Block storage
Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP vs Azure Elastic SAN
Microsoft maps FSx for NetApp ONTAP iSCSI or NVMe/TCP LUNs to Azure Elastic SAN.
Elastic SAN pools capacity and performance across many iSCSI volumes, while ONTAP is a full storage OS that also serves file protocols.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP | Azure Elastic SAN |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Managed NetApp ONTAP file systems with NFS, SMB, iSCSI, and NVMe/TCP access, SSD plus an elastic capacity pool tier, SnapMirror, FlexCache, and S3 access points. | A managed SAN that pools capacity and performance across volume groups and volumes, served over iSCSI to VMs, AKS (through Azure Container Storage), and Azure VMware Solution. LRS or ZRS. |
| Pricing model | SSD storage per GB-month, provisioned throughput, provisioned IOPS above the included amount, and capacity pool storage and requests. | Billed per TiB of base capacity (which includes performance) and capacity-only units, priced by LRS or ZRS. |
| Docs | Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP docs | Azure Elastic SAN docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP pricing | Azure Elastic SAN pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 | AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Scope. Elastic SAN is block-only (iSCSI), with volume groups for policy and network rules. FSx for ONTAP serves iSCSI and NVMe/TCP LUNs alongside NFS and SMB, with ONTAP snapshots, SnapMirror, and FlexCache.
- Consumers. Elastic SAN volumes connect to VMs, AKS (through Azure Container Storage), and Azure VMware Solution. FSx for ONTAP LUNs connect to EC2 and EKS, among others.
- On Azure, Azure NetApp Files is the ONTAP-based option, but it serves files (NFS and SMB), not LUNs.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- SSD storage per GB-month, provisioned throughput, provisioned IOPS above the included amount, and capacity pool storage and requests. Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP pricing →
- Azure
- Billed per TiB of base capacity (which includes performance) and capacity-only units, priced by LRS or ZRS. Azure Elastic SAN pricing →
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate SAA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Italian version retires after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 | Azure | Expert | current English version updated Apr 17, 2026. |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP?
Microsoft maps FSx for NetApp ONTAP iSCSI or NVMe/TCP LUNs to Azure Elastic SAN. Elastic SAN pools capacity and performance across many iSCSI volumes, while ONTAP is a full storage OS that also serves file protocols.
How does pricing compare between Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP and Azure Elastic SAN?
AWS: SSD storage per GB-month, provisioned throughput, provisioned IOPS above the included amount, and capacity pool storage and requests. Azure: Billed per TiB of base capacity (which includes performance) and capacity-only units, priced by LRS or ZRS. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).