What is Azure Data Lake Storage?
Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 is the optimal storage solution for Big Data analytics. The service combines the scalability of Blob Storage with a hierarchical namespace for efficient directory operations.
Core Features
- Hierarchical namespace for efficient file operations
- Unlimited scaling in the petabyte range
- Tiered storage: Hot, Cool, Archive
- POSIX-compatible ACLs for fine-grained permissions
- Native integration with Databricks, Synapse, and HDInsight
Typical Use Cases
- Data lake for analytics and machine learning
- Long-term archiving of enterprise data
- Staging area for ETL pipelines
Benefits
- Up to 100x faster directory operations than Blob Storage
- Cost-effective through automatic tiering
- Full compatibility with Blob Storage APIs
- Enterprise security with Azure AD and ACLs
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Data Lake Storage: data lake architecture, migration from on-premises, access control, and cost optimization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Gen1 and Gen2?
Gen2 is based on Azure Blob Storage with hierarchical namespace. It offers better performance, lower costs, and full Blob Storage compatibility. Gen1 is being retired.
What access tiers are available?
Hot, Cool, and Archive. Hot for frequent access, Cool for infrequent access (30+ days), Archive for long-term storage (180+ days). Costs decrease, retrieval times increase.
How does hierarchical namespace work?
Folder structures with atomic operations at directory level. Renaming a folder with millions of files takes milliseconds instead of hours.
What security features are available?
Azure AD integration, POSIX ACLs at file and folder level, encryption at rest, private endpoints, and firewall rules.
