Azure blob storage is a modern cloud storage solution that provides many features and capabilities. In addition, you can configure storage tiers within Azure to help offset costs of data that is not often retrieved. It helps to strike a balance between cost and performance. You need to be familiar with Azure access tiers for the AZ-104 study guide.
Azure Blob Storage
Azure Blob storage is an important part of Azure’s storage accounts. It is designed for storing large amounts of unstructured data. It is perfect for storing data for users and applications, including all types of data and files. You can store documents, VHDs, media files, etc.
Azure Storage Tiers
Azure provides different types of storage tiers that provide a mix between cost and performance, depending on organization’s needs. There are three storage tiers available. These include hot, cool, and archive storage.
These can be set when you create a storage account. They can also be configured at the blob level. When you change storage tiers, there is a charge incurred to change between tiers.
Write charges are incurred when you change from hot to cool, cold or archive, and from cool to cold , or archive. Read charges are incurred for archive to cold, cool or hot, and from cool or cold to hot storage access tier.
Hot Tier
The hot tier is best suited for data that is frequently accessed. It has the highest storage costs and the lowest access costs.
Cool Tier
The cool tier can be frequently accessed data stored for a minimum of 30 days. The cool tier has lower storage costs than the hot tier, but higher access costs.
Cold Tier
Cold tier is well-suited for storing data that is not accessed very frequently or rarely modified. It still has the capability for fast retrieval. It needs to be stored a minimum of 90 days. It has lower storage costs and higher access costs than the cool tier.
Archive Tier
For data that is rarely accessed and stored for extended periods, archive access tiers present the most economical option. This section will examine the archive tier’s features and its application in long-term data preservation strategies.
Configuring Storage Tiers in Azure
Setting up and managing storage tiers is a nuanced process that involves understanding both the technical aspects and the strategic implications. This segment will guide you through the steps to configure storage tiers, emphasizing the importance of the default access tier setting and how to adjust it based on evolving data storage needs.
Creating a Storage Account with the Desired Access Tier
This part will provide a step-by-step walkthrough on creating a storage account, highlighting the selection of an appropriate access tier as a critical decision point in the setup process.
Changing the storage account tier for storage accounts
Under the Settings > configuration section of the storage account, you can change the storage access tier.
Changing the storage tier on blobs
You can change the tier on specific blobs in your Azure blob storage by viewing the properties of the blob and then clicking the change tier option.
When you click the change tier option, you will have the ability to select the desired tier from the change tier blade. You can select between hot, cool, cold, and archive access tier.
Best Practices for Azure Storage Tier Configuration
Note the following best practices when choosing your Azure storage tier configuration:
- Evaluate data accessibility needs vs. cost constraints to select the appropriate tier
- Choose the hot tier for data requiring frequent and immediate access
- Use the cool tier for less frequently accessed data to save on costs
- Reserve the archive tier for long-term storage of rarely accessed data
- Monitor data usage patterns regularly to adjust access tiers as needed
- Use Azure’s lifecycle management policies to automate tier transitions
- Consider the SLA differences between tiers when making your selection
- Factor in retrieval times and costs, especially for archive tier data
- Test performance impacts when switching between access tiers
- Keep compliance and regulatory requirements in mind when choosing tiers
- Utilize Azure Storage Explorer for hands-on management of storage tiers
- Stay updated on Azure’s pricing model changes to optimize for cost savings
Service Level Agreements (SLAs)
When planning and deploying how you manage storage tiers in your Azure storage accounts, the service-level agreement (SLA) is an aspect to keep in mind depending on what access tier you choose. When you choose a cool access tier, it implies a reduced SLA from Microsoft. The hot tier has a higher SLA with guarantees of up to 99.99%.
Wrapping up
Be sure to understand the different Azure storage access tiers, which ones are available, and how these are used along with SLAs and best practices. Choosing the right access tier helps to balance between performance and cost. The hot tier is great for frequently accessed data, while the cooler tiers are better for less frequently needed data. Know each access tier well for the AZ-104 exam.
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