What is the best way to move 30 TB of data from VM disk storage to blob storage

Tiffany Wood-Admin 20 Reputation points
2026-02-09T15:23:31.4133333+00:00

What is the best approach for moving ~17 TB (ultimately ~30 TB) of data from Azure VM disk storage to long-term storage, with the following goals in mind?

  • Cost efficiency

Minimal downtime

Minimal impact on system performance

Our immediate need is to offload approximately 30 TB of data currently residing on a VM’s managed disks. The target destination is a Synology NAS.

One option under consideration is to first move the data from VM disk storage to Azure Blob Storage, since data ingress into Azure Blob Storage is typically free. From there, the data could be transferred to a Synology NAS using the Azure Data Box service.

However, there are a few open questions:

What is the total cost of this approach, particularly the Azure Data Box service?

Is this the most cost-effective path compared to other options?

Does this approach minimize downtime and performance impact on the VM during the transfer?

We’re looking for guidance on the best overall strategy to move this volume of data efficiently and safely, while keeping costs and operational impact as low as possible.What is the best approach for moving ~17 TB (ultimately ~30 TB) of data from Azure VM disk storage to long-term storage, with the following goals in mind?

Cost efficiency

Minimal downtime

Minimal impact on system performance

Our immediate need is to offload approximately 30 TB of data currently residing on a VM’s managed disks. The target destination is a Synology NAS.

One option under consideration is to first move the data from VM disk storage to Azure Blob Storage, since data ingress into Azure Blob Storage is typically free. From there, the data could be transferred to a Synology NAS using the Azure Data Box service.

However, there are a few open questions:

What is the total cost of this approach, particularly the Azure Data Box service?

Is this the most cost-effective path compared to other options?

Does this approach minimize downtime and performance impact on the VM during the transfer?

We’re looking for guidance on the best overall strategy to move this volume of data efficiently and safely, while keeping costs and operational impact as low as possible.

Azure Data Box
Azure Data Box

A family of appliances and solutions for offline data transfer to Azure​.

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AI answer

2026-02-09T15:23:47.19+00:00

To move approximately 30 TB of data from Azure VM disk storage to long-term storage efficiently and cost-effectively, consider the following approach:

  1. Initial Transfer to Azure Blob Storage: Start by transferring your data from the Azure VM's managed disks to Azure Blob Storage. This is a cost-effective solution since data ingress into Azure Blob Storage is typically free. You can use tools like AzCopy for this transfer, which is designed for high-performance data movement.
  2. Using Azure Data Box for Transfer to Synology NAS: Once your data is in Azure Blob Storage, you can utilize the Azure Data Box service to transfer the data to your Synology NAS. The Data Box allows you to securely transfer large amounts of data offline, which is particularly useful if you have bandwidth constraints or want to minimize the impact on your network.

Considerations:

  • Cost Efficiency: The total cost of using Azure Data Box will depend on the specific Data Box model you choose (e.g., Data Box Disk, Data Box, or Data Box Heavy) and any associated shipping costs. You may want to evaluate the pricing details on the Azure website or consult with a Microsoft representative for precise estimates.
  • Downtime and Performance Impact: This approach minimizes downtime because you can transfer data to Azure Blob Storage while the VM is still operational. Additionally, using a Data Box for the final transfer to your NAS can help reduce the performance impact on your VM, as it allows for bulk transfer without continuous network usage.
  1. Hybrid Approach: If your network bandwidth allows, consider a hybrid approach where you perform an initial bulk transfer to Azure Blob Storage and then use online delta syncs to capture any changes made during the transfer process. This can help ensure that the final cutover to your Synology NAS is quick and minimizes downtime.

This strategy should help you achieve your goals of cost efficiency, minimal downtime, and minimal impact on system performance while moving your data securely and effectively.

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  1. Ravi Varma Mudduluru 12,625 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-02-09T17:11:47.99+00:00

    Hello @Tiffany Wood-Admin,

    Thanks for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

    You will check the Azure Data Box pricing using the document below.

    Reference Document: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/databox/

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