Azure File Sync enables seamless tiering of data from on-premises Windows Servers to Azure Files for hybrid use cases and simplified migration. It also enables you to leverage the performance, flexibility and compatibility of your on-premises File Server while leveraging the scale and cost effectiveness of Azure Files.
The latest updates for Azure File Sync bring a host of exciting features and improvements:
- Faster server onboarding and disaster recovery (7x improvement), significantly reducing the time to access data on new server endpoints.
- Sync performance has been significantly improved (10x improvement), reducing the amount of time to migrate shares and sync a large number of changes (for example, permission changes).
- Windows Server 2025 support ensures that organizations can stay on the cutting edge of technology. Windows Server 2025 introduces enhanced capabilities, offering better scalability, security, and cloud integration.
- Copilot in Azure can help you quickly troubleshoot and resolve common Azure File Sync issues.
- Managed identities support is now in preview, enabling a more secure method to authenticate to your Azure File shares.
In this blog post, we’ll explore these key updates and what they mean for businesses looking to maximize their Azure File Sync experience. Whether it's reducing your on-premises footprint or ensuring seamless and secure cloud integration, now is the ideal time to embrace Azure File Sync and take full advantage of what it has to offer.
Faster server provisioning and improved disaster recovery for Azure File Sync server endpoints
One of the most significant updates in Azure File Sync is the dramatic reduction in time required for provisioning new server endpoints. Previously, setting up a new server endpoint could take hours or even days, but with the v19 release and later, we’ve drastically cut down the time it takes to access data on the new server endpoint. This enhancement is critical for disaster recovery and is especially impactful when the Azure file share contains millions of files and folders.
Furthermore, to enhance the management experience, we’ve introduced a Provisioning Steps tab in the portal, which allows you to easily determine when server endpoints are ready for use. You can now access data before syncing is complete. As users or applications navigate through their data, the system prioritizes relevant items for quicker access, eliminating the need to wait for a full download.
These improvements help businesses quickly get their server endpoints up and running without long delays, improving overall operational efficiency. For more information, see Create an Azure File Sync server endpoint documentation.
Improved sync performance for migrations & bulk updates
Another exciting update for Azure File Sync is the substantial improvement in sync performance, now reaching up to 200 items per second. This marks a tenfold improvement over the past two years. This enhancement strengthens Azure File Sync's role as a seamless migration tool, enabling faster data transfers, especially those that require a large number of file changes (for example, when file permissions are changed). It's particularly beneficial for customers aiming to replace on-premises file servers and manage larger data sizes with Azure File Sync.
Support for Windows Server 2025
Azure File Sync now supports Windows Server 2025 which has improved security, performance and manageability . The Azure File Sync extension for Windows Admin Center now supports Windows Servers from Windows Server 2025 down to Windows Server 2012 R2. This makes Azure File Sync suitable for a wide range of organizations regardless of their current server version.
Azure File Sync facilitates the modernization of file servers, allowing organizations to seamlessly transition to newer servers running Windows Server 2025. The integration with Windows Admin Center (WAC) provides centralized management, offering a unified interface for managing configurations across multiple File Sync servers. This integration simplifies the management process, reducing complexity and saving time. With this configuration, businesses can utilize Windows Server as a fast cache for their Azure file share and optionally implement cloud tiering for more efficient data management.
Enhancing File Sync with Copilot in Azure
With Copilot in Azure, you can now supercharge your Azure deployments by taking advantage of cutting-edge AI technology that simplifies troubleshooting and resolution like never before. Whether it’s network misconfigurations, incorrect RBAC permissions, or accidental file share deletions, Copilot makes fixing these issues faster and easier than ever. Copilot automatically detects errors and misconfigurations, guides you through the necessary steps to resolve them, and can even take action on your behalf to fix common problems instantly.
If you encounter challenges with Azure File Sync due to incorrect network settings, simply enter a prompt like, “Help me troubleshoot Azure File Sync issues.” Copilot in Azure will walk you through the steps to identify and correct the network misconfigurations, ensuring that your files sync smoothly again. By leveraging Copilot’s intelligent capabilities, you not only save time on manual troubleshooting but also gain the confidence to resolve issues independently, allowing you to focus more on growing your business instead of dealing with roadblocks. With Copilot, you stay ahead of the curve, maximizing productivity and minimizing downtime in your Azure environment.
For more information, see Manage and troubleshoot storage accounts using Microsoft Copilot in Azure
Preview: managed identities support for enhanced security
Azure File Sync now includes support for managed identities (MI). This feature allows organizations to authenticate with Azure File shares using an Entra ID identity, replacing the need for a shared key. The new managed identities support enables more secure authentication across several areas of Azure File Sync, including:
- Storage Sync Service authentication to Azure File shares
- Registered server authentication to Azure File shares
- Registered server authentication to Storage Sync Service
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For more information, see How to use managed identities with Azure File Sync (preview).
Get Started with File Sync
Don’t have Azure File Sync yet? To get started, see How to deploy Azure File Sync.
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