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UMEOHIA NNAMDI
UMEOHIA NNAMDI

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How to provide shared file storage for the company offices.

In today’s digital workplace, smooth collaboration between company offices is essential. Whether your teams are in different cities or countries, they need fast, secure, and reliable access to shared files to stay productive and aligned. Traditional file storage methods often struggle in this environment, leading to delays, version issues, and security concerns.

This article outlines the main steps for setting up shared file storage across offices.

Architecture diagram

Architecture diagram

Create and configure a storage account for Azure Files.

Steps
Create a storage account for the finance department’s shared files. Steps:

A. Log in to the Azure portal.

Log in to the Azure portal

B. In the portal, search for and select Storage accounts.

search for and select Storage accounts

C. Select + Create.

Select + Create

D. For Resource group select Create new. Give your resource group a name and select OK to save your changes.

For Resource group select Create new. Give your resource group a name and select OK to save your changes

E. Provide a Storage account name.

Provide a Storage account name

F. Set the Performance to Premium. Set the Premium account type to File shares. Set the Redundancy to Zone-redundant storage.

Set the Performance to Premium. Set the Premium account type to File shares. Set the Redundancy to Zone-redundant storage

G. Select Review and then Create the storage account.

Select Review and then Create the storage account

Create

H. Wait for the resource to deploy. Select Go to resource.

Wait for the resource to deploy.

Select Go to resource

Create and configure a file share with directory.

1.Create a file share for the corporate office. Steps:

A. In the storage account, in the Data storage section, select the File shares blade.

In the storage account, in the Data storage section, select the File shares blade

B. Select + File share and provide a Name. Go to Review + create.

Select + File share

provide a Name. Go to Review + create

C. Select create.

Select create

2.Add a directory to the file share for the finance department. Steps:

A. Select your file share and select + Add directory.

Select your file share and select + Add directory

B. Name the new directory finance. Select OK.

Name the new directory finance. Select OK

C. Select Browse and then select the finance directory.

Select Browse and then select the finance directory.

D. Notice you can Add directory to further organize your file share.

Notice you can Add directory to further organize your file share

E. Upload a file of your choosing.

Upload a file of your choosing

Configure and test snapshots.

1.To protect against accidental deletion of files. You decide to use snapshots. Steps:

A. Select your file share. In the Operations section, select the Snapshots blade.

In the Operations section, select the Snapshots blade

B. Select + Add snapshot. The comment is optional. Select OK.

Select + Add snapshot. The comment is optional. Select OK

2.Practice using snapshots to restore a file. Steps:

A. Return to your file share. Browse to your file directory.

Return to your file share. Browse to your file directory

B. Locate your uploaded file and in the Properties pane select Delete. Select Yes to confirm the deletion.

Locate your uploaded file and in the Properties pane select Delete

Select Yes to confirm the deletion

C. Select the Snapshots blade and then select your snapshot.

Select the Snapshots blade and then select your snapshot

D. Navigate to the file you want to restore. Select the file and the select Restore.

Navigate to the file you want to restore. Select the file and the select Restore

Configure restricting storage access to selected virtual networks.

1.This tasks in this section require a virtual network with subnet.

A. Search for and select Virtual networks.

Search for and select Virtual networks

B. Select Create.

Select Create

C. Select your resource group. Give the virtual network a name.

Select your resource group. Give the virtual network a name

D. Select Review + create, and then Create.

Select Review + create, and then Create

Create

E. Wait for the resource to deploy. Select Go to resource.

Wait for the resource to deploy

Select Go to resource

F. In the Settings section, select the Subnets blade.

In the Settings section, select the Subnets blade

G. Select the default subnet.

Select the default subnet

H. In the Service endpoints section choose Microsoft.Storage in the Services drop-down. And make sure you save your changes.

In the Service endpoints section choose Microsoft.Storage in the Services drop-down. And make sure you save your changes

2.The storage account should only be accessed from the virtual network you just created.
A. Return to your files storage account. In the Security + networking section, select the Networking blade.

Return to your files storage account. In the Security + networking section, select the Networking blade

B. Change the Public network access to Enabled from selected virtual networks and IP addresses. In the Virtual networks section, select Add existing virtual network. Select your virtual network and subnet, select Add.

Change the Public network access to Enabled from selected virtual networks and IP addresses. In the Virtual networks section, select Add existing virtual network. Select your virtual network and subnet, select Add

C. Be sure to Save your changes.

Be sure to Save your changes

D. Select the Storage browser and navigate to your file share.

Select the Storage browser and navigate to your file share

E. Verify the message not authorized to perform this operation. You are not connecting from the virtual network.

Verify the message not authorized to perform this operation. You are not connecting from the virtual network.

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