Guide for providing cloud storage for an IT department testing and training

What is Azure Storage?

Azure Storage is a cloud storage solution and a crucial part of Microsoft's Azure cloud computing platform. It provides extremely scalable, long-lasting, and safe cloud storage solutions for managing and storing data. Backup, disaster recovery, and web/mobile applications are just a few of the use cases for Azure Storage; it can handle massive volumes of structured and unstructured data (such as text or binary data).

Azure Storage offers various storage options to meet various needs. These include:

1. Azure Blobs Storage (Binary Large Object): For storing large amounts of unstructured data like text, media, or binary data.

2. Azure Files Storage: Managed file shares that can be accessed via SMB (Server Message Block) or NFS (Network File System) protocols.

3. Azure Queues Storage: For storing large numbers of messages that can be accessed from anywhere.

4. Azure Tables Storage: A NoSQL store for structured data, such as key-value pairs, is highly scalable and fast.

5. Azure Disks Storage: Managed disks for Azure virtual machines (VMs), providing backup and disaster recovery options.

In summary, Azure Storage is a useful tool for businesses and developers of all sizes since it offers a dependable and scalable method of managing and storing data in the cloud.

Create a resource group and a storage account.

STEP 1: Create and deploy a resource group to hold all your project resources.

• In the Azure portal, search for and select Resource groups.

• Select + Create.

• Give your resource group a name. For example, Jasperrg.

• Select a region. Use this region throughout the project.

• Select Review and create to validate the resource group.

• Select Create to deploy the resource group.

STEP 2: Create and deploy a storage account to support testing and training.

• In the Azure portal, search for and select Storage accounts.

• Select + Create.

• On the Basics tab, select your Resource group.

• Provide a Storage account name. The storage account name must be unique in Azure.

• Set the Performance to Standard.

• Select Review, and then Create.

• Wait for the storage account to deploy and then Go to resource.

Configure simple settings in the storage account.

1. The data in this storage account doesn’t require high availability or durability. A lowest cost storage solution is desired.

• In your storage account, in the Data management section, select the Redundancy blade.

• Select Locally-redundant storage (LRS) in the Redundancy drop-down.

• Be sure to Save your changes.

• Refresh the page and notice the content only exists in the primary location.

1. The storage account should only accept requests from secure connections.

• In the Settings section, select the Configuration blade.

• Ensure Secure transfer required is Enabled.

1. Developers would like the storage account to use at least TLS version 1.2.

• In the Settings section, select the Configuration blade.

• Ensure the Minimal TLS version is set to Version 1.2.

1. Until the storage is needed again, disable requests to the storage account.

• In the Settings section, select the Configuration blade.

• Ensure Allow storage account key access is Disabled.

• Be sure to Save your changes.

1. Ensure the storage account allows public access from all networks.

• In the Security + networking section, select the Networking blade.

• Ensure Public network access is set to Enabled from all networks.

• Be sure to Save your changes.

Thank you for reading my blog.

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