Technical White Paper

Mount Azure Blob Storage as Local Drive

Mount Azure blob storage as a local network drive on Windows and Mac with simplified access from web browsers and mobile applications too!

Cloud Migration to Microsoft Azure Blob Storage

CentreStack offers you a better cloud migration strategy from traditional file servers to Azure storage.
With it, you can synchronize file server network file shares to Azure cloud storage and then mount Azure blob storage as a local drive to provide mapped drives for simplified remote access.

Challenges with Azure Blob Storage

Microsoft Azure blob storage, for the most part, is designed for independent software vendors (ISVs) to build business solutions, and not for direct use. There are some other azure services that are more user friendly, like Azure AD and Azure Virtual Machines, but most services are meant to be used via API by ISVs.

check out the incredible

CentreStack Solution

CentreStack adds secure remote access and file sharing, disaster prevention and recovery, to file servers on-premises with easy cloud migration to Microsoft Azure blob storage. Mounting Azure blob storage as network drive is one of the most popular features. 

Remote Access

CentreStack bridges file servers and Azure blob storage for secure remote access without the need of using a VPN.

Disaster Recovery

CentreStack leverages Azure blob storage as a central cloud file repository with version control, file change history and audit tracing to provide business continuity for file servers on-premises.

Mobile Sharing

CentreStack leverage Azure blob storage for secure mobile file sharing from a web browser or from a mobile application.

Cloud Migration

CentreStack sets up a hybrid deployment between local file servers and Azure blob storage that can be seamlessly converted to Azure only.

Azure Storage Mapped Drive Highlights

CentreStack provides a mapped network drive letter for end users to access azure blob storage and azure files in an easy and seamless way. It is not only for a single user but also for a team of employees to collaborate on a set of shared folders and shared files.

Map Azure Drive

Remotely access files in azure storage from a mapped network drive letter without the need for a VPN. Mobile applications included!

On-Demand Synchronization

Minimize storage and bandwidth consumption by automatically syncing and caching only the files you need.

End-point Protection

Frequently accessed files are saved locally in an encrypted cache. On one hand it is fast for local access. On the other hand it is secure.

Offline Access

Access shared files and shared folders in an offline mode detached from the Internet and synchronize when back online.

Folder Permissions

Define different permissions for folders at different levels of the directory structure or inherit from NTFS permissions directly.

Secure Data Room

Web based secure data room allows view-only access to shared folders with download disabled.

Active Directory

From internal Active Directory users to external clients and partners, you can define user rights for folder sharing.

Version Control

CentreStack adds version control and file protection from Microsoft Azure blob storage to the local file server.

Benefits

Azure Blob Storage + Mapped Network Drive = Productivity!

Secure Access

Attach local file server folders to your CentreStack server to enable remote access. The original network shares remain accessible over the local area network and also synchronized to azure storage for remote access.

Mobile Sharing

Files and folders in the azure blob storage are much easier to access over a web browser interface and via mobile applications on both iOS and Android devices. Mobile file sharing with internal employees or external partners made easy!

Global Workspace

Create a global name space directory structure unifying different file servers into a single folder structure, enabling mult-site collaboration with a distributed cloud file system backed by Azure Blob Storage for multiple branch offices.

Disaster Recovery

Azure Blob Storage and network local drive can help each others as backup to each other. With cloud backup, version control, audit trace, retention policy and file change log features, Create a business continuity solution with Azure blob storage is simple.

Server in the Cloud

You can also leverage these features using an existing file server from Azure Virtual Machines as a private cloud or mixed it in with Azure Blob Storage services. 

Problems Solved with the Following Two Deployment Options

CentreStack installs agent software on your file server for file server integration and cloud enablement, or directly mounts your file server's network share into CentreStack when direct access is available. It intelligently manages local and cloud storage together to provide a range of cloud enablement options.

Most importantly, the active directory security and NTFS permission model is maintained as if it was never changed. And drive mapping functionality is continued so end users get a familiar mapped local drive letter to access files from remote locations and from Azure blob storage. File locking is also preserved for multiple users collaborating on the same file at the same time.

File server network shares are synchronized to Azure Blob Storage to provide a secure access solution for Windows mapped local drives, Mac Finder mounted volumes, iOS and Android applications.

01. Hybrid Local File Servers with Azure Blob Storage

Local file server and Azure blob storage synchronize with each other for business continuity and easy cloud migration.

Install CentreStack File Server Agent on the file server that will migrate to Azure over time. Supports Windows 2003/2008/2012/2016/2019 (32-bit/64-bit).

 

02. Azure/File Servers with Direct Cloud Access

Access Azure storage or file server network share directly with CentreStack fronting the storage services with HTTPS

If you've already migrated local file server data into the Azure data center, CentreStack provides a direct file access solution from remote devices and mobile devices.

 

SHARE THIS PAGE

Ready to boost mobile productivity with Microsoft Azure and enable remote workforce today?