Implement and manage storage

In the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) curriculum, implementing and managing storage necessitates a comprehensive understanding of Azure Storage Accounts and their underlying data services. Administrators must first master the configuration of storage accounts, selecting appropriate performance tiers (Standard vs. Premium) and replication strategies—such as Locally-redundant (LRS), Zone-redundant (ZRS), or Geo-redundant storage (GRS)—to ensure data durability and high availability according to business needs. Security is paramount; this involves configuring network access via firewalls and service endpoints, managing Access Keys, and utilizing Shared Access Signatures (SAS) for time-limited, granular permissions. Additionally, integrating Azure Active Directory (Entra ID) for identity-based authentication strengthens the security posture. The domain heavily focuses on Azure Blob Storage and Azure Files. For Blobs, administrators manage access tiers (Hot, Cool, and Archive) to optimize costs and implement Lifecycle Management policies to automate data movement between these tiers. Configuring object replication is also essential for disaster recovery scenarios. Regarding Azure Files, the role requires setting up file shares accessible via SMB or NFS and deploying Azure File Sync to cache cloud data on-premises, creating a hybrid storage environment. Finally, administrators must be proficient in using tools like Azure Storage Explorer for GUI-based management and AzCopy for command-line data transfer, ensuring efficient data migration and handling within the Azure ecosystem. In the Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104) curriculum, implementing and managing storage necessitates a comprehensive understanding of Azure Storage Accounts and their underlying data services. Administrators must first master the configuration of storage accounts, selecting appropriate performa…