Managed file systems
Amazon FSx for Windows File Server vs Azure Files
Microsoft maps Amazon FSx for Windows File Server to Azure Files over SMB.
FSx runs real Windows Server file servers for you, while Azure Files is a serverless SMB service that authenticates through AD DS, Microsoft Entra Domain Services, or Microsoft Entra Kerberos.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | Amazon FSx for Windows File Server | Azure Files |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Fully managed Windows Server file systems over SMB with Active Directory integration, Single-AZ or Multi-AZ, SSD or HDD storage, DFS namespaces, shadow copies, and data deduplication. | Fully managed SMB (2.1 to 3.1.1) and NFS 4.1 file shares, either classic shares in a storage account or top-level Microsoft.FileShares shares (NFS on SSD only, GA June 2026). Identity-based SMB access through AD DS, Entra Domain Services, or Entra Kerberos. |
| Pricing model | Per GB-month of SSD or HDD storage, plus provisioned throughput capacity, optional extra SSD IOPS, and backups. | Provisioned v2 (recommended) bills provisioned storage, IOPS, and throughput. Pay-as-you-go HDD shares bill used storage plus transactions. |
| Docs | Amazon FSx for Windows File Server docs | Azure Files docs |
| Pricing page | Amazon FSx for Windows File Server pricing | Azure Files pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 SOA-C03 | AZ-104 AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Architecture. FSx provisions Windows file servers (Single-AZ or Multi-AZ) with SSD or HDD storage and a set throughput capacity. Azure Files has no servers to size. Classic shares sit in a storage account and scale with the billing model you pick.
- Windows features. FSx supports DFS namespaces, shadow copies, data deduplication, and user storage quotas. Azure Files supports share snapshots, but not every Windows Server file-server feature.
- Identity. Both can join on-premises AD or a managed directory. Azure Files can also use Microsoft Entra Kerberos for hybrid identities.
- Hybrid caching. For on-premises caching, Azure Files pairs with Azure File Sync. FSx File Gateway is closed to new customers.
- Redundancy. Azure Files HDD shares can use GRS or GZRS. SSD shares support LRS and ZRS.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per GB-month of SSD or HDD storage, plus provisioned throughput capacity, optional extra SSD IOPS, and backups. Amazon FSx for Windows File Server pricing →
- Azure
- Provisioned v2 (recommended) bills provisioned storage, IOPS, and throughput. Pay-as-you-go HDD shares bill used storage plus transactions. Azure Files 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. |
| AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate SOA-C03 | AWS | Associate | current Replaces AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02), whose last exam day was Sep 29, 2025. Simplified Chinese and Korean versions retire after Nov 19, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate AZ-104 | Azure | Associate | current |
| 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 Windows File Server?
Microsoft maps Amazon FSx for Windows File Server to Azure Files over SMB. FSx runs real Windows Server file servers for you, while Azure Files is a serverless SMB service that authenticates through AD DS, Microsoft Entra Domain Services, or Microsoft Entra Kerberos.
How does pricing compare between Amazon FSx for Windows File Server and Azure Files?
AWS: Per GB-month of SSD or HDD storage, plus provisioned throughput capacity, optional extra SSD IOPS, and backups. Azure: Provisioned v2 (recommended) bills provisioned storage, IOPS, and throughput. Pay-as-you-go HDD shares bill used storage plus transactions. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate (SOA-C03); Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).