Migrate Your Classic Storage Accounts to Azure Resource Manager by August 31, 2024

Introduction

The migration from classic storage accounts to Azure Resource Manager (ARM) is now more crucial than ever. As per Microsoft’s latest update, classic storage accounts will be fully retired on August 31, 2024. To continue leveraging the full spectrum of Azure’s capabilities, it is imperative that all data in classic storage accounts be migrated to ARM by this date.

Why is Migration Required?

Starting August 31, 2024, Microsoft will retire classic Azure storage accounts, meaning they will no longer be accessible. To avoid service disruptions, you must migrate your storage accounts to Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and update your applications to use Azure Storage resource provider APIs.
Azure Resource Manager (ARM) introduces a consistent management layer that simplifies deployment, offers resource grouping, and grants access to all new Azure Storage features. Any customer still using classic storage accounts will miss out on these new features and updates.

What Happens If You Don’t Migrate?

If you don’t migrate your classic storage accounts by August 31, 2024, you’ll lose the ability to manage those accounts through Azure Service Manager. Although the data within these accounts will be preserved, any applications using classic APIs for management will no longer function correctly.

What Actions Should You Take?

To ensure a smooth migration process, follow these steps:

• Identify all classic storage accounts in your subscription.
• Delete any unmanaged disks or disk artifacts in your classic accounts.
• Migrate your classic storage accounts to Azure Resource Manager following step-by-step instructions.
• Update your applications to use Azure Resource Manager APIs if they currently manage classic storage accounts.

If you need assistance, Microsoft provides community support, access to cloud solution architects, and technical support through the Azure portal.
By migrating to Azure Resource Manager, you ensure continued access to your storage accounts and benefit from the latest features and updates, aligning with Microsoft’s ongoing advancements in cloud technology.

Key Information

At Sparity, we are here to ensure a smooth transition as Microsoft retires classic Azure storage accounts on August 31, 2024. Below is crucial information you need to know:

Creation Restrictions:
Subscriptions created after August 31, 2022, can no longer create classic storage accounts.
Subscriptions created before September 1, 2022, were allowed to create classic accounts until September 1, 2023.
Since August 31, 2022, the ability to create new classic storage accounts has been phased out.

End of Management via Azure Service Manager:
After August 31, 2024, you will no longer be able to manage your classic storage accounts through Azure Service Manager.
Your data will be preserved, but we highly recommend migrating to ARM to avoid service interruptions.

Migration Process and Considerations:
No Downtime for Data Operations:
During migration to ARM, data plane operations will continue without downtime.
Management operations will be temporarily blocked during the migration.
There may be downtime for scenarios like classic virtual machine (VM) or unmanaged disk migration.
Management Operations:
Data operations can continue during migration.
Management tasks like creating or managing container objects with the Azure Storage resource provider will be blocked until migration is complete.

Handling Classic Disk Artifacts:
Delete Artifacts Before Migration:
If your classic storage accounts contain unmanaged disks, virtual machine images, or OS images, delete these artifacts before starting the migration.
Failure to delete these artifacts could result in migration failure.
We recommend migrating unmanaged disks to managed disks.

Post-Migration Details:
Access Keys and RBAC Role Assignments:
Account access keys and connection strings will remain unchanged after migration.
Any Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) assignments scoped to the classic storage account will be preserved.
Storage Account Type:
After migration, your storage account will become a general-purpose v1 account.
You can upgrade it to a general-purpose v2 account.
Account Name and Address:
The name and address of your storage account will remain the same post-migration.
Logging Limitations:
The migration process does not offer additional logging capabilities.

Why Choose Sparity for Your Migration Needs?

At Sparity, we have extensive expertise in Microsoft Azure and are fully equipped to handle the complexities of your migration. Our team of seasoned professionals ensures a smooth transition to Azure Resource Manager, minimizing downtime and ensuring your data and applications continue to operate seamlessly. With our deep understanding of Azure’s infrastructure and best practices, Sparity is your trusted partner in making this critical migration.

Need Help?

For any questions or assistance, Sparity is here to help. Our experts are ready to guide you through the migration process, ensuring a seamless and efficient transition. Contact us today to learn how we can support your migration to Azure Resource Manager.