Azure storage services

Understanding Microsoft Azure Architecture and Services

Florin Angelescu

Azure Architect

What are Azure storage services?

• Cloud storage solutions provided by Azure
• Offer secure storage options for various types of data
• Allow users to store, retrieve, and manage data in Azure cloud
• Provide flexibility and scalability

Azure storage services

Storage account

• Required by blobs, files, queues and tables
• Virtual container for your data
• Organize, access and secure data in Azure cloud

Blobs

• Designed for storing large amounts of unstructured data
• Azure handles the physical storage needs for blobs

When to use blobs?

• Storing files for widespread access
• Streaming video and audio content
• Storing backups, disaster recovery, archives
• Delivery of images or documents to web

Blob storage tiers

• Hot access tier
  • Frequently accessed data

• Cool access tier
  • Data accessed infrequently

• Cold access tier
  • Rarely accessed data

• Archive access tier
  • Archiving purposes

Files

• Provide organized file spaces in the cloud
• Easy access from cloud and on-premises devices
• Can be accessed from most operating systems

When to use files?

• Shared storage solution is required for multiple users or applications
• Cross-platform access is needed
• Centralized cloud location for file collaboration is required
• Application data sharing between different components of an application

Queues

• Digital message service in the cloud
• Enables communication between various components, programs or applications
• Messages are stored, creating a queue of instructions

How queues work

Tables

• NoSQL data store in storage accounts
• Store and retrieve data flexible and schema-less
• Suitable for fast and scalable access to large amounts of unstructured data
• Cost effective and simple to manage

Disks

• Provide scalable and secure persistent storage for virtual machines
• Provide storage space for operating systems, applications, and data
• Play a crucial role in virtual machines functionality

Let's practice!

Understanding Microsoft Azure Architecture and Services