Hybrid storage gateways
AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway vs Azure Data Box Gateway / Azure File Sync
Microsoft maps AWS Storage Gateway S3 File Gateway to Azure Data Box Gateway and Azure File Sync.
Data Box Gateway is the closer technical match (NFS or SMB in, Azure Storage out). File Sync works only with Windows Server and syncs to Azure Files rather than Blob.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway | Azure Data Box Gateway Azure File Sync |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Still documented and orderable, but its latest release notes (2101) are from 2021. Generally available |
| What it is | An on-premises VM or hardware appliance that exposes NFS and SMB shares backed by S3 objects, with a local cache for recent data. | A virtual appliance (Hyper-V or VMware) that exposes NFS and SMB shares on premises, caches recent data locally, and uploads it to Blob Storage or Azure Files. Agent on Windows Server that syncs local shares to an Azure file share, with cloud tiering (only hot files cached locally) and multi-site sync through the cloud. |
| Pricing model | Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus S3 storage and requests. | Data Box Gateway has a monthly device fee plus storage. Azure File Sync is billed per registered server per month, plus Azure Files charges. |
| Docs | AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway docs | Azure Data Box Gateway docs Azure File Sync docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway pricing | Azure Data Box Gateway pricing Azure File Sync pricing |
| Exams | SAA-C03 SAP-C02 Retiring | AZ-104 AZ-305 |
Key differences
- Data Box Gateway is a virtual appliance (Hyper-V or VMware) that caches data locally and uploads it to Blob Storage or Azure Files, similar to S3 File Gateway. Its current release notes date from 2021.
- Azure File Sync uses your Windows Servers as the cache, with cloud tiering, and can sync many sites through one Azure file share.
- S3 File Gateway stores files as normal S3 objects. Data Box Gateway also writes normal blobs or files. File Sync stores data in Azure Files.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus S3 storage and requests. AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway pricing →
- Azure
- Data Box Gateway has a monthly device fee plus storage. Azure File Sync is billed per registered server per month, plus Azure Files charges. Azure Data Box Gateway pricing → Azure File Sync 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 Solutions Architect – Professional SAP-C02 | AWS | Professional | retiring Being updated to SAP-C03. Registration for SAP-C03 opens Oct 27, 2026. Last day to take SAP-C02 is Nov 16, 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.
Verification notes
- Data Box Gateway has no announced retirement, but it hasn't had a release since 2021. Check its status before you build on it.
FAQ
What is the Azure equivalent of AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway?
Microsoft maps AWS Storage Gateway S3 File Gateway to Azure Data Box Gateway and Azure File Sync. Data Box Gateway is the closer technical match (NFS or SMB in, Azure Storage out). File Sync works only with Windows Server and syncs to Azure Files rather than Blob.
How does pricing compare between AWS Storage Gateway – Amazon S3 File Gateway and Azure Data Box Gateway and Azure File Sync?
AWS: Per GB written to AWS (capped monthly per gateway), plus S3 storage and requests. Azure: Data Box Gateway has a monthly device fee plus storage. Azure File Sync is billed per registered server per month, plus Azure Files charges. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03); AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02) [retiring]; Microsoft Certified – Azure Administrator Associate (AZ-104); Microsoft Certified – Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305).