Azure Blob Storage - Object Storage

What is Azure Blob Storage?

Azure Blob Storage is Microsoft’s object storage solution for unstructured data in the cloud. The service provides massively scalable storage for binary data, text, logs, backups, media files, and data lake workloads with Hot, Cool, and Archive tiers for cost-optimized retention based on access frequency.

At its core, Blob Storage stores data as objects (blobs) in containers (similar to S3 buckets). Three blob types are available: Block Blobs for general data (images, videos, documents), Append Blobs for log files and streaming data, and Page Blobs for random access scenarios (e.g., VHD disks).

Core Features

• Three access tiers: Hot, Cool, Archive for cost optimization
• Automatic lifecycle management with tiering policies
• Multiple redundancy options: LRS, ZRS, GRS, GZRS
• Immutable storage (WORM) for compliance
• Private endpoints for VNet integration
• Data Lake Storage Gen2 with hierarchical namespace

Typical Use Cases

Backup and disaster recovery: Companies store database, VM, and file backups in Cool or Archive tier. Lifecycle policies automatically move backups to Cool after 30 days, to Archive after 1 year.

Media storage for streaming: Video platforms store master files in Hot tier, transcoded variants in Cool tier, old content in Archive. Azure CDN caches frequent videos for global delivery.

Data lake for big data analytics: Data engineering teams store raw data (logs, events, telemetry) in Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2. Parquet and Delta files are analyzed by Spark, Synapse, or Databricks.

Static website hosting: Single-page applications and static websites are hosted directly from Blob Storage. Azure CDN caches assets globally. Costs: a few dollars per month for small sites.

Benefits

• Unlimited scaling without capacity planning
• Pay only for what you use
• 99.999999999% (11 nines) durability
• Native integration with Azure analytics services

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Hot, Cool, and Archive?

Hot: Optimized for frequent access, highest storage cost ($0.02/GB/month), lowest access cost, instant access. Cool: Optimized for infrequently accessed data, lower storage cost ($0.01/GB/month), higher access cost, 30-day minimum, instant access. Archive: Optimized for long-term archival, lowest storage cost (~$0.002/GB/month), highest access cost, 180-day minimum, rehydration 1-15 hours.

How does rehydration from Archive work?

Archive blobs must be rehydrated before access. Standard rehydration takes up to 15 hours (included). High-priority rehydration takes under 1 hour (higher cost). Use Archive only for data you never need immediately.

What is Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2?

ADLS Gen2 is Blob Storage with Hierarchical Namespace enabled. Offers file system semantics (directories, rename operations), better performance for big data, and ACLs (POSIX-like permissions). Costs the same as Blob Storage.

How does immutable storage work?

Immutable Storage (WORM: Write Once, Read Many) prevents deletion and modification for configurable periods (Time-Based Retention) or permanently (Legal Hold). Protects against ransomware, meets compliance (SEC 17a-4, FINRA).

Integration with innFactory

As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Blob Storage: tier strategy, lifecycle management, cost optimization, and data lake implementations.