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Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) vs Synology DSM comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 11, 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

Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA)
Ranking in Backup and Recovery
19th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
23
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
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Backup and Recovery category, the mindshare of Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) is 0.7%, up from 0.6% 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
ProductMindshare (%)
Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA)0.7%
Synology DSM1.3%
Other98.0%
Backup and Recovery
 

Featured Reviews

NimitPuvar - PeerSpot reviewer
A VP Enterprise Sales at Ashtech Infotech (India) Pvt.Ltd.
Centralized backup has improved data protection and simplifies secure, compliant restores
The biggest advantage of the product is that it is basically a single appliance which comes with a bundle of backup software and the appliance, as we have a single console to manage it. It also provides other features such as data encryption at rest, along with data deduplication and compression in backup which is very useful. From the centralized dashboard, we can manage the backup job and determine if the backup job is happening appropriately or not. If any backup job fails, we can find out the root cause for the failures. Because it is a hardware-based appliance, we can restore the data immediately, and it provides genuine restore capabilities. In terms of data availability compliance, we are looking for data availability and data security in terms of encryption, data deduplication and compression. It provides data availability as each appliance comes with RAID. If one or two disks fail, then our data appliance is still available for backup. It also provides encryption, so our data is also ransomware protected.
Michael Adejoh - PeerSpot reviewer
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.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The biggest advantage of the product is that it is basically a single appliance which comes with a bundle of backup software and the appliance, as we have a single console to manage it."
"We don't need to manage different devices."
"If someone is looking for a very tightly-coupled solution for backup storage and does not want to deal with complicated upgrade processes, and desires easy reporting and a homogeneous solution rather than heterogeneous backup solutions where backup software and storage are different, I believe Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) is one of the best options for such customers."
"Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) offers a backup, recovery, and management tool that is very easy to use."
"What I find valuable about Dell PowerProtect IDPA is its stability and strong performance."
"It backs up our Windows systems and our Linux systems and everything."
"The product is easy to troubleshoot and store data."
"The most valuable feature is the deduplication rate."
"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."
"Because of its simplicity and the wide array of features it offers, I would recommend DSM for both tech-savvy individuals and those who prefer a straightforward file-serving solution."
"The most valuable aspect is its ability to handle multiple disks."
"Synology DSM is very easy to work and operate."
"The most valuable features are the basic storage, file management, Btrfs file system, and built-in backups that come with the solution."
"The solution's most valuable feature stems from its ease of use, making it the tool's most interesting part."
"The most valuable feature of the solution is that it serves as a backup for our company's virtual machine."
 

Cons

"We cannot add IDPA to DPC, and each IP has a DP Central, which cannot monitor other IDPAs."
"The solution should be easier to use."
"Each and every Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) appliance comes with a fixed size, which means if our data has grown, we have to upgrade to another appliance."
"The only disadvantage I can see with Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) is the cost."
"The product's index master feature needs improvement."
"The two-factor authentication is missing from Dell products."
"The only thing that could be improved would be the complexity of the initial setup."
"However, I would say the bare-metal restores need improvement because if you have a failure on a certain piece of hardware, you have to replace it with the same hardware, which is the only thing I can mention."
"The only bothersome aspect is that the device is aging."
"Even though Synology provides a backup solution, it does not recognize the VM movement across cluster hosts."
"The product's only shortcoming is pricing, as it is an expensive solution."
"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's user interface is not quite intuitive."
"Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly."
"The platform could be much more cost-effective and flexible for integrating third-party products."
"One area where Synology DSM could improve is in enhancing its ability to detect and respond to security threats during backups and replication."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The licensing is billed on a monthly basis. Dell is bundled so that when you order IDPA, you get everything together with the license."
"I would rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."
"It is a cost-effective solution."
"Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) has a yearly subscription fee."
"We have a perpetual license. It is a capacity-based license."
"The pricing varies widely, catering to a broad range of needs."
"Synology DSM is a cheap solution."
"The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."
"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."
"The price of the solution is very good."
"Synology DSM is a free tool."
"It is quite an affordable solution."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Construction Company
11%
Outsourcing Company
10%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Government
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise8
Large Enterprise9
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business8
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise1
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA)?
It is competitive; it is not expensive, but it is competitive with the other similarly available solutions.
What needs improvement with Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA)?
Each and every Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) appliance comes with a fixed size, which means if our data has grown, we have to upgrade to another appliance. Some appliances provide in-place data upgra...
What is your primary use case for Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA)?
Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) is used centrally for backup purposes, as we use it for backup purposes only with our critical applications.
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Also Known As

Dell EMC IDPA, Dell IDPA, EMC IDPA
Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM)
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Under Armour, Christian Brothers University, Presidio
Information Not Available
Find out what your peers are saying about Dell PowerProtect DP (IDPA) vs. Synology DSM and other solutions. Updated: August 2026.
908,858 professionals have used our research since 2012.