Solution Sheets: CTERA Enterprise File Services Platform
Cyber-resilient file platform from any edge to any cloud.
CTERA vs. Azure Files
Choosing the Right
Azure Solution
Azure Files and CTERA both provide SMB and NFS file shares that integrate seamlessly with Azure services, whether in the cloud or on-premises and both can be conveniently purchased and effortlessly deployed directly from the Azure Marketplace. However, Azure Files faces limitations in enterprise environments regarding scalability for large-scale deployments, ransomware protection, and multi-site collaboration features.
Why Enterprises Choose CTERA
Leading organizations rely on CTERA’s award-winning solution to modernize their file infrastructure, consolidate NAS systems, and enable secure, fast access to files across distributed locations. Here’s what sets CTERA apart:
Scalability
Eliminate file size, volume, and directory constraints, ensuring effortless expansion without the complexity of managing multiple storage silos.
Security & Ransomware Protection
CTERA’s zero-trust security model and AI-powered CTERA Ransom Protect provide real-time threat detection, data exfiltration prevention, and instant recovery via immutable snapshots to protect your data and avoid costly downtime.
Global File Access &
Collaboration
Supercharge productivity with fast, (VPN-free) secure file access for remote (including work-from-home) and global teams on any device, in addition to traditional SMB or NFS Shares powered by the CTERA Global File System.
CTERA’s cloud-native file management is versatile across industries, supporting on-premises, cloud, and hybrid deployments. A Fast Mover in innovation and maturity.
Chester Conforte
Analyst, GigaOm
Additional Reasons to Consider CTERA
- Multi-Cloud Flexibility - Easily migrate, store, and collaborate on data across public, private, or hybrid clouds, with unrivaled flexibility, control, & security.
- Global File Locking - Prevents real-time file conflicts, enables offline work, and automatically reconciles versions upon reconnection for seamless collaboration.
- Regulatory Compliance - CTERA Vault ensures regulatory compliance (GDPR, FINRA, HIPAA, etc.) using WORM functionality.
- Uninterrupted File Access & Resilience - Ensure always-on file services with CTERA’s high-availability architecture, disaster recovery, & instant failover.
- S3 Connectivity - CTERA Fusion connects custom apps or workflows directly to your data via the S3 protocol.
- Integrated Migration Tool - Simplifies migrations with ACL preservation, DFS compatibility for zero-impact cutovers, and detailed integrity reporting.
- Cost Efficiency & Control - Minimize cloud egress & storage costs with local caching, global dedupe, compression, & smart data tiering.
- Microsoft Sentinel Integration - Manage threats & monitor your global namespace.
- On-Demand File Streaming - No waiting to work on large multimedia files.
- MacOS Advanced Support - Extended attributes / Spotlight Integration / No path or file name limits.
CTERA Edge-to-Cloud File Services Platform
Enterprises managing multi-petabyte-scale data trust CTERA for its unmatched performance, flexibility, and cost efficiency. Whether you need to consolidate NAS, strengthen security, streamline collaboration, or leverage file data for AI and analytics, CTERA provides the ideal solution.
Feature Comparison
Feature | CTERA for Azure | Azure Files |
Azure Storage Type | Azure Blob | Azure Files |
Supported Protocols | SMB, NFS, S3, HTTPS | SMB, NFS |
Cloud Compatibility | Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, On-Premises, and Hybrid Cloud | Azure |
Maximum Storage Capacity | Unlimited | 100 TB |
Snapshot Retention | Unlimited | 200 |
Ransomware Protection |  | |
Global File Locking | | |
Instant Disaster Recovery | | |
Advanced macOS support | | |
WORM (Write Once Read Many) Support | | |
Microsoft Sentinel Integration | | |
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Experience the CTERA Difference – Request a Demo Today!
See how CTERA outperforms Azure Files with enterprise-grade scalability, zero-trust security, and seamless global file access. Discover why leading organizations choose CTERA for their hybrid cloud storage needs.