Microsoft’s Azure platform has become a major force in cloud storage. By early 2024, Azure’s storage system was handling over 100 exabytes of data transactions each month—translating to more than a quadrillion transactions. This growth reflects not just the overall rise in cloud storage but also Azure’s expanded offerings.
While Azure is often linked to Microsoft products, it now provides a broader array of storage solutions. This includes specialized options like object storage, container storage, and support for various virtual machines, desktops, and even technologies from companies like Oracle and SAP.
The main types of Azure storage are block, file, and object storage. Key products include Azure Files, Azure Blobs, Azure Elastic SAN, Azure Managed Disks, and Azure Container Storage. Microsoft has also teamed up with NetApp for Azure NetApp Files, ensuring compatibility with NetApp’s own systems.
Many on-premise Microsoft customers use a mix of these Azure storage options. Microsoft has partnered with other storage specialists like Qumulo for Blob storage, Commvault for cyber resilience, and Pure Storage for container-focused data management.
Let’s take a closer look at the common Azure storage options:
Azure Files offers managed cloud file shares using standard file systems like SMB and NFS. It supports the Azure Files REST API, making it versatile for mounting on Linux, Windows, and Mac systems. It’s great for businesses wanting to shift applications to the cloud or augment existing on-premise file storage. Organizations can access Files from anywhere using a URL and token, and it integrates with Active Directory for authentication. Costs range from about £0.012 to £0.1332 per month per GiB, depending on storage type.
Azure NetApp Files serves as another NAS option and is tailored for complex workloads. It’s ideal for migrating challenging applications, including those requiring Posix compliance, high-performance computing, and enterprise web apps.
Azure Elastic SAN simplifies creating a storage area network in the cloud. It allows businesses to scale storage easily and offers capabilities like high availability. Supporting multiple applications through iSCSI, it caters to large-scale, I/O-intensive workloads. The pricing starts at £71.912 per month for the basic unit.
Azure Managed Disks provide a straightforward storage solution with virtual hard disks suited for persistent data needs. They’re typically used by organizations transitioning virtual machines from on-premise to cloud. Available types include ultra disks and standard SSDs, with varying performance specifications. Prices begin at £0.57 per month for a basic drive.
Azure Blob Storage is designed for massive amounts of unstructured data. It’s suitable for tasks such as image hosting, video streaming, backup, and disaster recovery. With different tiers available, Blob storage serves various needs—from general storage to premium options for high transaction volumes. Costs vary from £0.00137 per GB for the Archive tier to £0.14227 for Premium storage.