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. Shares can be deployed classically within a storage account or, for NFS, directly as a standalone resource via the newer Microsoft.FileShares resource type.
Azure Files is available in European regions. Azure File Sync enables synchronization of on-premises file servers with cloud storage.
Core Features
- SMB and NFS support: Protocol support for Windows, Linux, and macOS clients
- Azure File Sync: Synchronization with on-premises Windows servers, including cloud tiering
- Soft delete: Recovery of accidentally deleted files and shares
- Snapshots: Point-in-time copies for backup and recovery
- Identity-based access: Integration with Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID
- Multiple performance and billing models: Standard (HDD, pay-as-you-go) as well as Premium/Provisioned v1 and v2 (SSD, with fixed provisioned capacity, IOPS, and throughput)
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 manual capacity planning required
- Scales from a few GiB up to the petabyte range, depending on account type and billing model
- High availability through local, zone-redundant, or geo-redundant storage options
- 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 a hierarchical folder structure, ideal for applications expecting a traditional file system. Blob Storage is optimized for unstructured data and scales better for very large data volumes, but lacks a file system interface.
Which protocols are supported?
Azure Files supports SMB for Windows, Linux, and macOS, as well as NFS for Linux workloads. SMB shares can use encryption in transit; NFS shares require access via private endpoints or VNet integration, since NFS itself doesn't provide encryption.
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 and sizes are available?
Options include Premium (SSD, low latency), Transaction Optimized, and Hot/Cool for standard HDD shares, each balancing cost against access frequency. Depending on account type and billing model (pay-as-you-go or provisioned v1/v2), Azure Files supports shares ranging from a few GiB up to the petabyte range; current maximums for capacity, IOPS, and throughput are listed in the official scale-targets documentation.
What does Azure Files cost?
Standard (HDD) shares are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis by stored data and transactions. Premium shares and the newer provisioned v2 model are billed by provisioned capacity, IOPS, and throughput. Current prices are listed on the official pricing page.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Azure (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Azure.
