Azure Storage Basics
Azure Storage is a collection of cloud-based services that help you store and access data. Whether you need to store files, blobs, tables, or queues, Azure Storage offers a scalable, secure, and cost-effective solution.
Key Azure Storage Services
Azure Storage provides several distinct services, each designed for different data types and access patterns:
1. Azure Blob Storage
Azure Blob Storage is optimized for storing massive amounts of unstructured data, such as text or binary data. This includes:
- Images or documents for direct delivery to a browser.
- Files for distributed access.
- Data for backup, restore, disaster recovery, and data warehousing.
- Data for analysis by an on-premises or hosted service.
Note
Blob storage is ideal for scenarios where data is accessed infrequently or accessed via HTTP/S.
2. Azure File Storage
Azure File Storage offers fully managed cloud file shares that are accessible via the industry-standard Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. This allows you to:
- Replace or supplement on-premises file servers.
- Lift and shift applications that rely on file shares to Azure.
- Share configuration files, scripts, and tools across multiple VMs.
Tip
Azure Files can be mounted concurrently by cloud or on-premises Windows, macOS, and Linux deployments.
3. Azure Queue Storage
Azure Queue Storage is designed for storing large numbers of messages that can be processed asynchronously. Applications can add messages to the queue and then any other application can retrieve and process them.
- Decoupling application components for improved scalability and resilience.
- Processing long-running operations in the background.
4. Azure Table Storage
Azure Table Storage stores large amounts of structured, non-relational data. It's a NoSQL key-attribute store that allows for flexible schema design.
- Storing flexible datasets for web applications.
- Storing user data and metadata for various services.
- Fast development and rapid iteration with schema flexibility.
Important
Azure Table Storage is a key-value store, not a relational database. It's ideal for semi-structured data where you need fast access to large datasets.
Understanding Storage Accounts
All Azure Storage services are accessed via an Azure Storage account. A storage account provides a unique namespace in Azure for your data. You can create a storage account through the Azure portal, PowerShell, Azure CLI, or Azure Storage SDKs.
Storage Account Types:
- General-purpose v2 (GPv2): Recommended for most scenarios, supporting blobs, files, queues, and tables.
- Blob Storage: Optimized for blob storage scenarios.
- File Storage: Optimized for high-throughput and low-latency file share scenarios.
Accessing Azure Storage
You can access Azure Storage data using:
- Azure Portal: For browsing and managing data.
- Azure Storage Explorer: A standalone app for managing Azure Storage resources.
- REST APIs: For programmatic access.
- SDKs: Available for various programming languages (e.g., .NET, Java, Python, Node.js).
- Azure CLI and PowerShell: For scripting and automation.
Security Considerations
Azure Storage offers robust security features, including:
- Authentication: Shared Key, Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
- Authorization: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Access Control Lists (ACLs) for files.
- Encryption: Data is encrypted at rest by default with Microsoft-managed keys. You can also use customer-managed keys.
- Network Security: Firewalls and virtual networks, Private Endpoints.
Understanding these basic concepts will help you choose the right Azure Storage service and configure it effectively for your applications.