Understanding Azure Charges for Data Transfer

Almost all applications and VMs running in Azure can generate significant charges for data egress if they are sending a large volume of data out of an Azure region (data center) to the Internet, to an organization’s premises, or to a different Azure region. Understanding potential egress charges can be complex, and many organizations will benefit from enlisting a partner skilled in Azure cost estimation.

Azure Data Ingress/Egress Fundamentals

Generally, Microsoft does not charge for data entering Azure regions operated by Microsoft or partner Deutsche Telekom, regardless of how it enters. (A region includes multiple data centers, located within a specific geography.) For example, a file copied in over the Internet, over a virtual private network (VPN), or over an ExpressRoute dedicated private network connection will not generate a charge for the transfer of the data. There are also no charges for data replicated into Azure using the Azure Import/Export disk-based service (where an organization sends a disk of up to 10TB to Microsoft) other than a nominal disk processing fee and shipping.