With many backup options in the market, some users might select to implement specific backup software from companies such as Veeam. Veeam Backup and Replication is a software-based backup and recovery solution that allows you to protect a wide variety of workloads, allowing you to automate, schedule, and monitor your backups on one platform. It is typically paired with a hardware appliance that would act as a backup repository to store backup data.
As Veeam Backup & Replication platform is not tied down to any particular storage option, users can select a backup repository of their choice, provided that it is supported by Veeam. Veeam supports appliances such as Dell Data Domain, HPE StoreOnce, ExaGrid, and Synology NAS, as well as object storage repositories.
The backup repository you choose will have a large impact on backup performance, data recovery time, data security options, scalability options, and overall cost.
How to compare storage repositories
Veeam is compatible with a wide range of backup repositories. Each comes with its own advantages and disadvantages:
Both ExaGrid and Dell Data Domain come with a wide range of ransomware defense features, such as immutable capabilities, in which no changes can be made to your data, and air-gapped backups to isolate your data. Dell also provides a number of ransomware defense features, such as air-gapping with Dell Cyber Recovery Vault and Write Once, Ready Many (WORM) technology.
Synology NAS also comes with long-term data retention options and ransomware defense capabilities, such as immutable snapshots with WORM technology, so that no changes or deletions can be made to your data. Users have the option to choose either rackstation or desktop models, according to their data volume. Synology NAS is also available at a fraction of the cost of other vendors.
Experience seamless data protection with an integrated backup appliance
For businesses looking to simplify operations, strengthen data protection, and rapidly deploy a unified data protection solution, ActiveProtect is an excellent choice.
Let’s take a look at combining Veeam with a deduplication appliance and compare it with Synology ActiveProtect appliance. ActiveProtect is a purpose-built backup appliance that comes with its own hardware, software, and ransomware defense features such as built-in immutability, air-gapped backups, role-based access controls, and more.
As Veeam only provides the software, you’ll have to depend on an external backup repository for several features, including source-side deduplication and tiering for long-term data retention. The deduplication appliance you select also affects how fast you can back up your data.
In terms of immutability, you’ll still have to depend on a deduplication appliance to enforce immutable capabilities. Veeam also doesn’t have built-in air-gapping capabilities, meaning that you’ll have to use a backup repository that supports logical or physical air-gaps in order to separately store your data.
By contrast, ActiveProtect appliance is an integrated backup appliance that offers global source-side deduplication and cross-site deduplication, allowing users to reduce storage space and maximize storage capacity.
When using Veeam Backup and Replication software and combining it with a data deduplication appliance, users will have to pay for multiple expenses. They’ll have to pay for the hardware, such as a deduplication appliance and the computing server, software and maintenance fees, licenses for backing up devices or SaaS services, and advanced features such as air-gapping.
With Synology ActiveProtect, all you need to do is purchase a purpose-built backup appliance. You won’t have to worry about purchasing multiple licenses for maintenance support or to access specific features. All the features you need are available as long as you purchase ActiveProtect. If you need to create a cluster with multiple backup appliances, a cluster-based license scheme is available for large-scale deployments.
All in all, purchasing Veeam software with a deduplication appliance, which includes additional costs, could result in roughly 10 times more in expenses.* With ActiveProtect, you only need to purchase the device and a cluster-based license, if needed.
Conclusion
With Synology ActiveProtect, you’re paying for a cost-effective solution as you’re spending less but getting more out of it. This is because annual licensing fees for maintenance or backing up specific workloads aren’t required. Companies also don’t need to purchase separate hardware and software to gain access to advanced features. As a purpose-built backup appliance, ActiveProtect helps you secure your backups and ensure backup copies are available for recovery to ensure business continuity.
Synology has been recognized as a Representative Vendor with ActiveProtect in the 2025 Gartner® Market Guide for Enterprise Backup Storage Appliances.**
Click here to find out more about ActiveProtect.
*The competitive intelligence presented in this document was based on publicly available information. The information is subject to change. Synology makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information herein. Any features, functionalities, or comparisons mentioned are subject to change without notice.
**Gartner is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.