Azure NetApp Files Reviews

Name: Azure NetApp Files
Brand: NetApp
Rating: 4.0 (17 reviews)

Vendor: NetApp

4.0 out of 5

17 reviews
88% willing to recommend

262 followers

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What is Azure NetApp Files?

Azure NetApp Files is designed for unstructured data, virtualized SAP systems, SQL backups, NFS and CIFS protocols, Azure Virtual Desktop storage, and optimizing file share services. It supports high performance and networking integration in Microsoft Azure.

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Azure NetApp Files is the #3 ranked solution in top Cloud Migration solutions, #7 ranked solution in top Cloud Storage solutions, and #8 ranked solution in top Public Cloud Storage Services. PeerSpot users give Azure NetApp Files an average rating of 8.0 out of 10. Azure NetApp Files is most commonly compared to IBM Turbonomic: Azure NetApp Files vs IBM Turbonomic. Azure NetApp Files is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 52% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a educational organization, accounting for 28% of all views.

Helped 849,686 peers since 2012

Featured Azure NetApp Files reviews

AjayKumar13

Cloud/Data/Database Manager at a government with 10,001+ employees

The most valuable feature is that the sixty-terabyte database snapshot can be done in less than two to three minutes. It is faster. It is quicker. It is reliable. You don't need to take the snapshot. Snapshots are compressed. It doesn't take storage from the back end. It takes three minutes to do sixty terabytes of the database. You don't have to go to the tape and store it outside, which takes hours and hours. It also uses a lot less of the storage. It's very easy to restore or copy the snapshots to other locations for disaster recovery. There are a lot of benefits. In terms of the snapshot's rapid restore capability, we were testing the load of performance testing, and we needed to rebuild the DR site. If I need to rebuild the DR for a standby database, it takes sixty terabytes to copy onto the another site, which will take at least a day. Now, the snapshot is easy. We just copy the snapshots, and then we do the cross-region application. The snapshots came along with that, and that's where we were able to build the DR site within a few hours rather than days. All together, instead of a four-day process, instead of a day.

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Vladislav Malicevic

CTO at Jedox

Ease of provisioning: It's very easy to consume the product. We are not doing this manually. We are doing this programmatically, but it's very easy and seamless for us to consume it. It's like any other Azure component. It's very good and well-integrated into the ecosystem of Azure. There is tight integration. We didn't need to learn anything new. It feels like we know everything already, although under the hood, the product is something totally different. However, it seemed very easy for us. It's elastic, so it scales with our demands. We can start small, then with the addition of customer loads, we can expand on-the-fly without the need to reprovision something. The performance is quite good, so it's almost on par with the make of SSD storage. It provides a quick, scalable storage solution. We were looking for a supported solution. We didn't want to experiment. We didn't want to look for open source, though we did look into open source initially before we bumped into NetApp. We figured out that adding yet another unknown into our system was not going to bring us benefit. It would be another problem that we would need to tackle. So, we said, "Okay, let's look for a supported solution," and NetApp was one of them. Then, we turned to NetApp.

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Murali Mohan Athota

Technology Lead at Infosys

I rate the overall solution an eight out of ten. Customers want high availability without interruptions. If you're looking for a reliable service where your environment stays stable and accessible at all times, I'd recommend going with Azure NetApp Files. From my experience of several migrations, I've found it to be a dependable solution that ensures continuous availability without interruptions.

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Azure NetApp Files mindshare

Product category:

As of May 2025, the mindshare of Azure NetApp Files in the Cloud Migration category stands at 15.8%, down from 18.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Migration

PeerResearch reports based on Azure NetApp Files reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Cloud Migration	May 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure NetApp Files vs NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure NetApp Files vs Zerto	May 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Azure NetApp Files vs Nasuni	May 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
IBM Turbonomic	4.4	4.0%	98%	205 interviews Add to research
NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP	4.4	15.5%	95%	62 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Azure NetApp Files offers flexibility, scalability, and rapid response times. It integrates seamlessly with Active Directory, enhances data protection with features like SnapMirror, SnapLock, and WORM compliance. Users appreciate its ease of use, fast SQL backups, and quick spin-ups. It provides significant cost-effective throughput, flawless snapshotting, and non-disruptive scalability. Key attributes include robust performance, especially in educational settings, and seamless management without hardware configurations, ensuring reliability and high availability. Users highlight SnapMirror for efficient replication.

"The most valuable feature is that the sixty-terabyte database snapshot can be done in less than two to three minutes."
"It is faster. It is quicker. It is reliable."
"We use Azure NetApp Files mainly for backup."

Room for Improvement

Azure NetApp Files requires enhancements in cost efficiency, support system, and deployment complexity. Users emphasize the need for built-in backup functionality, better region replication, and improved integration. Versioning, multi-zone redundancy, and data protection features are desired. Expanding regional availability and improving security are noted. The pricing is considered high, and there's a need for simpler configuration. Better support structure that includes direct collaboration with NetApp and improved compression capabilities is necessary.

"The initial setup was not straightforward. We had help from the NetApp team."
"Its pricing can be better."
"I don’t like the solution’s configuration and support."

ROI

Azure NetApp Files enhances performance by 30%, offering fast deployment and maintenance, reducing resources needed for its use. It optimizes utilization and enables dynamic resizing, significantly lowering operational costs. While initial storage expenses may be high compared to on-premises options, the ease of online performance adjustments and avoidance of downtime provide cost savings. Users note a good return in certain areas but indicate it is premature to assess overall return on investment.

Pricing

Enterprise users note that Azure NetApp Files pricing varies, influenced by licensing fees and feature sets. Though considered premium and costly compared to alternatives, its fully managed and scalable nature justifies the price for many. Costs depend on scaling and consumption, with a per-user monthly subscription model available. Users emphasize optimizing costs and selecting appropriate tiers to avoid excess charges. The solution incurs additional costs for features like backup, with a perceived expense rating of seven out of ten.

"It is expensive, especially with NetApp Ultra Storage."
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the solution's pricing a seven out of ten."
"In the cloud, pricing depends on how you manage it. It's not necessarily cheap, but it's all about optimizing charges and showing the cost back. So, it's more about managing the expenses rather than being inherently expensive or cheap."

Popular Use Cases

Azure NetApp Files is primarily used for unstructured data, NFS mounts, SQL backups, and virtualized SAP systems. Users leverage its capabilities for Azure Virtual Desktop, file storage for SAP HANA, and integration with Azure services. Azure NetApp Files is valued for its scalability, speed, and real-time persistence, accommodating enterprise performance management and data-related needs like video storage, authentication, and server monitoring, particularly in environments demanding high IOPS and seamless Azure integration.

Service and Support

Azure NetApp Files customer service is rated highly, with users describing technical support as responsive and seamless. Some users find no need for additional support due to ease of use, while others appreciate the integration into the Azure ecosystem. A few users indicate challenges in finding knowledgeable experts, suggesting varying experiences. Support through Microsoft is accessible, though regional differences in service quality are noted. Users rate support as good, valuing quick ticket resolution and knowledgeable personnel.

Deployment

Initial setup experiences for Azure NetApp Files range from straightforward, especially for those with existing Azure or storage knowledge, to more complex depending on requirements. Some find it simple and quick, while others need assistance, particularly in cloud environments where additional configurations are needed. Deployment time varies based on configurations and specific needs. With proper resources and experience, processes like setting up licensing and automation become easier for users.

Scalability

Azure NetApp Files demonstrates strong scalability, with flexible scale-up and scale-down capabilities in capacity and performance. Users experience minimal maintenance, efficient cost management for larger environments, and seamless storage expansion. Despite regional availability limitations and high entry costs for smaller setups, it effectively supports various usage scales. With features like automated processes and adjustable billing, users report satisfaction for growing storage demands, though some remain uncertain about potential expansion limits.

Stability

Azure NetApp Files demonstrates excellent stability, with consistent performance and reliability. Users have observed no issues during migrations or under increased loads. ONTAP's longstanding trustworthiness contributes to the confidence in Azure NetApp Files. Users rate its stability highly, scoring it between seven and eight out of ten. Rock-solid performance and a lack of outages further affirm its stable nature, making it a dependable choice for organizations.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Azure NetApp Files Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Educational Organization

28%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

10%

Energy/Utilities Company

Retailer

Construction Company

Government

Real Estate/Law Firm

Healthcare Company

Comms Service Provider

Insurance Company

Media Company

Hospitality Company

University

Outsourcing Company

Legal Firm

Transportation Company

Non Profit

Engineering Company

Wholesaler/Distributor

Pharma/Biotech Company

Compare Azure NetApp Files with alternative products

Learn more about Azure NetApp Files

Azure NetApp Files offers features such as SnapMirror for data protection, rapid provisioning, elastic scaling, and ultra-fast SQL backup and restore. It provides a seamless experience with fast snapshotting, high availability, security, and ease of setup. Users benefit from significant performance improvements and the ability to manage substantial workload migrations effortlessly. This service is ideal for environments like Azure Kubernetes Service and cloud EPM platforms, where speed, flexibility, and performance are crucial.

What are the key features?

Flexibility: Adaptable to diverse storage needs.
Rapid response time: Ensures quick data access and operations.
SnapMirror: Provides replication and data protection.
SEC compliance: SnapLock ensures regulatory adherence.
Ultra-fast SQL backup: Quicker backup and restore operations.
Elastic scaling: Easily adjusts resources based on demand.
Fast snapshotting: Enables quick data snapshots.
High availability: Ensures consistent data access.
Security: Robust measures for data protection.

What are the expected benefits and ROI?

Performance: Notable improvement in processing speeds.
Simplicity of setup: Easy deployment and configuration.
Scalable management: Handles significant workload migrations with ease.
Cost efficiency: Allows comparing throughput versus cost effectively.

Azure NetApp Files is implemented in various industries requiring robust file storage solutions, from educational environments where performance boosts are critical to businesses leveraging Azure Kubernetes Service for containerized applications. It supports high-demand environments, optimizing data management and improving efficiency.

Azure NetApp Files was previously known as NetApp ANF, ANF.