Configuring Shared File Storage for a Geographically Dispersed Company Using Azure

INTRODUCTION

Some companies do not use paper anymore. This means that if something is announced from headquarters, it has to stay somewhere and everyone involved has to get access to it. For a company that is geographically dispersed with offices in different locations, this becomes a real challenge. These offices need a way to share files and disseminate information across the board. One of the ways to get access to files and keep everyone on the same page is to use cloud storage and create a file share that everyone can access. The Finance department, for example, needs to confirm cost information for auditing and compliance, and that information needs to be stored somewhere that is easy to access and loads without delay. Some content, however, should only be accessed from selected corporate virtual networks to keep sensitive information secure.

To achieve all of this, the objectives are to create a storage account specifically for file shares, configure a file share and directory, configure snapshots and practice restoring files, and restrict access to a specific virtual network and subnet.
I will show you the steps on how to do this. The first thing you need to do is open the Azure portal and log in, and then follow the steps below. When choosing your storage option, always choose Premium and Premium only, because it is the only tier that offers low latency, meaning files load fast and without delay no matter where in the world your staff are connecting from.

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.

• Select + Create.

• 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 i.e the name must be unique.

• Set the Performance to Premium. Set the Premium account type to File shares.

• Set the Redundancy to Zone-redundant storage.

• Select Review and then Create the storage account.

• 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.

• 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 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.

• Select Browse and then select the finance directory.

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

• Upload a file of your choosing.

Configure and test snapshots.

1. 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.

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

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

2. Practice using snapshots to restore a file.

• Return to your file share.

• Browse to your file directory.

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

• Select the Snapshots blade and then select your snapshot.

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

• Provide a Restored file name.

• Verify your file directory has the 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.

• 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.

• Wait for the resource to deploy.

• Select Go to resource.

• In the Settings section, select the Subnets blade.

• Select the default subnet.

• In the Service endpoints section choose Microsoft.Storage in the Services drop-down.

• Do not make any other changes. Be sure to Save your changes.

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.

• 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.

• Be sure to Save your changes.

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

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

CONCLUSION

Setting up shared file storage for a geographically dispersed company does not have to be complicated. With a Premium Azure Files storage account, we built a secure, low-latency file share complete with snapshots for file recovery and network restrictions to keep sensitive data safe.