Azure Storage: Disks
Author: Ronald Fung
Creation Date: 2 June 2023
Next Modified Date: 2 June 2024
A. Introduction
Azure managed disks are block-level storage volumes that are managed by Azure and used with Azure Virtual Machines. Managed disks are like a physical disk in an on-premises server but, virtualized. With managed disks, all you have to do is specify the disk size, the disk type, and provision the disk. Once you provision the disk, Azure handles the rest.
The available types of disks are ultra disks, premium solid-state drives (SSD), standard SSDs, and standard hard disk drives (HDD). For information about each individual disk type, see Select a disk type for IaaS VMs.
B. How is it used at Seagen
As a biopharma research company using Microsoft Azure, you can use Azure Disk Storage to store and manage structured data in the cloud. Here are some ways you can use Azure Disk Storage:
Data storage: Azure Disk Storage can be used to store structured data related to your biopharma research efforts, such as databases, virtual machines, and other applications.
Data sharing: Azure Disk Storage allows you to securely share data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Data backup and recovery: Azure Disk Storage can be used for data backup and recovery, providing a reliable and scalable solution for protecting your research data.
Data archiving: Azure Disk Storage allows you to archive data that is no longer actively used, helping to reduce storage costs and improve data management.
Security: Azure Disk Storage provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data.
Scalability: Azure Disk Storage is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change.
Performance: Azure Disk Storage provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently store and retrieve your research data.
Integration: Azure Disk Storage can be integrated with other Azure services, allowing you to move data between systems and perform data integration tasks.
Cost-effectiveness: Azure Disk Storage provides a cost-effective solution for storing and managing structured data, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use.
Overall, by leveraging Azure Disk Storage, you can effectively store and manage your structured research data in the cloud, and collaborate with other researchers and stakeholders to achieve your biopharma research goals. By using Azure Disk Storage for data storage, data sharing, data backup and recovery, data archiving, security, scalability, performance, integration, and cost-effectiveness, you can effectively manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
C. Features
Azure Disk Storage is a cloud-based storage service that provides scalable and cost-effective solutions for storing and managing structured data. Here are some of the key features of Azure Disk Storage:
Data storage: Azure Disk Storage provides a scalable and cost-effective solution for storing structured data related to your biopharma research efforts, such as databases, virtual machines, and other applications.
Data sharing: Azure Disk Storage allows you to securely share data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Data backup and recovery: Azure Disk Storage can be used for data backup and recovery, providing a reliable and scalable solution for protecting your research data.
Data archiving: Azure Disk Storage allows you to archive data that is no longer actively used, helping to reduce storage costs and improve data management.
Security: Azure Disk Storage provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data.
Scalability: Azure Disk Storage is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change.
Performance: Azure Disk Storage provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently store and retrieve your research data.
Integration: Azure Disk Storage can be integrated with other Azure services, allowing you to move data between systems and perform data integration tasks.
Durability: Azure Disk Storage provides high durability, ensuring that your research data is always available and protected.
Availability: Azure Disk Storage provides high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that your research data is always accessible and protected.
Cost-effectiveness: Azure Disk Storage provides a cost-effective solution for storing and managing structured data, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use.
Overall, by leveraging Azure Disk Storage, you can effectively store and manage your structured research data in the cloud, and collaborate with other researchers and stakeholders to achieve your biopharma research goals. By using Azure Disk Storage for data storage, data sharing, data backup and recovery, data archiving, security, scalability, performance, integration, durability, availability, and cost-effectiveness, you can effectively manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
D. Where Implemented
E. How it is tested
Testing Azure Disk Storage involves verifying that the service is properly configured and that it is effectively storing and managing your biopharma research data in the cloud. Here are some steps you can take to test Azure Disk Storage:
Verify configuration: Verify that Azure Disk Storage is properly configured and integrated with your Azure account and applications and websites.
Test data storage: Test Azure Disk Storage by storing and managing structured data related to your biopharma research efforts, ensuring that the service is effectively storing and managing your research data.
Test data sharing: Test Azure Disk Storage by securely sharing data with other researchers and stakeholders, helping to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing.
Test data backup and recovery: Test Azure Disk Storage by using it for data backup and recovery, ensuring that the service provides a reliable and scalable solution for protecting your research data.
Test data archiving: Test Azure Disk Storage by archiving data that is no longer actively used, ensuring that the service is effectively reducing storage costs and improving data management.
Test security: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service provides advanced security features, helping to protect the privacy and security of your research data.
Test scalability: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service is highly scalable, allowing you to easily scale up or down as your data needs change.
Test durability: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service provides high durability, ensuring that your research data is always available and protected.
Test availability: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service provides high availability and disaster recovery capabilities, ensuring that your research data is always accessible and protected.
Test performance: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service provides high performance data processing capabilities, allowing you to quickly and efficiently store and retrieve your research data.
Test cost-effectiveness: Test Azure Disk Storage by verifying that the service provides a cost-effective solution for storing and managing structured data, allowing you to pay only for the resources you use.
Overall, testing Azure Disk Storage involves verifying that the service is effectively storing and managing your research data in the cloud, and providing powerful data storage, data sharing, data backup and recovery, data archiving, security, scalability, durability, availability, performance, and cost-effectiveness capabilities. By taking these steps, you can ensure that you are effectively using Azure Disk Storage to manage your research data and make data-driven decisions that support your biopharma research efforts.
F. 2023 Roadmap
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G. 2024 Roadmap
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H. Known Issues
Like any software or service, there may be known issues or limitations with Azure Disk Storage that users should be aware of. Here are some of the known issues with Azure Disk Storage:
Cost: Azure Disk Storage can be expensive, particularly for organizations that require a high level of storage capacity or that require frequent data access.
Complexity: Azure Disk Storage can be complex to configure and use, particularly for organizations with limited experience in cloud-based storage and data management.
Integration: While Azure Disk Storage can be integrated with other Azure services, there may be compatibility issues that need to be addressed.
Reliability: Azure Disk Storage may experience occasional outages or service disruptions, which can impact the storage and management of your research data.
Performance: Azure Disk Storage may experience performance issues when working with large datasets or complex data management workflows.
Security: While Azure Disk Storage provides advanced security features, there may be security risks associated with storing and managing research data in the cloud.
Scalability: While Azure Disk Storage is highly scalable, there may be limitations to how quickly and easily you can scale up or down to meet changing data needs.
Durability: While Azure Disk Storage provides high durability, there may be rare cases where data loss or corruption occurs.
Overall, while Azure Disk Storage offers a powerful tool for storing and managing structured research data in the cloud, users must be aware of these known issues and take steps to mitigate their impact. This may include carefully managing costs to ensure that they stay within their budget, carefully configuring the service to meet the specific needs of their data management workflows, and carefully monitoring data storage and management activity to ensure that the service is effectively storing and managing research data. By taking these steps, users can ensure that they are effectively using Azure Disk Storage to manage their research data and make data-driven decisions that support their biopharma research efforts.
[x] Reviewed by Enterprise Architecture
[x] Reviewed by Application Development
[x] Reviewed by Data Architecture