What's the difference between Azure NetApp Files and Azure Files?

Azure NetApp Files is designed for high-performance workloads with sub-millisecond latency, while Azure Files is suitable for general-purpose file sharing.

When should I use Azure NetApp Files?

Use Azure NetApp Files for workloads requiring low latency, ONTAP features, or SAP HANA certification.

How much does Azure NetApp Files cost?

Costs vary based on service tier (Standard, Premium, Ultra) and provisioned capacity. Pricing includes IOPS and throughput guarantees.

Azure NetApp Files

Definition

Azure enterprise file storage powered by NetApp ONTAP, delivering sub-millisecond NFS and SMB latency for SAP, HPC, and latency-sensitive migrations.

Use Cases

Pharmaceutical Company: Running SAP HANA for ERP system — Provisioned Azure NetApp Files Ultra-tier volume for HANA data and log volume, used ONTAP snapshots for backups, and SnapMirror for disaster recovery. (Achieved sub-millisecond storage latency, ensured application-consistent backups, and set up a robust disaster recovery plan.)

Provider Equivalents

AWS: AWS FSx for NetApp ONTAP
Azure: Azure NetApp Files
GCP: GCP NetApp Volumes

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Azure NetApp Files and Azure Files?: Azure NetApp Files is designed for high-performance workloads with sub-millisecond latency, while Azure Files is suitable for general-purpose file sharing.
When should I use Azure NetApp Files?: Use Azure NetApp Files for workloads requiring low latency, ONTAP features, or SAP HANA certification.
How much does Azure NetApp Files cost?: Costs vary based on service tier (Standard, Premium, Ultra) and provisioned capacity. Pricing includes IOPS and throughput guarantees.

Azure NetApp Files in Cloud Architecture

Understanding Azure NetApp Files is important for experienced cloud architects building complex, enterprise-scale systems. Cloud architects encounter this concept when designing systems for reliability, scalability, security, and cost-efficiency across Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI).

In cloud Storage, Azure NetApp Files is one of several foundational concepts that practitioners must master to design production-ready systems. Related concepts in the same domain include the terms listed in the See Also section below.

Canvas Cloud AI provides an AI-powered designer for cloud architecture diagrams where practitioners can visualise how Azure NetApp Files fits into a broader system. Users describe their architecture in plain English and receive a diagram, Terraform export, and Learning Guide — all without leaving the browser.

Category: storage

Difficulty: advanced