Azure File Sync

  • Author: Ronald Fung

  • Creation Date: 17 May 2023

  • Next Modified Date: 17 May 2024

A. Introduction

Azure File Sync enables centralizing your organization’s file shares in Azure Files, while keeping the flexibility, performance, and compatibility of a Windows file server. While some users may opt to keep a full copy of their data locally, Azure File Sync additionally has the ability to transform Windows Server into a quick cache of your Azure file share. You can use any protocol that’s available on Windows Server to access your data locally, including SMB, NFS, and FTPS. You can have as many caches as you need across the world.

B. How is it used at Seagen

As a biopharma research company using Microsoft Azure, you can use Azure File Sync to synchronize your on-premises file servers with Azure Files, providing a centralized and scalable storage solution for your files. Here are some ways you can use Azure File Sync:

  1. Cloud storage consolidation: Azure File Sync can help you to consolidate your on-premises file servers into a centralized cloud storage solution, reducing your storage costs and simplifying your data management.

  2. File synchronization: Azure File Sync can help you to synchronize your on-premises file servers with Azure Files, providing a consistent view of your files across all your locations.

  3. Cloud tiering: Azure File Sync can help you to optimize your storage costs by tiering your less frequently accessed files to Azure Files, while keeping your frequently accessed files on-premises.

  4. High availability: Azure File Sync provides high availability for your files, with automatic failover and disaster recovery capabilities.

  5. Integration with other Azure services: Azure File Sync can integrate with other Azure services such as Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery. This can help you to extend the functionality of your file storage and improve your disaster recovery capabilities.

  6. Security and compliance: Azure File Sync provides security features such as encryption and access control. It also complies with regulatory requirements such as GDPR and HIPAA.

Overall, Azure File Sync can help your biopharma research company to synchronize your on-premises file servers with Azure Files, providing a centralized and scalable storage solution for your files, with cloud storage consolidation, file synchronization, cloud tiering, high availability, integration with other Azure services, security and compliance. With Azure File Sync, you can improve your data management, reduce your storage costs, and ensure the availability and security of your files.

C. Features

Benefits of Azure File Sync

Cloud tiering

With cloud tiering enabled, your most frequently accessed files are cached on your local server and your least frequently accessed files are tiered to the cloud. You can control how much local disk space is used for caching. Tiered files can quickly be recalled on-demand, making the experience seamless while enabling you to cut down on costs as you only need to store a fraction of your data on-premises. For more information about cloud tiering, see Cloud tiering overview.

Multi-site access and sync

Azure File Sync is ideal for distributed access scenarios. For each of your offices, you can provision a local Windows Server as part of your Azure File Sync deployment. Changes made to a server in one office automatically sync to the servers in all other offices.

Business continuity and disaster recovery

Azure File Sync is backed by Azure Files, which offers several redundancy options for highly available storage. Because Azure contains resilient copies of your data, your local server becomes a disposable caching device, and recovering from a failed server can be done by adding a new server to your Azure File Sync deployment. Rather than restoring from a local backup, you provision another Windows Server, install the Azure File Sync agent on it, and then add it to your Azure File Sync deployment. Azure File Sync downloads your file namespace before downloading data, so that your server can be up and running as soon as possible. For even faster recovery, you can have a warm stand by server as part of your deployment, or you can use Azure File Sync with Windows Clustering.

Cloud-side backup

Reduce your on-premises backup spending by taking centralized backups in the cloud using Azure Backup. SMB Azure file shares have native snapshot capabilities, and the process can be automated using Azure Backup to schedule your backups and manage their retention. Azure Backup also integrates with your on-premises servers, so when you restore to the cloud, these changes are automatically downloaded on your Windows Servers.

Training

For self-paced training, see the following modules:

Architecture

For guidance on architecting solutions with Azure Files and Azure File Sync using established patterns and practices, see the following:

D. Where Implemented

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E. How it is tested

Testing Azure File Sync involves ensuring that the service is functioning correctly and securely, and meeting the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. Here are some steps to follow to test Azure File Sync:

  1. Define the scope and requirements: Define the scope of the project and the requirements of all stakeholders involved in the project. This will help ensure that Azure File Sync is designed to meet the needs of all stakeholders.

  2. Develop test cases: Develop test cases that cover all aspects of Azure File Sync functionality, including syncing files, configuring sync groups, and monitoring sync performance. The test cases should be designed to meet the needs of the organization, including scalability and resilience.

  3. Conduct unit testing: Test the individual components of Azure File Sync to ensure that they are functioning correctly. This may involve using tools like PowerShell or Azure CLI for automated testing.

  4. Conduct integration testing: Test Azure File Sync in an integrated environment to ensure that it works correctly with other systems and applications. This may involve testing Azure File Sync with different operating systems, browsers, and devices.

  5. Conduct user acceptance testing: Test Azure File Sync with end-users to ensure that it meets their needs and is easy to use. This may involve conducting surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather feedback from users.

  6. Automate testing: Automate testing of Azure File Sync to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve using tools like Azure DevOps Pipelines to set up automated testing pipelines.

  7. Monitor performance: Monitor the performance of Azure File Sync in production to ensure that it is meeting the needs of all stakeholders. This may involve setting up monitoring tools, such as Azure Monitor, to track usage and identify performance issues.

  8. Address issues: Address any issues that are identified during testing and make necessary changes to ensure that Azure File Sync is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders.

By following these steps, you can ensure that Azure File Sync is tested thoroughly and meets the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. This can help improve the quality of Azure File Sync and ensure that it functions correctly in a production environment.

F. 2023 Roadmap

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G. 2024 Roadmap

Public peering is no longer available on new ExpressRoute circuits and is scheduled for retirement on March 31, 2024.

H. Known Issues

There are several known issues that can impact Azure File Sync. Here are some of the most common issues to be aware of:

  1. Sync issues: Sync issues can arise when syncing files between different locations using Azure File Sync. It is important to ensure that the service is properly sized and configured to avoid these issues.

  2. Security issues: Security is a critical concern when it comes to Azure File Sync. It is important to ensure that Azure File Sync is secured and that access to the solution is restricted to authorized personnel.

  3. Compatibility issues: Azure File Sync may not be compatible with all platforms, devices, or languages. It is important to ensure that Azure File Sync is compatible with the organization’s existing infrastructure before implementation.

  4. Scalability issues: Scalability issues can arise when scaling up or down the service. It is important to ensure that the service can scale to meet the needs of the organization.

  5. Integration issues: Integration issues can arise when integrating Azure File Sync with other systems and applications. It is important to ensure that Azure File Sync is designed to work seamlessly with other systems and applications to avoid integration issues.

  6. Testing issues: Testing issues can arise when testing Azure File Sync. It is important to ensure that testing is carried out thoroughly and that all aspects of Azure File Sync functionality are tested.

  7. Performance issues: Performance issues can impact the speed and reliability of Azure File Sync. It is important to monitor performance and address any issues that arise.

  8. Licensing issues: Licensing issues can arise when using Azure File Sync. It is important to ensure that the appropriate licensing is in place to avoid any legal issues.

Overall, Azure File Sync requires careful planning and management to ensure that it is functioning correctly and meeting the needs of all stakeholders involved in the project. By being aware of these known issues and taking steps to address them, you can improve the quality of Azure File Sync and ensure the success of your project.

[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture

[x] Reviewed by Application Development

[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture