Synology DSM Reviews

Name: Synology DSM
Brand: Synology
Rating: 4.5 (10 reviews)

4.5 out of 5

10 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Synology DSM?

Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is a comprehensive software platform designed for Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices. It serves as the operating system for these devices, providing a wide range of features and functionalities.

The primary use case of Synology DSM is to centralize and manage data storage for organizations. It allows businesses to store, access, and share files securely across multiple devices and platforms. With its intuitive user interface, DSM simplifies the management of data, making it easy to create shared folders, set access permissions, and monitor storage usage.

One of the most valuable functionalities of Synology DSM is its robust data protection capabilities. It offers various RAID configurations, including SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID), which ensures data redundancy and safeguards against drive failures. DSM also supports advanced backup and disaster recovery solutions, such as Snapshot Replication and Hyper Backup, enabling organizations to protect their critical data effectively.

Furthermore, Synology DSM provides a wide range of productivity and collaboration tools. It offers applications like Synology Drive, which allows seamless file synchronization across devices, and Synology Office, a web-based suite for document editing and collaboration. DSM also supports various third-party applications, including popular cloud services like Dropbox and Google Drive, enabling organizations to integrate their existing workflows seamlessly.

Get the Synology DSM Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Synology DSM, Veeam Data Platform, Commvault Cloud and more!

Synology DSM is the #18 ranked solution in best Backup and Recovery Software. PeerSpot users give Synology DSM an average rating of 9.0 out of 10. Synology DSM is most commonly compared to Veeam Data Platform: Synology DSM vs Veeam Data Platform. Synology DSM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 46% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 14% of all views.

Helped 841,164 peers since 2012

Featured Synology DSM reviews

Michael Adejoh

Solutions Manager at Excel Connect Ventures

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.

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MarcioOkubo

Sales Manager at Storageone

While working with Synology DSM in our office, we once had a problem. We have two offices replicating data in two ways using Synology DSM. These two offices were replicating data for the director's house. We had four Synology DSMs, two of them replicating each other and the other two replicating data for the director's home. For the director's home, it is a synchronous application. One of the Synology DSMs in our main office had a problem in SMU. We chose to replace the solution as soon as possible. For our test, we took an old Synology version, maybe three or four versions older than the one in the office in production, and put the disks in the same order. We powered it on, and after 15 or 20 minutes, it was working like nothing happened. We received a notice that this is an older model and would you like to go on. After 20 minutes, it was running stable and accessing all the data, which was quite impressive for us.

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Manuel Schulte

Python Developer at BNP Paribas Asset Management

In terms of scalability, I would currently rate it an eight out of ten due to its aging nature. While I don't have access to all the latest features available on more recent devices, at the time of purchase, considering its capabilities then, I would have given it a solid ten.

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Synology DSM mindshare

As of March 2025, the mindshare of Synology DSM in the Backup and Recovery category stands at 1.8%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Backup and Recovery

PeerAnalyst reports based on Synology DSM reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Backup and Recovery	Mar 9, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Mar 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Synology DSM vs Veeam Data Platform	Mar 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Synology DSM vs Zerto	Mar 9, 2025	Download
Comparison	Synology DSM vs Commvault Cloud	Mar 9, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Veeam Data Platform	4.3	16.8%	94%	423 interviews Add to research
Commvault Cloud	4.3	7.3%	95%	109 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is a powerful and versatile operating system that offers a range of valuable features. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing and organizing files, allowing users to easily access and share their data across multiple devices. DSM also offers robust security measures, including data encryption and two-factor authentication, ensuring the safety of sensitive information.

Additionally, DSM supports a wide range of applications and services, such as multimedia streaming, backup and recovery, and virtualization, making it a comprehensive solution for both personal and business needs.

"The most valuable features of Synology DSM are its security and connectivity."
"The most valuable aspect is its ability to handle multiple disks."
"The product performs well. It is easy to use and implement."

Room for Improvement

Users have expressed concerns about the complexity of the user interface, suggesting that it could be more intuitive and user-friendly. Additionally, some users have reported issues with the stability and reliability of the system, highlighting the need for better performance and bug fixes.

There have been requests for more advanced features and customization options to cater to the diverse needs of users.

"Users may lose their data if they don't configure the solution properly."
"The only bothersome aspect is that the device is aging."
"The platform could be much more cost-effective and flexible for integrating third-party products."

ROI

The ROI (Return on Investment) of using Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) product is highly positive. Users have praised the DSM for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and reliable performance. The product offers a wide range of functionalities, including file sharing, data backup, multimedia streaming, and surveillance, making it a versatile solution for both personal and business use.

Users have reported significant cost savings by consolidating multiple services onto a single Synology device, eliminating the need for separate hardware and software licenses. Additionally, the DSM's efficient power management and scalability options contribute to long-term cost savings.

Pricing

Synology DSM is generally considered reasonable and affordable. Users appreciate the value for money they receive, as the product offers a wide range of features and functionalities.

The setup process is often described as straightforward and user-friendly, with clear instructions provided.

Additionally, users appreciate the flexibility to choose from different models and storage capacities, allowing them to find the best fit for their needs and budget.

"The solution’s pricing is neither cheap nor expensive."
"The pricing varies widely, catering to a broad range of needs."
"Synology DSM is a free tool."

Popular Use Cases

Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is a comprehensive operating system designed for Synology NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices. Its primary use case is to provide users with a centralized storage solution for their data, allowing them to easily store, manage, and access files from multiple devices and locations. DSM offers a wide range of features and applications, including file sharing, data backup, multimedia streaming, virtualization, and surveillance, making it an ideal solution for home users, small businesses, and enterprise environments.

Service and Support

Users have reported that the company provides prompt and helpful assistance, with knowledgeable and friendly support staff. They appreciate the extensive online resources, including forums and knowledge base, which offer solutions to common issues.

Synology is commended for its commitment to addressing customer concerns and continuously improving its products.

Deployment

The initial setup of Synology DSM (DiskStation Manager) is generally considered to be straightforward and user-friendly. Users appreciate the intuitive interface and step-by-step instructions provided by Synology, which make the setup process relatively easy, even for those with limited technical knowledge.

DSM is praised for its stability and reliability, allowing users to quickly configure their NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices and access various features and applications.

Scalability

Users appreciate the ability to easily expand their storage capacity by adding additional drives or utilizing Synology's expansion units. The DSM software is reported to handle the increased storage seamlessly, allowing for smooth performance even with large amounts of data.

Users also mention the flexibility of DSM in supporting various applications and services, making it suitable for both personal and business use.

Stability

Synology DSM is highly regarded for its stability. Users consistently praise its reliability and smooth performance, noting that it rarely crashes or experiences any major issues.

The DSM operating system is lauded for its intuitive interface and seamless integration with various applications and services. Users appreciate the regular software updates and bug fixes provided by Synology, which further enhance the stability and overall user experience.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Synology DSM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.