Azure DataBox

5 min readSep 15, 2022

What is ADB?

o Data Box devices easily move data to Azure when we have huge data to copy and we did not get any proper network to copy.

o We can move large amounts of data to Azure where it’s limited by time, network availability, or costs, using common copy tools such as Robocopy.

o All data is AES-encrypted, and the devices are wiped clean after upload, in accordance with NIST Special Publication 800–88 revision 1 standards.

How Azure Databox Works?

What are different type of Azure Data Box models?

There are generally 4 types of models available in Azure which we can make use of such as below.

1. Azure Data Box

2. Azure Data Box Disk

3. Azure Data Box Heavy

4. Azure Data Box Gateway

What is the Azure Data Box?

o ADB is a rugged device with 100-TB capacity which uses standard NAS protocols and common copy tools.

o It features AES 256-bit encryption for safer transit.

o We can use up to 80 TB usable capacity per order.

o Customer can add only 1 device per order to copy and transfer.

o ADB helps us to supports Azure Block Blob, Page Blob, Azure Files or Managed Disk.

o We can copy the data to 10 Storage accounts at same time.

What is the Azure Data Box Disk?

o Disk is mainly containing 8-TB SSD with a USB/SATA interface has 128-bit encryption.

o We can use this to customize it according to our needs and it comes in packs of up to five for a total of 40 TB.

o We can use up to 35 TB as a maximum capacity per order.

o Customer can add up to 5 disks per order

o ADB Disk helps us to supports Azure Block Blob, Page Blob, Azure Files or Managed Disk.

o We can copy the data to 1 Storage account

o We can copy the data using the Robocopy or any of the similar tools.

What is the Azure Data Box Heavy?

o ADB Heavy is a rugged self-contained device and it is designed to lift and shift of around 1 PB of data to the cloud.

o It features AES 256-bit encryption for safer transit.

o We can use up to 800 TB usable capacity per order.

o Customer can add only 1 device per order to copy and transfer.

o ADB heavy helps us to supports Azure Block Blob, Page Blob, Azure Files or Managed Disk.

o We can copy the data to 10 Storage accounts at same time.

o We can copy via the Standard NAS protocols which is SMB/NFS.

What is the Azure Data Box Gateway?

o ADB Gateway is a used to transfer data from and to the Azure cloud.

o It is basically a virtual appliance.

o It is used such as Storage Gateway.

o It supports the SMB and NFS Protocol.

o It supports the Hyper-V and VMWare machines as well.

o We can copy the data into Blob Storage and Azure files.

Some of the Use cases where we can use the Databox:

1. Backup

2. Archive

3. Media

4. Entertainment

5. Big Data

6. Online Data Transfer

How to order the Data Box?

Click on the Data Box and create a new request.

We have to fill all the below details and then we can submit on Apply to order the Data Box from Azure.

First option is Transfer type.

Whether we need to export from Azure or Import into Azure.

Next option is the subscription which we can choose based on our needs.

Next option is to choose the resource group where we need to create the Storage accounts and copy the data from or to inside it.

Next choose the location of our choice where we need to import or export the data. Choose the close data center if we are too concerned on the GDPR.

Finally choose the Destination where we need to copy the data into, this should also be the close data center where we need to copy the data into Azure.

Once done finally click on Apply button.

Azure will send you the email and we will get the Azure Data Box delivered in 3–4 working days and the Data will be copied into Azure Storage accounts in 5 working days maximum.

We can see the status of the order and transfer from the below screen.