Managing files across multiple servers and keeping them in sync has always been a challenge for IT admins. Organizations often struggle with storage sprawl, users saving files in different places, and the need for centralized backup.
That’s where Azure File Sync comes in. With Azure File Sync, you can centralize your organization’s file shares in Azure Files while keeping the flexibility, performance, and compatibility of an on-premises Windows Server.
In this blog, we’ll walk through:
- What Azure File Sync is
- Why it’s useful
- How to configure it step by step (Portal + PowerShell)
- Best practices and real-world scenarios
What is Azure File Sync?
Azure File Sync is a Microsoft service that allows you to synchronize file shares on Windows Servers with Azure Files.
Think of it like this: Azure File Sync makes Azure Files the “hub” while your on-premises servers act as “spokes.” All data is stored centrally in Azure Files, but you can cache frequently accessed files locally for performance.
Key Features:
- Centralized storage: Consolidate file shares in Azure Files.
- Multi-site sync: Sync files across multiple servers.
- Cloud tiering: Keep hot data on-prem, offload cold data to Azure.
- Disaster recovery: Replace a failed server by syncing to a new one.
- Backup integration: Use Azure Backup to protect your data in the cloud.