Azure Files provides fully managed file shares in the cloud accessible via SMB and NFS protocols. Organizations can migrate existing applications to the cloud without code changes.
What is Azure Files?
Azure Files is a managed file storage service that provides traditional file shares in the cloud. Unlike Blob Storage, which is optimized for unstructured data, Azure Files offers a full-fledged file system with folders, files, and access permissions.
The service supports two protocols: SMB (Server Message Block) for Windows, Linux, and macOS, and NFS (Network File System) for Linux workloads. This allows existing applications to access Azure Files without modifications.
Azure Files is available in European regions and meets GDPR requirements. Azure File Sync enables synchronization of on-premises file servers with cloud storage.
Core Features
- SMB and NFS Support: Full protocol support for Windows and Linux
- Azure File Sync: Synchronization with on-premises Windows servers and cloud tiering
- Soft Delete: Recovery of accidentally deleted files
- Snapshots: Point-in-time copies for backup and recovery
- Identity-based Access: Integration with Active Directory and Azure AD
Typical Use Cases
Azure Files is particularly suited for lift-and-shift migrations from on-premises file servers, shared storage for containers and Kubernetes workloads, and as a home directory solution for virtual desktops. Legacy applications with SMB dependencies can be migrated without code changes.
Benefits
- No infrastructure management or capacity planning required
- Instant scaling up to 100 TiB per file share
- High availability with automatic replication
- Integration with Azure Backup for automated backups
Integration with innFactory
As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, innFactory supports you with Azure Files: architecture design, on-premises file server migration, Azure File Sync setup, and cost optimization.
Typical Use Cases
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Azure Files and Blob Storage?
Azure Files provides SMB/NFS file shares with hierarchical folder structure, ideal for applications expecting traditional file systems. Blob Storage is optimized for unstructured data and offers better scaling for large datasets but lacks a file system interface.
Which protocols are supported?
Azure Files supports SMB 3.0/3.1.1 for Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as NFS 4.1 for Linux workloads. SMB offers encryption in transit; NFS requires VNET integration.
Can I sync Azure Files with on-premises?
Yes, Azure File Sync enables synchronization between Azure Files and Windows Server. Frequently used files remain cached locally while rarely used files are tiered to the cloud.
What performance tiers are available?
Premium (SSD, low latency), Transaction Optimized (HDD, many small transactions), Hot (frequent access), Cool (infrequent access). Premium offers up to 100,000 IOPS per share.
