2025-26 TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Object Backup Targets Report

DCIG announced the availability of the 2025-26 DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Object Backup Targets Report. This report provides enterprise organizations with guidance on the best software-defined storage (SDS) object-based backup targets for deployment in today’s enterprise backup environments. The report is available for free download.

Twenty years ago, enterprises started adopting disk in lieu of tape as their primary backup target. Now enterprises have started to make another change in their choice of backup targets. These new backup targets still use disk as their underlying storage media. However, more providers deliver backup targets as SDS with a simple storage service (S3) object-based interface.

Two corporate operational priorities currently drive this trend of enterprises seeking out SDS object backup targets. First, enterprises now embrace a hybrid cloud strategy. While hybrid cloud usage among enterprises varies, adoption rate estimates generally range from 80 to over 90%. When pursuing this strategy, enterprises often continue to perform backups and recovery. Indeed, backup and recovery may represent the primary way that enterprises implement their hybrid cloud strategy.

Second, every enterprise must deal with the threat of ransomware. Object backup targets better position enterprises to deal with ransomware’s threat as they can withstand a common ransomware attack method. SDS object backup targets guard against these attacks by storing backups in an immutable format. Further, they help enterprises restore and recover their data more quickly and economically.

SDS object backup targets also put enterprises in control of how much they spend on achieving these 2 corporate priorities.

Using SDS object backup targets, they can potentially re-use storage hardware they already own. SDS object backup targets can virtualize and then manage multiple storage types. These types range from high-performance SSDs to cost-effective, high-capacity HDDs or even cloud object storage.

In preparing this report, DCIG formally evaluated over 20 different SDS object-based backup targets of which 17 met DCIG’s criteria for an enterprise SDS object backup target.

General categories under which features of these SDS object backup targets fell included:

• API/network protocol support.
• Cyber security and data protection.
• Management.
• Software architecture.
• Technical support.

Based on these criteria, DCIG awarded following enterprise SDS object backup targets a DCIG TOP 5 ranking:

• Cloudian HyperStore
• Cohesity SmartFiles
• OSNexus QuantaStor
• RackTop Systems BrickStor SP Virtual Appliance
• Scality RING

DCIG TOP 5 report is available for download.

Full report contains additional details such as:

• List of the 17 SDS object-based backup targets evaluated.
• Available cyber security features on SDS object backup targets.
• Common features across all enterprise SDS object backup targets.
• 9 distinguishing features of the DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Object Backup Targets.
• Differences between the DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Object Backup Targets.
• Profile of each DCIG TOP 5 Enterprise SDS Object Backup Targets that lists at least 3 ways each one distinguishes itself from the other solutions.

Individuals may access the full report at no cost at this link. (registration required)