Hello Pavan Puligandla,
Welcome to Microsoft q&a, and thanks for posting your question.
Yes, you can absolutely use Azure NetApp Files (ANF) to move or store files generated by your lab devices from a Purdue Model OT Level 3 network to Azure, instead of relying on SFTP. ANF offers high-performance, scalable, and secure NFS/SMB storage, which makes it well-suited for this kind of industrial data transfer scenario.
1. Establish connectivity:
Make sure your OT network can securely connect to Azure. Use Azure ExpressRoute or a VPN Gateway for reliable and private connectivity between your on-premises (OT) network and Azure.
2. Set up Azure NetApp Files:
- Create an Azure NetApp Files account in your subscription.
Configure a capacity pool and create volumes (NFS or SMB) depending on your system compatibility.
Mount these volumes on your on-premises servers for direct file access.
3. Transfer your data:
You can use tools like Robocopy, rsync, or AzCopy for large-scale transfers. For smaller or periodic transfers, simple command-line copy operations will also work well.
4. Optimize and monitor:
Regularly monitor performance and IOPS in the Azure portal. You can adjust the service level (Standard, Premium, or Ultra) based on throughput needs.
References:
If you could share a bit more about your setup, such as file types, data size, and existing network configuration, I can suggest a more tailored architecture.
Hope this helps!