For a large-scale Azure Virtual Desktop deployment with 60,000 users, the storage solution for FSLogix profiles must deliver the highest IOPS and lowest latency to prevent performance bottlenecks and ensure a responsive user experience. Azure NetApp Files is an enterprise-grade, high-performance file storage service specifically engineered for such demanding workloads. It consistently provides sub-millisecond latency and very high IOPS, which is critical for VDI environments. It natively supports the SMB protocol required by FSLogix and is the recommended solution when maximum performance is the primary objective.

A. Azure Files Standard uses HDD-based storage, which provides lower IOPS and higher latency, making it unsuitable for a large, performance-sensitive VDI deployment.
B. Azure Data Lake Storage is an object store optimized for big data analytics workloads, not a transactional file share service required for VDI profiles.
C. Azure Blob storage Premium is a high-performance object store but does not natively support the SMB protocol required to host FSLogix profile containers.

1. Microsoft Documentation

"Storage options for FSLogix profile containers in Azure Virtual Desktop." This document directly compares storage solutions. In the comparison table

Azure NetApp Files is listed with the lowest latency ("<1ms") and is described as "best suited for the most demanding

high-performance workloads."

Source: Microsoft Learn

Azure Virtual Desktop Documentation

"FSLogix profile containers and Azure Files."

2. Microsoft Documentation

"Benefits of using Azure NetApp Files with Azure Virtual Desktop." This document explicitly states

"Azure NetApp Files is a high-performance storage service for the most demanding file workloads that require low latency and high throughput... These capabilities make Azure NetApp Files a premium storage platform for AVD deployments."

Source: Microsoft Learn

Azure NetApp Files Documentation

"Solutions."

3. Microsoft Documentation

"Solution architectures using Azure NetApp Files." Under the "Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)" section

it highlights that Azure NetApp Files is a leading choice for VDI due to its performance

scalability

and data management features

which are critical for FSLogix profiles at scale.

Source: Microsoft Learn

Azure NetApp Files Documentation

"Solutions."