Cloud migration for file and folder storage

Every migration starts with a business need. A cloud migration transforms a workload by moving the files and folders on which it depends. A workload can be either an application or a shared network drive. In either case, the workload has files and folders that you move to the cloud.

Migrating files and folders to the cloud requires careful planning and many considerations along the way to achieve an optimal result.

Azure Files or SharePoint?

When deciding between Azure Files and SharePoint for file storage and management, it is essential to consider the specific use cases, requirements, and features of each service. For instance, SharePoint does not allow for "mapped-drives" (the S:\ or U:\ drives that users currently connect to. On the otherhand, Azure Files requires a secure connection to access the Azure environment, adding complexity (and cost).

To learn more about the differences between these common storage solutions, please read the "Azure Files vs SharePoint Online" guide.

A successful migration consists of five key phases:

Cleanup.

This last phase is also critical to the project's success and it includes:

Shutting down access

to the source data (make the shares Read-Only) to prevent users from changiing files at the source.

Securing access to Azure Files

Employees need access to corporate data so we configure secure policies to keep the data safe!

Configure Backups

SharePoint has a thirty-day recycle bin but that does not safeguard against ransomware attacks nor for files needing recovery beyond that 30-day window. Additionally, Azure files does not include backups natively, but Azure backups or a third-party backup solution can be added for recovery requirements.