We use Microsoft Azure Block Storage for storing files. We don't use it for anything else.
Project Manager at Softway
It has a straightforward implementation process, but it's laggy and provides horrible technical support
Pros and Cons
- "Microsoft Azure Block Storage has the same features as other solutions, but I like that its implementation process is straightforward."
- "The performance of Microsoft Azure Block Storage needs improvement because it's laggy. Microsoft Azure Block Storage also has a lot of limitations on file sizes. The rendering and loading times also need improvement."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage has the same features as other solutions, but I like that its implementation process is straightforward.
What needs improvement?
The performance of Microsoft Azure Block Storage needs improvement because it's laggy. My company used it in different places, including the Microsoft browser, but it still lags.
Pricing for the product is another area for improvement.
Microsoft Azure Block Storage also has a lot of limitations on file sizes. The rendering and loading times also need improvement. Sometimes, Microsoft Azure Block Storage crashes, an issue that needs to be taken care of promptly, but Microsoft hasn't been able to do that for a very long time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using Microsoft Azure Block Storage for many years since its inception.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I didn't find Microsoft Azure Block Storage stable or secure.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would not even think of scaling Microsoft Azure Block Storage based on its current performance.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support for Microsoft Azure Block Storage is horrible. Whenever my team reaches out, Microsoft support will keep escalating the issue because of a lack of expertise, so my company ends up paying for useless technical consultations. The support team could be more knowledgeable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use Microsoft Azure Block Storage, but usage is limited to specific clients because it comes with very high pricing.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup for Microsoft Azure Block Storage is simple. It's more of tweaking the connection settings or connecting it to your DB.
Deploying the product took two hours.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing for Microsoft Azure Block Storage is high because of MSA and SBA contracts, where Microsoft takes care of the security aspects, apart from the maintenance, and Microsoft has service level agreements with the customers. On the other hand, AWS requires you to purchase items independently, so my company only typically refers Microsoft Azure Block Storage to other clients if the client signed an MSA with Microsoft.
Both Microsoft Azure Block Storage and AWS cost hundreds of dollars. The licensing for Microsoft Azure Block Storage is yearly. How much you pay depends on the amount of storage. Microsoft will start charging you from $100 to a few hundred per month, depending on how much you're trying to store.
Microsoft Azure Block Storage has hundreds of items inside, so each item has its own cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We tried Google Cloud Storage, but we had a terrible experience with the product because, at the time, Google was new in the market.
What other advice do I have?
I would not recommend Microsoft Azure Block Storage to others, especially if you plan to use it for business purposes, because it's laggy.
My company has several clients on Microsoft Azure Block Storage, but it's been trying to get clients off it.
I advise anyone looking into using Microsoft Azure Block Storage not to. It's best to try avoiding Microsoft Azure-related microservices. Microsoft Azure is good on the dev ops side, such as Kubernetes, but not on storage or other services because Microsoft Azure has its version of services. Still, AWS overshadows Microsoft every single time. For example, if you want to do some heavy deployment, then Microsoft Azure Kubernetes, which is more of a database cluster, is nice. The pricing is also good for Microsoft Azure Kubernetes versus AWS, which has premium pricing, but it is still trying to figure out its solution in this area. Microsoft and AWS have different packages and offerings, so it's up to you to choose wisely. Go for AWS for scalability and Microsoft for reliability and security, in the dev ops area, for example.
My Microsoft Azure Block Storage rating is four out of ten because of its file size limitations, stability, and technical support.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Implementer

IT consultant at Secoptrial
It has good accessibility, and it's easy to learn how to use because of the different resources and documentation available
Pros and Cons
- "What I like best about Microsoft Azure Block Storage is the accessibility because it's very easy for me to access it. You'll find different resources and documentation about the tool if you need to learn how to start."
- "I want to see my region added to the data center. I'm in Africa, and if a data center is specifically added under Central Africa, that will reduce data latency when accessing data."
What is our primary use case?
The use case for Microsoft Azure Block Storage depends on the project and the users. Still, I use it for storing and extracting data, such as images, videos, and documents.
What is most valuable?
What I like best about Microsoft Azure Block Storage is the accessibility because it's very easy for me to access it. Microsoft takes the user's approach, so you don't have to take many steps before accessing the tool. As soon as you create Microsoft Azure Block Storage resources, you'll automatically find it easy to use it.
If you need to learn how to start, you'll find different resources and documentation about the tool, so this is another pro of Microsoft Azure Block Storage.
Another advantage of using the tool is that it's convenient because if you want to deploy new infrastructure, you can connect to the cloud and download the files to your new site.
What needs improvement?
I found that everything works fine in Microsoft Azure Block Storage; though it may be because I have less experience with it, I cannot give any areas for improvement.
I want to see my region added to the data center. I'm in Africa, and if a data center is specifically added under Central Africa, that will reduce data latency when accessing data. Right now, you can only find the USA, China, Europe, South Africa, and Egypt, but no Central Africa. It'll be great if Microsoft can add my region or location as a data center for Microsoft Azure Block Storage. Doing that will respect privacy, too.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've used Microsoft Azure Block Storage for six months. It depends on the project I'm working on.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage is scalable. When you use Azure File Sync, Microsoft gives you five terabytes of storage on Microsoft Azure Block Storage. You can scale by paying for a group or a big enterprise if you have a considerable amount of data.
How are customer service and support?
I didn't have to contact the technical support team of Microsoft Azure Block Storage because I had all that I needed from the documentation.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I didn't use a different solution. I only used Microsoft Azure Block Storage. You can integrate it with various services, and it has the facility to connect to your site and communicate with it, but I don't require that. Enterprises can use that functionality of Microsoft Azure Block Storage, though.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Microsoft Azure Block Storage was easy, and it only took two minutes. I researched how to do it, but before you set up Microsoft Azure Block Storage, you must create your agile accounts first, and inside the agile accounts, you'll find different types of storage. In my case, I chose Microsoft Azure Block Storage for data storage and extraction. It was easy to set up.
What about the implementation team?
I deployed Microsoft Azure Block Storage.
What was our ROI?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage is a good investment. The tool helps an enterprise save data in the cloud. Sometimes there is a natural disaster, or your electricity is cut off. Sometimes your physical servers can have problems. You can store data in the cloud through Microsoft Azure Block Storage to avoid problems, so it's a good investment.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage is not an expensive tool. I'm subscribed to the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors program, so Microsoft gives me between $120 to $150 credit each month. It's renewable, and if I use that credit for Microsoft Azure Block Storage, it'll not consume half of my credit, so I'd say it's very cheap.
What other advice do I have?
I use Microsoft Azure Block Storage personally. My company doesn't use it.
I recommend the tool to others who want to use it.
Based on my experience, I rate Microsoft Azure Block Storage nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Azure Block Storage
July 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Azure Block Storage. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: July 2025.
864,155 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Solution architect
Good support, scalable, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is easy to purchase and is a Microsoft product, making procurement straightforward."
- "Microsoft Azure Block Storage can improve the configuration to be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
We integrated Commvault as the customer's backup solution, allowing us to copy the backups to their Azure infrastructure via Block Storage. In Commvault, we configured Block Storage as the destination to write the data for the backup.
What is most valuable?
The solution is easy to purchase and is a Microsoft product, making procurement straightforward. Additionally, the majority of engineers have extensive knowledge of Block Storage, meaning that if this solution is implemented in any organization, it is easy to find a support person who is well-versed in the product. Technically, this solution has a lot of features, such as deduplication, to choose from.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage can improve the configuration to be more user-friendly.
The solution's user interface can be more user-friendly.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We implemented the solution six to seven months ago, and we have not encountered many challenges. We have faced some minor operational issues, but overall it is functioning as expected.
I give the stability a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I give the scalability of the solution a nine out of ten.
We have over 25,000 customers using the solution.
How are customer service and support?
We will receive the necessary support for the integration and supporting aspects. Microsoft's full-time support team is always available to provide assistance with various processes.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
With an Azure level of understanding, the solution is relatively straightforward to implement. However, from a technical standpoint, it is not the most straightforward to configure, and so I would rate it a seven out of ten.
What about the implementation team?
We implement the solution for our clients.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Customers with an enterprise agreement typically receive Microsoft products at a discounted rate compared to other products.
The cost of procuring storage depends on the customer's license availability. If the customer has an EA agreement in their price agreement with Microsoft, they can access storage at a cheaper price. However, if they do not have the EA agreement, they will incur a higher cost.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
When comparing G-Cloud and AWS to Azure, the challenge isn't necessarily from other products, but rather the customers seem to have a greater investment in Azure.
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Technical Content Manager at Intellipaat Software Solutions Private Limited
It performs well with large files
Pros and Cons
- "The most important reason we use Azure Block Storage is the ability to store large files. When we were building the solution, we knew we needed to store images and video files that are 100 MBs or more. The second thing is speed when dealing with such large file sizes."
- "There should be a discount on Block Storage for people who use it more often."
What is our primary use case?
We deployed our website on Azure, and Block Storage is for storing large objects. We use Azure Block Storage for embedded videos that any person coming on the website needs to use.
What is most valuable?
The most important reason we use Azure Block Storage is the ability to store large files. When we were building the solution, we knew we needed to store images and video files that are 100 MBs or more. The second thing is speed when dealing with such large file sizes.
What needs improvement?
It would be nice if the Azure Block Storage could integrate with microservices-based mobile apps, too.
For how long have I used the solution?
We started using Azure Block Storage for a project two or three weeks ago.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Block Storage is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I can't say much about scalability because these are small projects, so it's not like we've utilized Block Storage for a million users. We only have a few hundred users.
How was the initial setup?
The setup process is pretty straightforward. The documentation from Microsoft is clear enough for anyone to set up a storage account. Two or three people are enough to maintain the solution we've built. It's a stable solution that more or less works on its own.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There should be a discount on Block Storage for people who use it more often. Right now we pay somewhere around maybe 30,000 rupees monthly.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Most of our solutions are built on Azure, so that is our first choice. However, we also considered AWS Storage Services. We thought about using the AWS S3 bucket, but our in-house team mostly has experience on Azure, we stuck with that. I think the Azure documentation is easier to understand than AWS's, so that's the main advantage. The costs are more or less the same.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Azure Block Storage eight out of 10. My biggest concern is the pricing.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Senior Architect - Technology Consulting at Ernst & Young
Straightforward to set up and reliable with good features on offer
Pros and Cons
- "It can scale."
- "The solution could use a couple of security features."
What is our primary use case?
We have a few clients that use the solution.
The use cases have been huge. One of the applications we are developing is an internal tax system. We tend to get a lot of client files through different channels and store them in the Block Storage. It's standing on a huge system. It's a multi-cluster, multi-AG kind of informer.
What is most valuable?
The features are pretty good. Our company mostly uses Java and Microsoft technology. We get good metadata and can save different metadata within the solution.
It can scale. It's at 99.99%. We can always use a different life cycle on objects so that means we don't want to store the object. On one side probably we can do cold storage and kind of thing.
Basically, there are a lot of features that are provided and we have a lot of options.
The solution is stable.
We found the initial setup to be straightforward.
What needs improvement?
The solution could use a couple of security features. They still have a lot of other features and everything is coming along quite nicely now, however, I would expect more features in the near future. We'd like more policies and authentication.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've used the solution for about five years or so.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution definitely offers durability, and, stability-wise, we have no complaints. AWe tend to make a backup since it is working on the cluster side, so we do a backup every day. We are also able to access it at a global level.
Speed-wise, I don't see any latency issues.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution can scale quite well.
We have 100 clients using the solution. We have a big team in general.
How are customer service and support?
We have a relationship with and are directly partnered with Microsoft. That means we have our own technical support directly from Microsoft. They are our dedicated architects. We have a data communication channel open, so we can talk to them anytime about anything. We're quite happy with the arrangement.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have a lot of internal products. The development team has been using Azure Storage and Block Storage and Databricks and other products from Azure.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is pretty simple. It's not overly difficult or too complex.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The solution is pay-as-you-go. We don't have any subscriptions; it is more like an on-demand arrangement.
What other advice do I have?
Our company has ties with Microsoft. We kind of partner with Microsoft so we always attempt to propose Azure Solutions, especially in the cloud.
I would recommend the solution to others.
I'd rate it nine out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Enterprise architect at Tech Mahindra Limited
Helps to download, upload, backup and store data but needs improvement in stability
Pros and Cons
- "We use Microsoft Azure Block Storage to store, upload and download data. We can also use it as a backup."
- "Microsoft Azure Block Storage's stability needs improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Azure Block Storage to store, upload and download data. We can also use it as a backup.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage's stability needs improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with the tool for three to four months.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I would rate Microsoft Azure Block Storage's stability an eight out of ten.
How was the initial setup?
Microsoft Azure Block Storage's setup is straightforward. You need to create a storage account and give a unique name to it. We have deployed the solution on the cloud.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I use Microsoft Azure Block Storage's free version.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate the product an eight out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Solution Architect at Ten-X
Supports many different file types, highly reliable, and high level support
Pros and Cons
- "The major benefit of using Microsoft Azure Block Storage is that it supports various types of data, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, without requiring different tools to read each type. This comprehensive approach simplifies the data handling process for data engineers and allows for seamless data transfer to downstream applications. In essence, this is a data paradigm shift that enables easy ingestion of diverse data types."
- "I encountered a challenge where certain metadata was located on a secured network that could only be accessed through a VPN. As there was no direct connector available to reach the private networks that require VPN access, we had to rely on manual effort to access the data. This could potentially be addressed as an area of improvement, especially with regard to accessibility issues where data is only accessible through a VPN connection."
What is our primary use case?
We are managing numerous data sources, including Excel, CSV, and ZIP files, with some of them being located on the public Internet. Our current task involves transferring this data into a data warehouse using Microsoft Azure Block Storage.
What is most valuable?
The major benefit of using Microsoft Azure Block Storage is that it supports various types of data, including structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data, without requiring different tools to read each type. This comprehensive approach simplifies the data handling process for data engineers and allows for seamless data transfer to downstream applications. In essence, this is a data paradigm shift that enables easy ingestion of diverse data types.
What needs improvement?
I encountered a challenge where certain metadata was located on a secured network that could only be accessed through a VPN. As there was no direct connector available to reach the private networks that require VPN access, we had to rely on manual effort to access the data. This could potentially be addressed as an area of improvement, especially with regard to accessibility issues where data is only accessible through a VPN connection.
It appears that the solution we are working with is already in a beta version, and we have been managing a large volume of files by pulling them in at fixed schedules to determine whether a file is new or has been modified, we need to obtain the last modified date and compare it with the previous value. However, there is a new concept of a rolling window that can automatically detect newly arrived files and push them into downstream processes. From the logs I have seen, it appears that Microsoft is actively working on simplifying the file management process and reducing the need for engineers to manually pull files using specific logic. This includes developing a feature that automatically identifies new files and distinguishes them from old ones based on their metadata. It would be helpful to have this feature implemented.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Azure Block Storage for approximately two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I did not face any glitches or stability issues.
I rate the stability of Microsoft Azure Block Storage a nine out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have more than 20 developers and 50 to 100 business users using the solution in my company.
The scalability of Microsoft Azure Block Storage has different options.
When opting for a pay-as-you-go service, several options exist, such as enabling the Autoscale feature or fixing the scalability ratio. It is essential to keep in mind that choosing the scale-out option comes with additional costs. Therefore, it is crucial to select whether to go with auto-scaling or manual scaling carefully. The system provides the flexibility to choose either option based on specific needs and budget constraints.
I rate the scalability of Microsoft Azure Block Storage an eight out of ten.
How are customer service and support?
The level of support provided by Microsoft Azure Block Storage is impressive, as they offer three different levels of assistance based on the priority level of the issue. For technical issues, they can typically provide support within one day for critical issues, two days for high-priority issues, and three or four days for normal-priority issues.
I rate the support of Microsoft Azure Block Storage a nine out of ten.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Microsoft Azure Block Storage does not take long to deploy. Each service can take 10 to 15 seconds to set up.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of Microsoft Azure Block Storage has a fair price. However, the price could be lower.
I rate the price of Microsoft Azure Block Storage a seven out of ten.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have evaluated Amazon AWS. They provide a good service. However, Microsoft solutions have more user-friendly interfaces.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise others that this is a good solution and it is reliable. I strongly recommend this solution.
I rate Microsoft Azure Block Storage a nine out of ten.
The solution is compatible with every format, and different types of data. This is useful for data engineers. This is the best solution to have because everything is in a single point.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Sr. Information Officer at Merino Industries Ltd (Merino Group)
Provides secure data storage although at a high price
Pros and Cons
- "Data is securely stored."
- "Licensing costs are pretty high."
What is our primary use case?
We use the solution for data storage.
What is most valuable?
We can store data and not worry that it might be lost.
What needs improvement?
Although cheaper than Amazon, licensing expenses for Block Storage are pretty high.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using this solution for several years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable although we have very few users.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support is very good.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward, we had assistance from a third party.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing is paid on a monthly basis and it's on a pay as you use basis.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We evaluated Amazon as an option but went with Microsoft because it was a cheaper solution.
What other advice do I have?
I recommend this solution and rate it seven out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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