In today’s always-on world, even a short system outage can cause more than just a hiccup—it can cost real money. Whether it’s a cyberattack, a natural disaster, or a technical failure, downtime can throw operations off track, hurt your reputation, and impact your bottom line. That’s why having a solid Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) plan is no longer optional—it’s essential. And if your business depends on critical apps and data, the stakes are even higher.
This underscores the critical importance of Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) strategies, particularly for enterprises reliant on vital applications and data.
That’s where Azure NetApp Files comes in. It’s a high-performance, low-latency file storage solution built into Azure, designed to help you meet tough availability, compliance, and recovery standards without breaking a sweat.
Microsoft Enhances Azure NetApp Files
Microsoft continues to innovate and expand its cloud storage capabilities with new and improved enhancements for Azure NetApp Files. These updates reinforce Microsoft's commitment to providing businesses with the tools they need to optimize efficiency, enhance security, and scale with confidence. Whether you're handling large-scale workloads, ensuring data resilience, or bolstering operational agility, these enhancements promise to take enterprise storage solutions to the next level.
Here's a closer look at the most impactful updates announced for Azure NetApp Files.
Strengthened Security with volume encryption and customer-managed keys
Azure NetApp Files now supports volume encryption with customer-managed keys using Azure Key Vault Managed Hardware Security Module (HSM), which has now reached general availability (GA). This enhancement pushes security compliance from FIPS 140-2 Level 2 to FIPS 140-2 Level 3, meeting the stringent requirements of industries such as financial services, public sector, and energy.
Key benefits include:
- Greater control and flexibility for encryption key management.
- Enhanced security for critical deployments, including payment processing and authentication.
This feature equips organizations to meet regulatory needs while maintaining superior control over sensitive data.
Advanced Resilience with cross-zone and cross-region replication
Azure NetApp Files introduces several significant updates to replication capabilities, providing businesses with robust disaster recovery options:
- Application volume group for Oracle now supports cross-zone and cross-region replication (preview). This eliminates the need for Dataguard to replicate and the need to run virtual machines, which saves cost.
- Cross-zone-region replication (preview) adds new layers of flexibility by allowing organizations to configure two protection volumes using combinations of cross-zone and cross-region replication.
These enhancements offer unparalleled flexibility for enterprises requiring both data replication and rapid restoration options.
Streamlined Directory Management with Active Directory Support
Managing complex Active Directory environments becomes easier with the new Active Directory connection per NetApp account feature, now generally available (GA). With this update, each NetApp account can connect to its own Active Directory Forest and Domain, streamlining operations for enterprises with diverse and isolated directory needs.
Key highlights:
- Simplified multi-tenant directory management for large organizations.
- Scalability and efficiency through multiple connections across NetApp accounts.
This feature ensures enterprises can efficiently manage specialized hosting scenarios with enhanced isolation and security.
Enhanced Visibility with New Quota and Volume Metrics
Proactive monitoring takes a leap forward with new subscription quota metrics (preview). These metrics show resource usage at the subscription level, including:
- Regional capacity quotas.
- The number of capacity pools, cool access volumes, and replication volumes.
Additionally, Azure NetApp Files now supports Volume inode usage metrics to monitor file count consumption for high-performance workloads like HPC and EDA. With clearer insights into capacity and inode consumption, enterprises can better plan ahead and avoid disruptions.
Improved Agility with Cross-Subscription and Cross-Tenant Features
For enterprises that operate multiple tenancies or subscriptions, Microsoft has rolled out two game-changing updates:
- Cross-tenant customer-managed keys (preview) enable SaaS providers to offer end-users complete control over encryption keys in multi-tenant configurations.
These two features ensure businesses that operate multiple tenancies or subscriptions can scale and operate with enhanced agility while maintaining stringent security standards.
Strengthened Security Through File Access Logging
Organizations can enhance their security posture with the new File Access Logs (preview). This feature offers:
- Detailed user activity monitoring, including user identity, operation type, and timestamps.
- Support for SMB, NFSv4.1, and dual-protocol volumes.
- Insights to monitor unauthorized access, optimize data usage, and meet compliance requirements.
These logs provide critical visibility into file-level activity, enabling organizations to detect anomalies, safeguard sensitive data, and achieve operational excellence.
Driving Operational Efficiency and Scalability
Microsoft's updates to Azure NetApp Files reflect its ongoing commitment to helping enterprises achieve efficiency, scale, and seamless operations in the cloud. From enhanced encryption and robust disaster recovery options to improved quota tracking and directory management, these enhancements offer the tools modern businesses need to remain competitive.
Explore the Future of Enterprise Storage
Azure NetApp Files empowers businesses to push boundaries, optimize their operations, and secure their data. Whether you're looking for advanced storage options, stronger compliance measures, or improved flexibility, these updates offer a robust solution. Stay ahead of the curve with Azure NetApp Files, powering your enterprise with innovative tools and unmatched reliability.
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