Introduction
Azure Storage Mover is a fully managed hybrid migration service that simplifies the process of transferring large-scale file shares and folders from on-premises environments to Azure Storage. It supports migration to both Azure Blob and Azure Files with minimal downtime, making it ideal for enterprises transitioning workloads to the cloud.
Key Benefits
- Lift-and-shift & repeatable migrations: Efficiently handle initial bulk transfers and recurring delta migrations without extensive reconfiguration.
- Centralized management: Migrations across global environments can be orchestrated from a single Azure Storage Mover resource.
- Hybrid architecture: Data is transferred directly from on-prem to Azure using lightweight agents, without routing through intermediate control servers.
Supported Migration Paths
| Source Protocol | Target Azure Storage | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| SMB 2.x | Blob container (HNS or non-HNS) | Preserves structure, metadata, ACLs |
| SMB 2.x | Azure File Share | Full support for SMB access control |
| NFS v3/v4 | Blob container (HNS only) | Converts folders into empty blobs if needed |
Note: Currently, SMB v1 is not supported, and migrations from NFS to Azure Files are also not yet available.
Service Structure & Workflow
- Storage Mover Resource
Acts as the central control plane to manage all your migration activities in Azure. - Migration Agents
These lightweight agents are deployed as Azure VMs (Arc-enabled) close to your source file shares and handle the actual data movement. - Projects & Job Definitions
Projects group related migration tasks, while job definitions define the source/target paths and policies for each migration run. - Endpoints
You define both source (SMB/NFS) and target (Blob/File) endpoints, securely integrated with Azure Key Vault and role-based access control.
Agent Deployment & Versioning
- Deployment: Agents are typically deployed on-premises or in a connected environment and registered with Azure.
- Auto-updates: General Availability agents are automatically updated to the latest version.
- Support: Each major version is supported for at least six months, ensuring you have time to update.
Performance & Scalability
Azure Storage Mover is designed to scale to hundreds of millions of files and directories. Its performance depends on:
- VM sizing (minimum: 4 vCPU / 8 GB RAM; recommended: 8 vCPU / 16 GB RAM)
- Source environment complexity (deep directories or many small files increase processing time)
- Network performance (higher bandwidth shortens transfer time)
- Migration strategy (initial bulk transfer followed by delta sync)
For large-scale environments, a phased approach with multiple agents and incremental syncs ensures optimal performance and minimum cutover downtime.
Cost Considerations
- Free to use: Azure Storage Mover currently has no separate charge for usage.
- Storage charges: Azure Blob or File storage costs apply based on standard pricing tiers.
- Network usage: Transfers across regions or from on-prem may incur Azure data ingress or egress charges.
- Efficiency tips: Using Storage Mover efficiently can reduce redundant data scans and transaction costs, especially when working with many small files.
Hybrid Strategy with Azure Data Box
For massive data volumes, a hybrid migration approach is recommended:
- Use Azure Data Box for offline bulk import.
- Use Azure Storage Mover to perform delta syncs—migrating only changes made after the Data Box transfer.
This strategy minimizes bandwidth usage while enabling faster migration and lower downtime.
Getting Started
- Assess your workload and storage source compatibility.
- Deploy a Storage Mover resource in the Azure portal.
- Register and deploy migration agents via Azure Arc.
- Define endpoints for source and target.
- Create projects and job definitions.
- Run and monitor migrations, reviewing logs and performance telemetry.
Conclusion
Azure Storage Mover delivers a robust, scalable, and cost-effective solution for enterprise-grade file migrations. Whether you’re migrating for the first time or syncing updated data sets regularly, its hybrid, agent-based architecture and seamless integration with Azure services ensure speed, security, and simplicity throughout your cloud journey.
P.S. Modern AI tool has been used for creating some of the content. Technical validation and proofing are done by the author.