Secure, scalable storage with Azure Storage.
Azure Storage holds your files, backups and archives in Microsoft’s Canadian data centres with built in redundancy. We design it for cost, access and security.
What Azure Storage covers
What is Azure Storage?
Azure Storage is a family of services for keeping data in the cloud. Blob storage holds unstructured data such as documents, images, video and backups. Azure Files provides file shares that work like a traditional network drive. Managed disks provide the storage behind virtual machines.
It is designed to scale from a few gigabytes to petabytes, and to keep several copies of your data automatically so a hardware failure does not lose anything.
The key to using it well is matching the storage type, tier and redundancy to the data. Frequently used files should be fast, old archives should be cheap, and critical data should be replicated far away.
Blob storage offers access tiers. Hot is for data used often, cool and cold are for data used rarely, and archive is the cheapest way to keep data you hope never to need, with a delay to retrieve it. Lifecycle rules can move data between tiers automatically as it ages.
Redundancy options range from three copies in one data centre to copies spread across zones and across regions. The more resilient the option, the higher the price.
What Azure Storage can do.
Blob storage
Scalable object storage for documents, media, logs and backups.
Azure Files
Managed SMB and NFS file shares in the cloud, accessible from Windows, Mac and Linux.
Azure File Sync
Cache cloud file shares on your local Windows Server for fast local access and cloud backup.
Access tiers and lifecycle rules
Move data between hot, cool, cold and archive to lower cost automatically.
Redundancy options
Locally redundant, zone redundant and geo redundant copies for different resilience needs.
Encryption by default
Data is encrypted at rest and in transit, with options for customer managed keys.
Soft delete, versioning and immutability
Recover from deletion and protect data from change for a set period, which helps against ransomware.
Private access
Private endpoints and firewall rules keep storage off the public internet.
How Azure Storage works.
Choose
Select storage type, performance level and redundancy for each data set.
Secure
Set identity based access, private endpoints and encryption.
Connect
Map shares, sync servers or integrate with applications and backup tools.
Optimize
Use tiering and reviews to keep the cost aligned with how data is used.
What happens behind the scenes.
Data is stored in a storage account, which is the container for blobs, files and other services. You choose its region and redundancy, and Azure keeps the required copies across hardware. Access is controlled through Entra ID roles, shared access signatures and network rules.
Azure Files shares can be mounted on computers, or joined to Active Directory or Entra ID for permissions that match your users. With Azure File Sync, a Windows Server at the office keeps hot files locally and moves the rest to the cloud, so users keep fast access while the cloud copy acts as the master and backup.
How it benefits your business.
Azure Storage reduces the need to buy and maintain storage hardware, and removes the risk of running out of space or losing data to a failed array. Capacity is available when you need it and you only pay for what you use.
It also improves resilience. With zone or geo redundancy and features such as soft delete, a failed disk, a deleted folder or a ransomware attack does not mean permanent loss.
Used with tiering, it can cut the cost of keeping large archives, such as projects, recordings or old records, which many businesses keep on expensive primary storage.
The benefits at a glance.
Grows with you
Add capacity without buying hardware.
Built in redundancy
Multiple copies protect against failures.
Lower cost for archives
Tiering reduces the price of old data.
Ransomware resistance
Soft delete, versioning and immutability.
Familiar file shares
SMB shares with Active Directory permissions.
Data in Canada
Choose Canadian regions for residency.
Pricing: Billed by the amount stored, the storage tier and redundancy chosen, and operations and data transfer. Colder tiers cost less to hold and more to read. Azure prices and features change, so we confirm current pricing and design to a budget before you commit.
What this looks like day to day.
An engineering firm keeps ten years of project files on an ageing storage array. Infinity moves active projects to an Azure Files share with File Sync, and closed projects to the cool and archive tiers of blob storage with lifecycle rules. The array is retired, and the storage bill is lower than the cost of its replacement.
This is an illustrative example of how the service is used, not a description of a specific client.
Mistakes we see, and how we avoid them.
Public access left on
Misconfigured storage accounts have exposed data. Disable public access and use private endpoints.
Wrong tier for the data
Archive data you read every week costs more to retrieve. Match tier to use.
Assuming redundancy is backup
Replication copies mistakes too. Add backup, soft delete and immutability.
Ignoring performance needs
Large file shares and busy applications need the right performance tier.
Azure Storage with Infinity.
Storage design
Types, tiers and redundancy matched to your data.
Learn moreAzure Files and File Sync
Replace file servers with cloud shares or a hybrid design.
Learn moreSecurity and access
Entra ID access, private endpoints and encryption.
Learn moreLifecycle and archive
Rules to keep cost in line with usage.
Learn moreBackup integration
Protect Azure Files and blobs with Azure Backup.
Learn moreMonitoring and reviews
Capacity, access and cost reviews.
Learn moreCan Azure Files replace our file server?
For many businesses, yes. Azure Files provides SMB shares with Active Directory style permissions, and File Sync can keep a local cache if needed.
Is Azure Storage the same as OneDrive and SharePoint?
No. OneDrive and SharePoint are user focused document services in Microsoft 365. Azure Storage is infrastructure storage for servers, applications, backups and large data.
How safe is data in Azure Storage?
It is encrypted and replicated. Security also depends on configuration, which is why we lock down access and add backup.
Can we keep data in Canada?
Yes, by choosing Canadian regions and a redundancy option that stays within them.
How do we control the cost?
Through tiers, lifecycle rules, right sizing and regular reviews.
Talk to us about Azure Storage.
Book a free consultation. We will look at your current setup and show you where it fits.
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We answer almost every inquiry within one business day.