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John Ogbonna
John Ogbonna

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Azure: Providing shared file storage for the company offices

What is Microsoft Azure?
Azure is a platform and service for cloud computing. Through Microsoft's extensive global network of data centres, it offers a broad range of cloud services, such as computing, analytics, storage, and networking, enabling developers and companies to create, implement, and oversee applications. In this exercise, we will be using Azure to provide private shared file storage ideal for company files. This article will provide a visual demonstration the process outlined in this exercise provided by Microsoft: https://microsoftlearning.github.io/Secure-storage-for-Azure-Files-and-Azure-Blob-Storage/Instructions/Labs/LAB_03_storage_file_shares.html

Create and configure a storage account for Azure Files.

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

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

  • Click Create
    Click create new

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

  • Provide a Storage account name. Ensure the name meets the naming requirements.

  • Set the Performance to Premium.

  • Set the Premium account type to File shares.

  • Set the Redundancy to Zone-redundant storage.
    Review and then Create the storage account

  • Select Review and then Create the storage account.
    Review and then Create

  • Wait for the resource to deploy.

  • Select Go to resource.
    Select Go to resource

Create and configure a file share with directory.

1. Create a file share for the corporate office.

  • In the storage account, in the Data storage section, select the File shares blade.
  • Select + File share and provide a Name.
  • Review the other options, but take the defaults.
  • Select Review + Create then Create Select Create

2. Add a directory to the file share for the finance department. For future testing, upload a file.

  • Select your file share and select + Add directory.
  • Name the new directory finance.
    directory finance

  • Select Browse and then select the finance directory.
    select the finance directory

select the finance directory

  • Notice you can Add directory to further organize your file share.
  • Upload a file of your choosing

Image description

Configure and test snapshots.

Similar to blob storage, you need to protect against accidental deletion of files. You decide to use snapshots*

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

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

  • Select your snapshot and verify your file directory and uploaded file are included.
    verify files
    verify files

2. Practice using snapshots to restore a file

  • Return to your file share.
    Return to your file share.

  • Browse to your file directory
    Browse to your file directory

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

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

  • Navigate to the file you want to restore

  • Select the file and the select Restore.
    restore file

  • Provide a Restored file name
    Provide a Restored file name

  • Verify your file directory has the restored file.
    verify restored file

Configure restricting storage access to selected virtual networks.

1. This tasks in this section require a virtual network with subnet. In a production environment these resources would already be created.

  • Search for and select Virtual networks.
    Search for and select Virtual networks.

  • Select Create
    Select Create

  • Select your resource group. and give the virtual network a name.

  • Take the defaults for other parameters, select Review + create, and then Create.
    select Review + create

  • Wait for the resource to deploy.

  • Select Go to resource.
    Go to resource

  • In the Settings section, select the Subnets blade.

  • Select the default subnet.
    Select the default subnet

  • Scroll down to service endpoints

  • Select Service endpoint
    Select Service endpoint

  • Select Microsoft.Storage

  • Don't make any other changes. Click save
    Select Microsoft.Storage

2. The storage account should only be accessed from the virtual network you just created.

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

select the Networking blade

  • 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
    select subnet

  • Be sure to Save your changes.
    Save your changes

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

  • Select file shares
    Select file shares

  • Select your file share
    Select your file share

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

not authorized to perform this operation

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