Azure NetApp Files vs NetApp ONTAP comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Azure NetApp Files and NetApp ONTAP based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

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Q&A Highlights
Question: How does Azure NetApp Files compare to NetApp ONTAP?
Answer: Azure NetApp Files is a Microsoft Azure file storage service built on NetApp technology. The platform combines the file capabilities of Azure and NetApp to move critical file-based applications to the cloud. Azure NetApp Files provides high-performance computing at high-speed and is SAP and HIPAA certified. Azure NetApp Files helps for cloud-based workloads that need low latency and high performance. When you need to access a large volume of data, other features we like are its elasticity and the support for multiple protocols. One downside of Azure NetApp Files is that it is not available in the Azure Free tier. Also, it is relatively more expensive than other Azure options like file storage. NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP is an enterprise-level storage management solution. NetApp gives you not only storage management but data protection too. NetApp ONTAP supports multiple use cases, like block-level storage serving NAS and SAN, backup, archive, DevOps, databases, and disaster recovery. We like having the same consistent storage experience on Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. Other features we like from ONTAP are the dynamic mapping of storage devices and the central management of storage components. The solution provides compression and deduplication. NetApp Cloud Volumes enables our administrators to design, configure, and deploy storage in a hybrid cloud environment. You can also scale the issues easily. Integration with third-party tools is limited, though. Migrating storage workloads between cloud service providers can also be a hassle. From the three major providers, its integration with AWS is the best. The documentation is a bit poor. You can not manage storage across hybrid and multiple cloud environments. ONTAP is more suited for organizations with large storage volumes or that need high performance for their cloud environment. Conclusions It will depend on the use case. Cloud Volumes ONTAP is specifically designed to manage large storage volumes. If you can afford the extra cost, Azure NetApp Files can provide a more comprehensive solution for smaller organizations.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"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.""One aspect of Azure NetApp Files that I truly appreciate is its remarkable performance capabilities.""Its security and ease of use are most valuable.""This solution definitely makes us more efficient in being able to provide storage quickly to our customers in the Azure Cloud.""The most valuable features of the solution is replication to another region and the performance. The solution is stable. The solution is scalable. The initial setup is straightforward.""Azure NetApp Files has been stable."

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"The MFS report is the best feature for us.""The most valuable features of NetApp ONTAP are its data redundancy, performance, storage catering, snapshot technology, and NetApp Insight.""Deduplication, data protection, and NetApp block are some of the valuable features of the product.""The initial setup is pretty straightforward.""It's extremely reliable, very easy to manage. I've been able to reduce the number of people I have managing the storage systems because of the software.""The most valuable feature is the very high IOPS rating which you can achieve with it.""From a storage standpoint, NetApp is the number one partner and the number one equipment manufacturer.""Their SAN storage is great."

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Cons
"Azure NetApp Files could improve by being more diverse to integrate better with other solutions, such as Splunk and the on-premise version. There are some use cases that are not covered natively by Azure. It is not the best solution because it is not external from the cloud which for me is the best type of solution.""The deployment process is somewhat complex compared to other storage solutions.""The main hurdle in promoting this solution is the price. Its price definitely requires an improvement. It is more expensive than other options, so customers go for a cheaper option.""I have a hunch that storage could be now the most expensive portion of our monthly bill. So I can imagine that, not this year, but next year we will be talking about looking deeper into ways how we can optimize the cost.""The pricing definitely needs to be improved.""We would like to see more paired regions for the replication."

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"The older UI is not ideal.""They need centralized controls.""The GUI of NetApp ONTAP is an area with certain shortcomings that need to be considered for improvement.""The rate of technology could be improved.""With NetApp ONTAP, the technology is all there, but its management process needs some simplification.""The price could be lower.""I believe that the next release should be a bit cheaper.""NetApp ONTAP has similar areas of improvement as NetApp Private Storage regarding decreasing the error rate, improving the GUI, technical support and stability, and reducing the price."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "Its price is double the price of the premium disks, which is the main reason why customers don't go for this solution in the end."
  • "The price of Azure NetApp Files could be better."
  • "NetApp is a premium offering, so it's not a cheap product, but it is well-priced. It combines a couple of properties which customers like us are willing to pay. Could it be cheaper? Yes, but if you combine fully supported, fully managed, easily provisioned, scalable, and quick all in one product, it's a good selling point. You can ask a lot of money for all these. If you have a use case like we do, it's a perfect match. It's like the Porsche of storage solutions in the cloud. It is totally worth the cost."
  • "This solution is very expensive compared to the alternatives."
  • "The pricing depends on your scaling and consumption."
  • More Azure NetApp Files Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "ONTAP is expensive, but most storage systems are now-a-days and everything is included with the license - there are no additional fees."
  • "When you purchase NetApp for the first time they will provide you with the standard license, or a premium license, and even a standard bundle solution license."
  • "It's very expensive."
  • "NetApp ONTAP is a pricey product, but you pay for what you get. I rate NetApp ONTAP a five out of ten for its pricing."
  • "I rate NetApp ONTAP's pricing a seven out of ten."
  • "Additional costs exist if you want a license for a feature like SnapMirror."
  • "Our pricing with discounts is reasonable, but it may vary for others."
  • More NetApp ONTAP Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:Azure NetApp Files is a Microsoft Azure file storage service built on NetApp technology. The platform combines the file capabilities of Azure and NetApp to move critical file-based applications to the… more »
    Top Answer:This solution definitely makes us more efficient in being able to provide storage quickly to our customers in the Azure Cloud.
    Top Answer:This solution is very expensive compared to the alternatives. My advice to others is to make sure that they use the correct tier. This will help to ensure that they don't get unnecessarily… more »
    Top Answer: It's extremely reliable, very easy to manage. I've been able to reduce the number of people I have managing the storage systems because of the software.
    Top Answer:Our pricing with discounts is reasonable, but it may vary for others. If you're paying rack rate, it might be a different situation. But I think with our discount level, the pricing is reasonable.
    Top Answer:There is room for improvement in areas related to hardware constraints—for example, more storage efficiency, especially in terms of deduplication. You don't have a global database for deduplication… more »
    Ranking
    3rd
    out of 32 in Cloud Migration
    Views
    3,037
    Comparisons
    2,023
    Reviews
    3
    Average Words per Review
    460
    Rating
    8.3
    1st
    out of 5 in Storage Software
    Views
    945
    Comparisons
    231
    Reviews
    11
    Average Words per Review
    683
    Rating
    8.6
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    NetApp ANF, ANF
    Learn More
    Overview

    Extreme File Performance
    Azure NetApp Files allows you to target any of your business-critical file workloads with extreme file throughput with sub-millisecond response times.With three service levels you can change on-the-fly, you get the performance that’s best suited to the application.

    Simple, Seamless Experience
    A seamless Azure experience for your file services workloads. You can deploy and manage Azure NetApp Files directory from the Azure Portal or automate using the Azure API or CLI integration.

    Secure Your Data
    Built-in capabilities ensure your data is protected at all times in Azure: from always-on encryption to point-in-time data copies (without added capacity costs). And with Microsoft‘s world class support, you can rest assured that you‘re in good hands with Azure.

    NetApp is the data authority for hybrid cloud. We provide a full range of hybrid cloud data services that simplify management of applications and data across cloud and on-premises environments to accelerate digital transformation. Together with our partners, we empower global organizations to unleash the full potential of their data to expand customer touchpoints, foster greater innovation and optimize their operations.

    Offer
    Run your most demanding Linux and Windows file workloads in Azure

    Running performance-intensive and latency-sensitive file workloads in the cloud can be hard. Use Azure NetApp Files to migrate and run complex, file-based applications and simplify storage management.

    Learn more about NetApp ONTAP
    Sample Customers
    SAP, Restaurant Magic
    1&1 IONOS, Acıbadem Healthcare Group, Adder Technologies, Aero Vodochody Aerospace
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company30%
    Retailer20%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization24%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Computer Software Company10%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm22%
    Healthcare Company11%
    Aerospace/Defense Firm9%
    Comms Service Provider9%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Manufacturing Company14%
    Computer Software Company14%
    Government10%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise14%
    Large Enterprise57%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business15%
    Midsize Enterprise32%
    Large Enterprise54%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business11%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise73%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business25%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise64%
    Buyer's Guide
    Cloud Migration
    November 2023
    Find out what your peers are saying about NetApp, IBM, Nasuni and others in Cloud Migration. Updated: November 2023.
    744,865 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Azure NetApp Files is ranked 3rd in Cloud Migration with 6 reviews while NetApp ONTAP is ranked 1st in Storage Software with 11 reviews. Azure NetApp Files is rated 8.0, while NetApp ONTAP is rated 8.8. The top reviewer of Azure NetApp Files writes "We can expand our storage on-the-fly without the need to reprovision". On the other hand, the top reviewer of NetApp ONTAP writes "Fantastic performance, and reliability, as well as useful monitoring tools". Azure NetApp Files is most compared with Microsoft Azure File Storage, NetApp Cloud Volumes ONTAP, Nasuni, Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) and Wasabi, whereas NetApp ONTAP is most compared with DataCore SANsymphony, StorONE Storage-as-a-Service, Dell PowerPath and Kodjin FHIR Server.

    We monitor all Cloud Migration reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.