Azure storage
Introduction
The Azure storage page in Backup Administration for Microsoft 365 allows administrators to configure Azure as a storage type, including the Azure account, access key, optional features, connection testing, and storage status settings.
Azure Storage is a cloud storage solution for modern data storage scenarios. It uses blob storage to store its metadata and can be accessed from different applications and devices.
For more information about Azure Storage, see the Azure Storage overview.
Configure Azure Storage
When configuring an Azure storage, enter the basic storage settings and configure the Azure account and key.
The following settings are available:
- Name: Specifies the name of the storage.
- Role: Specifies the role of the storage. The Primary role means that the storage acts as the main repository for the selected workflow or task, such as email backup or document management. If multiple storages are defined, the storage marked as Primary takes precedence for data storage and retrieval.
- Type: Select Azure as the storage type.
- Azure account: Specifies the Azure storage account to be used.
- Key: Specifies the key required to access the Azure storage account.
- Compression: Compresses files larger than the defined size to reduce storage space usage.
- Use single instancing: Stores only one physical copy of a file when the same file occurs in multiple locations or when multiple SharePoint list items contain the same attachments and only their metadata differs.
For more information about Azure storage accounts, see the Azure storage account overview.
Before saving the configuration, we recommend verifying the connection by clicking Test storage.
When you have finished configuring the storage, click Save to create it. To discard the changes, click Cancel.
Storage status
After the storage has been created, the Status option becomes available when you open the storage for the first time or select Edit from its context menu.
The storage can have one of the following statuses:
- Enabled: The storage is active and ready for use. It can accept new data, perform retrieval operations, and participate in workflows such as archiving, backup, or file storage.
- Disabled: The storage is temporarily turned off and is not used by Backup Administration. It remains in the system but cannot accept new data or participate in workflows until it is enabled again. Backup can continue if an allowed writable replica storage is available. In this case, documents are stored in the replica storage, and when the storage is enabled again, the Storage Replication Job duplicates the files to the primary storage.
- Unavailable: The storage cannot currently receive data or be used for operations. No operations can be performed with the storage until the issue is resolved and its status returns to Enabled.
- Removed: The storage has been deleted or disconnected from the system and is no longer available for operations or workflows.
