Azure Files
Definition
Azure's managed cloud file shares over SMB and NFS — a cloud replacement for on-premises file servers, accessible from Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Use Cases
- Contoso Ltd.: Migrating legacy applications to the cloud — Contoso Ltd. used Azure Files to migrate their legacy .NET applications to Azure VMs without changing the file access logic. They mounted Azure Files shares using SMB protocol. (The migration allowed Contoso Ltd. to maintain application functionality while reducing infrastructure costs and improving scalability.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: EFS or FSx for Windows File Server
- Azure: Azure Files
- GCP: Filestore
- OCI: File Storage
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between Azure Files and Azure Blob Storage?
- Azure Files provides a fully managed file share accessible via SMB and NFS protocols, ideal for applications needing a traditional file system. Azure Blob Storage is for storing unstructured data like images and videos, accessed via HTTP APIs.
- When should I use Azure Files?
- Use Azure Files when you need shared storage that can be accessed like a network drive, especially for legacy applications or when sharing files across multiple instances.
- How much does Azure Files cost?
- Azure Files pricing depends on the storage capacity, redundancy options, and data transfer. Costs include storage space, operations, and data transfer out of Azure.
Category: storage
Difficulty: intermediate
Related Terms
See Also