DP-900 · 3 Describe considerations for working with non-relational data on Azure
Azure Files
Exam objective: Describe features of Azure Files
Azure Files creates cloud based network file shares that multiple users or apps can mount over SMB or NFS, in place of an on-premises file server.
Azure Files gives you a network file share that lives in the cloud instead of on a server in your office. Several users and applications can mount the same share at once, which removes the hardware and upkeep that an on-premises file server needs.
A share is created inside a storage account. One account can host any number of shares, holding up to 256 TiB of data on the SSD media tier, and a single file inside a share can be as large as 4 TiB. A quota can cap a share below that size.
Azure Files supports two network protocols. Server Message Block, SMB, connects from Windows, Linux and macOS, so it is the general purpose choice. Network File System, NFS, only connects from Linux, and it needs an SSD tier storage account together with a virtual network that controls access to the share.
To keep an on-premises cache of a share up to date with Azure Files, use the Azure File Sync service.
On the exam, look for file share, SMB, NFS or Azure File Sync.
Key points
- A file share lives inside a storage account, and one account can hold up to 256 TiB of SSD based file data across any number of shares.
- A single file in Azure Files can be as large as 4 TiB, though a share can be given a smaller quota.
- SMB shares work from Windows, Linux and macOS, while NFS shares only work from Linux and need an SSD tier account plus a virtual network.
- Azure File Sync keeps a local, on premises cached copy of a share synchronized with the data in Azure Files.
- The HDD media tier costs less per GB, and the SSD media tier costs more but gives higher throughput.
Exam trap
NFS support is not automatic on every share. It needs the SSD tier and a virtual network, and it never works from Windows or macOS, unlike SMB.
Check yourself
An application running on Linux needs to mount an Azure Files share using the NFS protocol. Which additional requirement must the storage account meet?
Go deeper on Microsoft Learn
Checked against Microsoft Learn on October 1, 2026.