dukicn examines how Azure and Qumulo deliver cloud-native enterprise file storage. The article covers architectural options, migration tools, scalability, security features, and integration for AI and HPC workloads.

How Microsoft Azure and Qumulo Enable Cloud-Native File Systems for Enterprise Data Management

Author: dukicn

Introduction

Microsoft Azure and Qumulo have partnered to address long-standing challenges in enterprise data estate modernization. Their joint solutions provide high-performance, scalable, and cost-efficient file storage platforms for global organizations managing unstructured data.

Key Offerings: Azure Native Qumulo (ANQ) & Cloud Native Qumulo (CNQ)

  • Azure Native Qumulo (ANQ): Fully managed, elastic file service on Azure, offering enterprise NAS features with utility-based pricing.
  • Cloud Native Qumulo (CNQ): Self-hosted file data service leveraging Azure Virtual Machines, networking, and Blob Storage, granting direct infrastructure control.
  • Both solutions scale independently for capacity/performance, support exabyte-level storage, and are POSIX-compliant.

Core Features

  • Elastic Scalability: Instantly adjust compute or storage per workload demands, scaling up or down as business needs shift.
  • Boundless Scale: No practical limits on file system size or file count; robust multi-protocol support (NFS, SMB, FTP/S, and more).
  • Utility-Based Pricing: Pay only for resources consumed, aligning with dynamic budget constraints.
  • Rapid Deployment: Provision ANQ from the Azure Portal, CLI, or PowerShell; CNQ deploys via Terraform and adapts to custom architectures.
  • Automated Cost Optimization: Integration with Komprise Intelligent Tiering and Azure Blob Storage access tiers optimizes storage expenses.
  • Advanced Data Management: Features like snapshots, replication, real-time analytics, data protection, and global collaboration.
  • Multi-Protocol and Multi-Cloud: Unified global namespace allows movement between on-prem, edge, and Azure environments for hybrid/multi-cloud strategies.

Migration and Integration

  • Komprise for File Migration: Platform-agnostic migration of data from legacy NAS systems into Qumulo on Azure, ensuring data integrity and high-speed transfers.
  • Cloud Data Fabric: Enables seamless and instantaneous data movement between clouds and on-premises locations.
  • Use Cases: Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), high-performance compute (HPC), AI workloads, media archives, and healthcare imaging.

Security & Compliance

  • Data Protection: Features like cryptographically locked snapshots, continuous replication, and HIPAA-compliant platforms for sensitive workloads.
  • Durability & Availability: Utilizes Azure Blob Storage’s 11-nines durability and supports deployment across multiple availability zones for resilience.
  • Authentication & Authorization: Integrates with OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, SAML, and supports common protocols for secure device and user access.

AI and HPC Support

  • Optimized for AI: Low-latency (1–2ms), high-throughput architecture meets the demands of AI model training, inference workloads, and high-speed data pipelines.
  • Burst Capabilities: Supports burst rendering, GPU compute, and seamless handoff to Azure-based AI applications and platforms, like Microsoft Copilot and AI Studio.

Example Architecture

  • Migration Workflow: Use Komprise for large-scale migration from third-party NAS to ANQ, retaining data integrity and achieving quick cut-over to Azure-native storage.
  • Customizable Performance: Adjust computing resources as workload demands grow or shift, without disruption or need to re-provision.
  • Disaster Recovery: Instantly convert instances from DR/archival to high-performance modes without data migration or significant reconfiguration.

Conclusion

Azure Native Qumulo and Cloud Native Qumulo offer next-generation, cloud-native file storage for enterprises, unlocking new capacity, performance, and flexibility while integrating seamlessly into the Azure ecosystem. With support for next-gen workloads like machine learning and HPC, advanced data management, and global collaboration, these solutions position organizations for future-ready data infrastructure.

For tailored architectural advice and to see how these solutions can fit your enterprise, Qumulo offers free assessments; reach out via Azure@qumulo.com.

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