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Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support. What is Azure Import/Export service?
In this articleAzure Import/Export service is used to securely import large amounts of data to Azure Blob storage and Azure Files by shipping disk drives to an Azure datacenter. This service can also be used to transfer data from Azure Blob storage to disk drives and ship to your on-premises sites. Data from one or more disk drives can be imported either to Azure Blob storage or Azure Files. Supply your own disk drives and transfer data with the Azure Import/Export service. You can also use disk drives supplied by Microsoft. If you want to transfer data using disk drives supplied by Microsoft, you can use Azure Data Box Disk to import data into Azure. Microsoft ships up to 5 encrypted solid-state disk drives (SSDs) with a 40 TB total capacity per order, to your datacenter through a regional carrier. You can quickly configure disk drives, copy data to disk drives over a USB 3.0 connection, and ship the disk drives back to Azure. For more information, go to Azure Data Box Disk overview. Azure Import/Export use casesConsider using Azure Import/Export service when uploading or downloading data over the network is too slow, or getting additional network bandwidth is cost-prohibitive. Use this service in the following scenarios:
Import/Export componentsImport/Export service uses the following components:
Note The WAImportExport tool is available in two versions, version 1 and 2. We recommend that you use:
The WAImportExport tool is only compatible with 64-bit Windows operating system. For specific OS versions supported, go to Azure Import/Export requirements.
How does Import/Export work?Azure Import/Export service allows data transfer into Azure Blobs and Azure Files by creating jobs. Use Azure portal or Azure Resource Manager REST API to create jobs. Each job is associated with a single storage account. The jobs can be import or export jobs. An import job allows you to import data into Azure Blobs or Azure files whereas the export job allows data to be exported from Azure Blobs. For an import job, you ship drives containing your data. When you create an export job, you ship empty drives to an Azure datacenter. In each case, you can ship up to 10 disk drives per job. Inside an import jobAt a high level, an import job involves the following steps:
Note For local (within data center country/region) shipments, please share a domestic carrier account. For abroad (outside data center country/region) shipments, please share an international carrier account. For step-by-step instructions on data import, go to:
Inside an export jobImportant The service only supports export of Azure Blobs. Export of Azure files is not supported. At a high level, an export job involves the following steps:
Note For local (within data center country/region) shipments, please share a domestic carrier account. For abroad (outside data center country/region) shipments, please share an international carrier account. For step-by-step instructions on data export, go to Export data from Azure Blobs. Region availabilityThe Azure Import/Export service supports copying data to and from all Azure storage accounts. You can ship disk drives to one of the listed locations. If your storage account is in an Azure location that is not specified here, an alternate shipping location is provided when you create the job. Supported shipping locations
Security considerationsThe data on the drive is encrypted using AES 256-bit BitLocker Drive Encryption. This encryption protects your data while it is in transit. For import jobs, drives are encrypted in two ways.
For export jobs, after your data is copied to the drives, the service encrypts the drive using BitLocker before shipping it back to you. The encryption key is provided to you via the Azure portal. The drive needs to be unlocked using the WAImporExport tool using the key. Deleting personal informationPersonal information is relevant to the import/export service (via the portal and API) during import and export operations. Data used during these processes include:
When an import/export job is created, users provide contact information and a shipping address. Personal information is stored in up to two different locations: in the job and optionally in the portal settings. Personal information is only stored in portal settings if you check the checkbox labeled, Save carrier and return address as default during the Return shipping info section of the export process. Personal contact information may be deleted in the following ways:
For more information, review the Microsoft Privacy policy at Trust Center PricingDrive handling fee There is a drive handling fee for each drive processed as part of your import or export job. See the details on the Azure Import/Export Pricing. Shipping costs When you ship drives to Azure, you pay the shipping cost to the shipping carrier. When Microsoft returns the drives to you, the shipping cost is charged to the carrier account which you provided at the time of job creation. Transaction costs Standard storage transaction charge apply during import as well as export of data. Standard egress charges are also applicable along with storage transaction charges when data is exported from Azure Storage. For more information on egress costs, see Data transfer pricing.. Next stepsLearn how to use the Import/Export service to:
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