Microsoft Azure File Storage Reviews

Name: Microsoft Azure File Storage
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 4 (45 reviews)

Vendor: Microsoft

4.1 out of 5

45 reviews
97% willing to recommend

345 followers

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What is Microsoft Azure File Storage?

Fully managed file shares that use the standard SMB 3.0 protocol

Get the Microsoft Azure File Storage Buyer's Guide and find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Azure File Storage, Amazon EFS (Elastic File System), Google Cloud Storage and more!

Microsoft Azure File Storage is the #4 ranked solution in top Public Cloud Storage Services. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Azure File Storage an average rating of 8.2 out of 10. Microsoft Azure File Storage is most commonly compared to Amazon EFS (Elastic File System): Microsoft Azure File Storage vs Amazon EFS (Elastic File System). Microsoft Azure File Storage is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 62% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 17% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Azure File Storage

October 2024

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Featured reviews

Pmurki@Micron.Com Praveen

VP & GM, Client Storage at Micron Technology

We use it for ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes. We get files from different tools related to our micro-processing, copy them into Azure File Storage, and then consume them for parsing and loading It's good overall. We just use Azure File Storage as a way to keep files for our ETL process.…

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AhmedHAZZAF

Chief Executive Officer at Eleventh

Cloud providers like Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, and AWS often offer similar services, although they may present them differently. For instance, Azure Blob Storage is different from Azure File Storage. While the core functionalities may align, pricing, features, and performance differences exist among these services. Microsoft Azure File Storage is a useful feature. I haven't encountered any issues with its connectors or integration into enterprise systems. While I've recently faced challenges with other technologies, Microsoft provides reliable services. Microsoft Azure File Storage provides robust security features to protect data at rest and in transit. While it utilizes TLS certificates for secure file transfer, additional security measures can be implemented through custom encryption algorithms or encryption methods. This allows for tailored security solutions to meet the specific needs of enterprise companies, ensuring data remains protected during storage and transit. We recommend Microsoft Azure File Storage because it offers secure access to your data from anywhere. Cloud providers prioritize security, which is crucial for all companies today. Securing data in transit and at rest is a significant challenge, and Azure provides robust solutions. Additionally, the cloud is the future of computing. Overall, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

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Arti Jaiswal

Cloud Solutions Architect at UGL

I was using Microsoft Azure File Storage because we were receiving the batch file. In a previous project, our team opted to utilize Microsoft Azure File Storage as our initial choice due to the need to gather batch files from various systems, including SAP and other external sources. We stored all…

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Microsoft Azure File Storage mindshare

As of November 2024, the mindshare of Microsoft Azure File Storage in the Public Cloud Storage Services category stands at 12.9%, down from 13.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Public Cloud Storage Services

Key learnings from peers

Last updated Oct 1, 2024

Valuable Features

Microsoft Azure File Storage is valued for its ease of use, speed, flexibility, integration with Azure and Active Directory, security, scalability, seamless data sync, and customization options. Users appreciate its high availability, cost-effectiveness, and ability to handle multiple file formats. It enables secure file transfers, supports georedundancy, offers lifecycle management, and integrates easily with other Microsoft products.

"The initial setup is very seamless."
"The security features and the ease of integration are good."
"The product can integrate with all platforms. My team also does data visualization, and Power BI can directly connect with those nodes. We can very conveniently connect with multiple tools for our database. The benefit here is that by utilizing the same storage application, my application is linked with their application through the same server. This setup provides real analytics and data for a holistic purpose, which is advantageous."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Azure File Storage could benefit from improved pricing transparency, more intuitive user interfaces, and enhanced technical support. Integration with other platforms and simplified legacy system migration is needed. Performance issues and storage limits require attention. Security measures should be strengthened, and better assessment tools for overall investment and migration costs are necessary. Enhanced AI capabilities and documentation for data import/export would be valuable, along with improved Active Directory integration and more user-friendly features for broader accessibility.

"I would like to see more updates around File Storage."
"Some of the procedures are a bit more complex in Azure than in other providers."
"The tool needs to add more controls and enhance Power BI. For instance, I'm just suggesting the visualization layer. Power BI can increase visualization as much as possible, and the product can add more controls to the data flows."

ROI

Several have seen ROI from Microsoft Azure File Storage. It has facilitated file sharing across countries and saved significant money. Some have found it worth the investment and experienced ROI for business use cases. One group did not see a return yet due to small infrastructure, another saved significantly when moving to the cloud. Some did not observe commercial returns, and integration with products and applications was easy.

Pricing

Microsoft Azure File Storage pricing varies widely and users often find it challenging to predict costs. Many express that it's more expensive than AWS and other alternatives. Costs are based on actual usage, with options for both monthly and yearly billing. Some appreciate the tiered pricing model and reasonable cost stability, yet others note a lack of transparency and the inability to secure significant discounts. Licensing and additional fees for premium support may increase overall expenses.

"The solution is a bit pricey compared to AWS and Google."
"I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten, with ten being the most expensive. It's not cheap."
"The product must improve its price."

Popular Use Cases

Companies primarily use Microsoft Azure File Storage for cloud migration. Tasks include storing and retrieving IT management files, accessing files from various locations, integrating with on-premises systems, managing banking KYC data, archiving, log storage, IoT data gathering, and backup. Azure File Storage also supports AI-based pattern recognition, file sharing, data analysis, and enhanced file security through advanced authentication features and APIs for data exchange.

Service and Support

Support for Microsoft Azure File Storage varies widely. Premium customers and silver partners report quick, responsive service. Others experience slower assistance, often facing transfers and tier-one support issues. Regional differences impact support quality, with users finding the Philippines more efficient than India. Some use internal teams and avoid Microsoft help. Many rate the support as good, while some find it average or requiring improvement. Responsiveness and effectiveness are inconsistent, depending on the customer relationship and service level.

Deployment

The initial setup of Microsoft Azure File Storage is easy and straightforward for most users, though some find it moderately complex. Deployment time varies, with some completing it in minutes and others requiring weeks based on project size and data volumes. Multiple entities mention needing consultants or technical teams, but many find the process simple with adequate documentation. Managing permissions and integrating with other tools present occasional challenges.

Scalability

Microsoft Azure File Storage is often praised for its scalability. Many users find it scalable without major issues. It accommodates various sizes of organizations, ranging from small to large enterprises. Despite some concerns with hitting boundaries and needing migration to premium solutions, users generally rate its scalability highly, with scores typically ranging from eight to ten out of ten. The platform's dynamic nature and cloud-based scalability are highlighted as significant advantages.

Stability

Microsoft Azure File Storage is generally stable, as reported by most users. Few experience minor issues like VPN disconnections and SQL problems, but such incidents are rare. It is reliable and does not frequently crash or freeze. Many rate its stability between eight and ten out of ten, and favorably compare it to other platforms. With stability often ranked highly, users appreciate its dependable performance and reliability.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Azure File Storage Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.