Case Study: Synergy Data Systems achieves 70% shorter backup window and improved retention with ExaGrid

Synergy Data Systems Replaces Data Domain with ExaGrid, Shortens Backup Window by 70%

Synergy Data Systems, a Canton, Ohio–based SaaS provider of payroll, HR and recruiting applications founded in 1986, needed better backup retention and performance. Their three-year-old Data Domain appliance could only hold about two weeks of backups and wasn’t scalable, forcing consideration of disruptive “forklift” upgrades and leaving them short of their target retention and backup window goals.

They replaced Data Domain with an ExaGrid disk-based backup system using post-process deduplication and GRID scalability, integrating it with a custom TAR-based backup script. The move delivered average dedupe ratios of about 36:1 (peaking much higher), extended retention to roughly six weeks without major upgrades, cut nightly backups from 13 hours to 4 hours, and was quick to set up with ongoing dedicated support.

Synergy Data Systems

Elliot Bailey

Senior System Administrator