Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) vs IBM Spectrum Protect comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) and IBM Spectrum Protect based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, NetApp and others in Deduplication Software.
To learn more, read our detailed Deduplication Software Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Q&A Highlights
Question: What is the biggest difference between Dell EMC Data Domain and IBM Spectrum Protect?
Answer: The biggest difference is that Data Domain is an appliance storage system (SW + HW storage) but Spectrum is a software (licenses) solution only.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"Short backup window has made a difference in the way my organization functions.""The technology has been very useful. There are lots of features on offer.""The feature that I have found most useful is its data duplication.""The most valuable features of Dell PowerProtect DD are ease of use and deduplication.""I find the data to be most valuable.""The deduplication feature is the most valuable part of the solution.""The solution is very scalable.""As our organization functions, we have a total of 2500+ primary sites and 6300+ secondary sites. All of our entire backup systems are totally dependent on this product. EMC Data Domain is very reliable and there are no issues using it since 2015."

More Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Pros →

"We like IBM Spectrum's versioning capabilities. It lets us specify how many versions of a file we want to keep and for how long. Also, the archive component of the software helps us a lot.""Enterprise-wide type of architecture supports a lot of different platforms.""It has to ability to backup DV2, Oracle, and Informix.""Some of the people in our group, like our DBAs and non-technical people, can restore some stuff themselves via Spectrum Protect. That is how simple it is.""We've found the product to be quite stable and the performance is very good.""Good user interface.""The fact that we can take the backup straight onto tape is the most valuable feature.""I've had no problems with the stability of this solution."

More IBM Spectrum Protect Pros →

Cons
"It can probably have integration with other OEMs. It should also have more features for ransomware protection.""The pricing could be lower.""The pricing should be adjusted. Customers continuously talk about the price. They know it is a good solution and they really need the type of storage the solution offers, but it costs somewhere around $100,000 and up. It's not cheap, but it's very important for data vendors.""We encountered data loss during the configuration process.""I would like to see some kind of integration with the ransomware in the next release.""They need to make migration easier.""The product lacks some security features that would make it more stand-alone and integrated.""The price could be a little cheaper than it is now."

More Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Cons →

"The Hyper-V and SQL Server backup could be improved. In the 2016 version there was a significant improvement, but I think IBM has a big challenge with these technologies.""I need to have more than two instances working together. I need a worldwide grid able to have replication between three, four, or five instances.""The version that we had when I first started made it look really bad. We are talking about commands that should have run in two seconds, but instead took four to eight hours. Other components were sluggish.""Our customers would like to see metadata replication, tearing to tape, and more cloud capabilities.""We recently had a situation where we quickly got code, and the number of tapes exceeded the library capacity so we were waiting a while to change. We got a fix for this right away.""Its management part can be better and simplified. It is kind of a beast as compared to Commvault or Veeam, but they are more user-friendly. They are also easier to learn, whereas Spectrum Protect definitely takes time. They should simplify it. Our teams are pretty comfortable with it because we have been using it for a long time, but from the perspective of a new user who is evaluating or using this solution, it is definitely more complex in terms of manageability. Its monitoring could be improved so that it can even monitor the jobs that are scheduled by external schedulers. There are situations where a database team might decide to use their own schedulers, but currently, Spectrum Protect is not able to catch those jobs in the Operation Manager console.""Ease of use.""There is room for improvement in IBM Spectrum Protect, especially regarding its support for virtual environment backups."

More IBM Spectrum Protect Cons →

Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It is expensive, but the performance and deduplication cover for the cost."
  • "Pricing is related to size. A lower range solution might be about $33,000. My customers use higher range versions with a price of around $100,000. That's the price for both the hardware and software."
  • "In Naira it was twenty-five or twenty-seven million (approximately $75,000 USD) for the implementation and maintenance cost for three years."
  • "There are many options in the pricing structure which can cause some confusion and necessitate the purchase of additional licensing."
  • "This is one of the more expensive backup solutions on the market."
  • "Its price is reasonable."
  • "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."
  • "The price is on the high side."
  • More Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "Technical support is pretty good. It is doing fine, but you pay for it."
  • "Licensing can be either complicated or simple depending on what type of licensing you wish to use and what works best for your environment."
  • "At scale, the consumption license (per TB) is very expensive."
  • "Use capacity licensing. It's easier and cheaper."
  • "We worked our licensing into a capacity model, which is nice. Now, everything is much simpler to manage from a licensing perspective.​"
  • "We chose IBM Spectrum Protect, because they actually have something called MSP pricing, which means managed services provider pricing. The pricing was attractive, and it seems to be a platform that IBM is totally investing on in terms of new functions and new capabilities."
  • "Spectrum Protect is not expensive, and it is simple to use."
  • "It is very scalable, but the downside is that it costs money."
  • More IBM Spectrum Protect Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Answers from the Community
    Anonymous User
    Zdzislaw Jideck Chobot 霍博特 - चोबोट - PeerSpot reviewerZdzislaw Jideck Chobot 霍博特 - चोबोट
    Real User

    In my opinion DD have better compression/dedup and also good aggregated replication speed, however it lack all functionality which is provided SP! Also as a hardware based solution we struggle with scaling up DD ! Comparison is not entirely possible since these are completely different purpose and usage ! In the environment we use DD as a disc storage for staging SP made backups!

    Muhammad Sharfuddin - PeerSpot reviewerMuhammad Sharfuddin
    MSP

    IBM Spectrum Protect is a "Backup and Recovery" product, while Dell EMC Data Domain is the backup *storage* appliance. They have their respective market.


    Though I must say that DD is the leader, while SP is a struggling product.. i.e there is no comparision.

    Piotr Piotrowski - PeerSpot reviewerPiotr Piotrowski
    User

    DD is deduplication target while IBM Spectrum protect is brand new name for and old and creepy TSM
    The biggest difference is that you will not create complementary backup solution with DD only, you need some kind of backup software to do it for you.
    TSM (or IBM Spectrum protect) can write backups to DD.

    Marcos Corbani - PeerSpot reviewerMarcos Corbani
    Real User

    I would say to you that the two solutions are complementary, work harmoniously without any problem.

    NeilMistry - PeerSpot reviewerNeilMistry
    Real User

    Thanks for reaching out.

    EMC Data Domain has an ecosystem for data management supporting several protocols and day structures. Best deduplication rate I have ever seen, full integration with RMAN for Oracle and VTL architecture and integration. The holistic view of data management and easy to deploy plus apply SLA and retention policies.

    Also, it’s fast very fast! The platform is expensive and maintenance is not cheap so a client needs to prepare for this both capitally and operationally. The Platform can support other software not just their own Networker software, so very flexible.

    IBM has lost market share in this space and as per clients feedback and Gartner, IBM is NOT a leader or visionary in this space.m

    Coenie Rossouw - PeerSpot reviewerCoenie Rossouw
    Real User

    I would look at the way they dedup. DataDomain uses variable-length deduplication so they are very effective. I do not know anything about the IBM product, but we have dealt with IBM and in my opinion, the difference that is going to make the biggest impact is the way they sell TCO. EMC almost negatively impacts themselves by giving a more realistic and often more expensive quote, where IBM gives a seemingly cheaper solution, but later on, it works out more.

    NeilMistry - PeerSpot reviewerNeilMistry
    Real User

    EMC Data Domain has an ecosystem for data management supporting several protocols and day structures. Best deduplication rate I have ever seen, full integration with RMAN for Oracle and VTL architecture and integration. The holistic view of data management and easy to deploy plus apply SLA and retention policies.

    Also, it’s fast very fast! The platform is expensive and maintenance is not cheap so a client needs to prepare for this both capitally and operationally. The Platform can support other software not just their own Networker software, so very flexible.

    IBM has lost market share in this space and as per clients feedback and Gartner, IBM is NOT a leader or visionary in this space in my opinion. EMC DD has also evolved to challenge the HCI players with their own IDPA (Integrated Data Protection Appliance).

    All clients should look for:

    - simplicity
    - public cloud integration
    - S3 and other relevant protocol integrations
    - Native ransomware protection
    - Ease of operations
    - Cost reduction
    - Hyper Visor agnostic approach plus containerization integration

    Pawel Augustyn - PeerSpot reviewerPawel Augustyn
    Real User

    I don't have experience with IBM Spectrum Protect, but I do have experience with Data Domain.

    I would recommend it. It's very stable, has high performance, and the highest deduplication engine.

    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:There are many different licenses, so you pay for what you need. There are various aspects you can add on, like extra speed, or something just for reading data. There are licenses to do replication as… more »
    Top Answer:Nothing comes to mind in terms of improvement. It serves its purpose. That said, if they could develop higher algorithms to make it more efficient, that would be great. Usually, with the backup, the… more »
    Top Answer:The platform’s most valuable feature is its ability to verify the recoverability of backups.
    Top Answer:The platform is neither highly priced nor inexpensive. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.
    Top Answer:The product’s recovery process in terms of agent installation needs improvement. There could be an agent-less backup and recovery mechanism. In the next release, I would recommend the inclusion of a… more »
    Ranking
    1st
    Views
    11,351
    Comparisons
    7,395
    Reviews
    21
    Average Words per Review
    413
    Rating
    8.2
    17th
    out of 131 in Backup and Recovery
    Views
    7,719
    Comparisons
    5,477
    Reviews
    13
    Average Words per Review
    522
    Rating
    7.3
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    DataDomain, Dell EMC Data Domain, PowerProtect Data Domain
    IBM TSM, IBM Tivoli Storage Manager
    Learn More
    Dell Technologies
    Video Not Available
    Overview

    DD series enables your organization to protect, manage and recover data at scale. As the next generation of Dell Data Domain appliances, DD series sets the bar for efficient data management from edge to core to cloud and includes the ecosystem support and comprehensive data protection that customers have come to appreciate from Data Domain. The DD series offers a super-fast, secure, and an efficient solution that is built for multi-cloud data protection and to keep up with future demands. The DD series consists of the DD9900, DD9400, DD6900, DD6400, DD3300, and a software-defined option, PowerProtect DD Virtual Edition (DDVE).

    DD series empowers organizations to protect, manage and recover data at scale across their entire diverse ecosystems. DD series provides broad ecosystem support, efficiency, powerful data protection, cloud-enabled capabilities, and the cyber resiliency that our customers demand.

    The DD Operating System (DDOS) is the brilliance that drives the DD series. DDOS contributes the agility, security, and reliability that pushes DD series to deliver high-speed, scalable, and standard-setting protection storage for backup, archive, and disaster recovery. DDOS integrates seamlessly with many existing infrastructures, permitting ease-of-use with leading backup and archiving applications, and provides superior performance in conjunction with Dell PowerProtect Data Manager and Data Protection Suite. When you decide to purchase a new DD series appliance you can easily consume DDOS as a subscription providing greater flexibility for deployment while minimizing your overall upfront costs.

    DD series does a great job to minimize the threat of data loss and adds to the value of protected data while meeting ever-increasing demands of SLAs and increasing ROI. DDOS drives DD series to deliver up to 38% faster backups and up to 45% faster restores at significantly higher compression levels.

    DD series supports high availability within the single rack. Additionally, DD series can greatly reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) by minimizing downtime in the unlikely event of a hardware failure. DD series delivers amazing high-speed networking connectivity with support for 25GbE and 100GbE network adapters.

    Benefits of Dell PowerProtect DD

    Fast, secure, efficient data protection:

    • Provide 1.5PB usable capacity in a single rack
    • Allow for Up to 3PB capacity for long-term retention
    • Logical capacity is increased by up to 30% per TB when compared to the previous generation
    • Allow for instant access and instant restore of up to 64VMs and 100k IOPS
    • High-speed network connectivity – 10GbE, 25GbE and 100GbE
    • Seamless fast integration and outstanding performance with PowerProtect Data Manager and Data Protection Suite
    • Supports many of the leading enterprise backup and archive applications

    Industry-leading multi-cloud protection:

    • Provides software-defined protection storage on-premises and in-cloud with PowerProtect DD Virtual Edition (DDVE).
    • DDVE scales up to 256TB in-cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and others).
    • Greatly improves in-cloud restore performance by as much as 10x when compared to previous versions.
    • Cloud Tier delivers super simple and value-added long-term retention to public, private, or hybrid clouds
    • Cost-efficient disaster recovery to the cloud

    Operational simplicity:

    • Enhanced DD System Manager supports a complete chassis view
    • Significantly lower administrative costs
    • Grants a single point of management for all DD series by PowerProtect DD Management Center
    • Deploy Smart Scale for PowerProtect appliances directly from PowerProtect DD Management Center. Smart Scale helps drive down management complexities while increasing storage efficiencies. 

    Reviews from Real Users

    One user, who is an enterprise IT architect at a tech service company, says that “Dell 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.” He rates the ROI it has brought his company a five out of five.

    A pre-sales and technical manager at a tech services company says that "The features that I have found most valuable with Dell PowerProtect DD are its deduplication feature and its DD Boost protocol for fast transfer, which is amazing."

    Chris C., lead infrastructure architect at ThinkON, relates that Dell PowerProtect DD “allows our organization to send more data to this device compared to others. It also allows us a fast recovery of files or Virtual Machines if needed being on-premise.”

    IBM Spectrum Protect (Tivoli Storage Manager) is a data protection platform that gives enterprises a single point of control and administration for backup and recovery. It is the flagship product in the IBM Spectrum Protect (Tivoli Storage Manager) family. It enables reliable, cost effective backups and fast recovery for virtual, physical and cloud environments of all sizes.
    Sample Customers
    The US Army, City of Houston, Lloyds TSB, TiVo, Teck, Ingram Entertainment, The New York Mets
    CERN, Einstein Healthcare, Nyherji, Allianz Australia, TZM, ABT Online, NCT, Kindred Healthcare Inc., Cobalt Iron, TransGrid, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida, Cash America, Piedmont Healthcare, RWGV, Arkansas Tech University, British Columbia Institute of Technology
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm21%
    Computer Software Company18%
    Insurance Company14%
    Energy/Utilities Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government8%
    Manufacturing Company7%
    REVIEWERS
    Healthcare Company13%
    Financial Services Firm12%
    Computer Software Company12%
    Insurance Company7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm15%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Retailer8%
    Government8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business37%
    Midsize Enterprise21%
    Large Enterprise42%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business23%
    Midsize Enterprise16%
    Large Enterprise61%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise55%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise65%
    Buyer's Guide
    Deduplication Software
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, NetApp and others in Deduplication Software. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is ranked 1st in Deduplication Software with 61 reviews while IBM Spectrum Protect is ranked 17th in Backup and Recovery with 146 reviews. Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is rated 8.4, while IBM Spectrum Protect is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) writes "Supports business continuity process but needs improvement in pricing". On the other hand, the top reviewer of IBM Spectrum Protect writes "Performance and recoveries are better, and customers are happier with performance". Dell PowerProtect DD (Data Domain) is most compared with HPE StoreOnce, Dell PowerProtect Data Manager, ExaGrid EX Series, Rubrik and Veeam Backup & Replication, whereas IBM Spectrum Protect is most compared with IBM Spectrum Protect Plus, Veeam Backup & Replication, Commvault Cloud, Cohesity DataProtect and HPE StoreOnce.

    We monitor all Deduplication Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.