Azure Archive Storage

Azure Archive Storage is a low-cost cloud storage solution designed for data that is rarely accessed but needs to be retained for long periods. It is part of Azure Blob Storage, which provides scalable object storage for various use cases, including backup, archival, and data lakes. Archive Storage is particularly useful for data that does not require frequent access but must be stored securely and cost-effectively.

Key Features

1. Low Cost:

• Archive Storage offers the lowest storage cost in Azure Blob Storage, making it an economical choice for long-term data retention.

• Ideal for scenarios where storage cost is more critical than data access speed.

2. Data Durability and Security:

• Provides the same high durability (99.999999999% or 11 nines) as other Azure storage tiers.

• Data is encrypted at rest and during transit, ensuring security and compliance with regulatory requirements.

3. Integration with Blob Storage Tiers:

• Easily integrates with other Azure Blob Storage tiers (Hot and Cool) to enable a seamless data lifecycle management strategy.

• Allows users to move data between tiers using lifecycle management policies based on changing access patterns.

4. Access Patterns:

• Data stored in Archive Storage is offline and requires rehydration to an online tier (Hot or Cool) before it can be accessed.

• Rehydration times can vary depending on the priority (standard or high), typically ranging from several hours to a few days.

5. Data Management and Access:

• Supports a variety of blob types (block blobs, append blobs, and page blobs).

• Access to archived data can be managed through Azure Storage Explorer, Azure Portal, or programmatically via Azure Storage SDKs and REST API.

6. Compliance and Retention:

• Suitable for regulatory compliance, enabling organizations to retain data for specified periods as required by law.

• Supports features like immutable storage, which prevents data from being deleted or modified for a defined period.

Use Cases

1. Long-Term Backup and Disaster Recovery:

• Storing backup copies of data that need to be retained for extended periods but are infrequently accessed.

• Useful for disaster recovery solutions where cost-effective storage is crucial.

2. Regulatory Compliance:

• Retaining financial records, medical records, and other compliance-related data for long-term archival to meet legal requirements.

3. Historical Data Preservation:

• Archiving historical data, such as old project files, research data, or historical logs, that may be needed for future reference or analysis.

4. Cold Data Storage:

• Storing data that is no longer actively used but must be kept, such as old email archives, surveillance footage, or completed project documents.

Pricing Considerations

• Storage Cost: Archive Storage has the lowest per-GB storage cost among Azure storage tiers.

• Access Cost: Costs associated with retrieving data from Archive Storage are higher compared to other tiers due to the rehydration process.

• Rehydration Time: Longer rehydration times for standard priority may impact the ability to access data quickly.

Data Movement and Lifecycle Management

• Lifecycle Management Policies: Automated rules can be set up to move data between Hot, Cool, and Archive tiers based on criteria such as last access time or creation date.

• Manual Rehydration: Users can manually rehydrate data when needed by promoting blobs from Archive to Hot or Cool tiers using Azure tools and APIs.

By leveraging Azure Archive Storage, organizations can achieve significant cost savings for their long-term data retention needs while ensuring data durability, security, and compliance with regulatory requirements.