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--- title: What is Azure Files? description: An overview of Azure Files, a fully managed cloud file share service that supports SMB and NFS protocols for Windows, Linux, and macOS clients. author: khdownie ms.service: azure-file-storage ms.topic: overview ms.date: 08/17/2026 ms.author: kendownie # Customer intent: As a cloud architect, I want to implement Azure Files for shared network storage, so that I can simplify file management and enhance accessibility across various operating systems in both cloud and hybrid environments. --- # What is Azure Files? Azure Files provides fully managed file shares in the cloud that you can access through the industry-standard [SMB](/windows/win32/fileio/microsoft-smb-protocol-and-cifs-protocol-overview) and [NFS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_File_System) protocols. You can mount Azure file shares concurrently from cloud and on-premises clients on Windows, Linux, and macOS — no additional software required. | Protocol | Supported clients | Best for | |---|---|---| | SMB | Windows, Linux, macOS | General-purpose file shares, lift-and-shift apps, hybrid with Azure File Sync | | NFS | Linux | Linux workloads, containers, HPC | | [REST API](/rest/api/storageservices/file-service-rest-api) | All platforms | Programmatic access from applications | ## Why use Azure Files? - **Replace or supplement on-premises file servers** — Mount Azure file shares directly or cache them on Windows servers with [Azure File Sync](../file-sync/file-sync-introduction.md). Use [identity-based authentication](storage-files-active-directory-overview.md) with on-premises Active Directory for seamless access control. - **Lift and shift applications** — Migrate applications that expect shared file storage to Azure without code changes. Move both the application and its data, or keep the app on-premises and move only the data. - **Simplify cloud development** — Store shared application settings, write diagnostic logs, and share dev/test tools across VMs — all from a centralized file share accessible via the REST API or standard file system I/O. - **Containerized workloads** — Use Azure file shares as persistent volumes for stateful containers, providing shared storage regardless of which instance runs the container. ## Key benefits - **Fully managed** — No hardware to manage, no OS to patch, no disks to replace. Azure handles infrastructure, updates, and backups. - **Shared access** — Industry-standard SMB and NFS protocols ensure compatibility with existing applications, tools, and workflows. - **Resilient** — Zone-redundant (ZRS) and geo-redundant (GRS) storage options protect against hardware failures and datacenter outages. - **Familiar programmability** — Access data through [file system I/O APIs](/dotnet/api/system.io.file), [Azure Storage client libraries](/dotnet/api/overview/azure/storage.files.shares-readme), or the [REST API](/rest/api/storageservices/file-service-rest-api). - **Scriptable** — Create, mount, and manage file shares using PowerShell, Azure CLI, the Azure portal, or Azure Storage Explorer. ## Get started - [Plan for an Azure Files deployment](storage-files-planning.md) - [Create a classic file share (SMB or NFS)](create-classic-file-share.md) - [Create a file share with Microsoft.FileShares (NFS only)](create-file-share.md) - [Mount on Windows](storage-how-to-use-files-windows.md) | [Mount on Linux](storage-how-to-use-files-linux.md) | [Mount on macOS](storage-how-to-use-files-mac.md) - [Migrate to SMB Azure file shares](storage-files-migration-overview.md) - [Migrate to NFS Azure file shares](storage-files-migration-nfs.md) - [Azure Files FAQ](storage-files-faq.md)