Azure Files Sync

Azure Files Sync allows you to centralize your organization's file shares in Azure Files, and then enables you to centrally manage the data across your on-premises servers and Azure Files. Azure Files Sync brings the benefits of cloud storage – scalability, cost-effectiveness, and global accessibility – to your on-premises file servers.

Key Features

Cloud Tiering: Keep frequently accessed files on-premises for fast local access while moving less frequently accessed files to Azure Files.
Multi-site Sync: Sync multiple on-premises Windows file servers with the same Azure File share, allowing for seamless collaboration and disaster recovery.
Centralized Management: Manage all your file shares from a single location in the Azure portal.
Cost Savings: Reduce the need for expensive on-premises storage hardware and leverage Azure's cost-effective storage tiers.
Hybrid Capabilities: Extend your existing file server infrastructure to the cloud without a complete rewrite.

Getting Started

To get started with Azure Files Sync, you'll need to:

Create an Azure Storage Account: If you don't already have one, create a storage account in Azure.
Create an Azure File Share: Within your storage account, create an Azure File share.
Deploy the Azure Files Sync Agent: Download and install the Azure Files Sync agent on your on-premises Windows server(s).
Register your server: Register your on-premises server with your Azure File share.
Create a Sync Group: Define a sync group to manage which servers and Azure file shares will synchronize together.

Use Cases

Centralizing File Shares: Consolidate numerous on-premises file shares into Azure Files for easier management and backup.
Branch Office File Sync: Enable seamless file access and collaboration for branch offices, syncing their local servers with a central Azure File share.
Disaster Recovery: Use Azure Files Sync as part of your disaster recovery strategy, ensuring your critical file data is always available.
Application Data Synchronization: Synchronize application data residing on file servers with Azure Files.

Note: Ensure your network connectivity to Azure is stable for optimal synchronization performance.

Tip: For large deployments, consider using Azure File Sync's cloud tiering to optimize local disk space usage.

Important: Always review the latest compatibility requirements and limitations before deploying Azure Files Sync.

Learn More

This documentation provides a comprehensive guide to understanding, deploying, and managing Azure Files Sync to enhance your hybrid cloud storage strategy.