my company."
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Deduplication Software solutions are best for your needs.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
14%
Healthcare Company
9%
Manufacturing Company
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business20
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise12
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise3
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about DD Boost?
The time taken for backup is very fast.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for DD Boost?
It's complicated for me because when we buy, we buy a package, so I don't have the DD price. Every Data Domain we buy comes with Boost technology, with the DDoS feature. I don't know the price of D...
What needs improvement with DD Boost?
Disadvantages could be in terms of price points because price points are a hindrance at times when we position it with customers. The customer sees it as a complete proposal and will not break it d...
Ask a question
Earn 20 points
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Durham Police Department, Re-Store LLC, CenterGrid, pixx.io GmbH, Australian Government Department of Defence, QD, Refresco Gerber
Find out what your peers are saying about DD Boost vs. IBM ProtectTIER and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.
868,787 professionals have used our research since 2012.