# Plan your Azure Virtual Machines deployment

Before you configure backups, review your Azure environment and make a few key decisions about authentication, infrastructure placement, and storage.

## Choose an onboarding method

Onboarding method | Commvault SaaS | Commvault software | Use when
--- | --- | --- | ---
Express configuration | ✓ | ✗ | • You want Commvault to create Azure applications automatically and provide the fastest onboarding experience • A Microsoft Entra Global Administrator or Application Administrator can be available during onboarding to approve the Azure application creation and permission grant process
Custom configuration, with hosted infrastructure | ✓ | ✓ | • You want to manage Azure applications and permissions yourself without deploying your own access nodes • Your Commvault service provider has enabled resource pools
Custom configuration, with self-managed infrastructure | ✓ | ✓ | You want to manage your own access nodes or want to use managed identities

## Choose an authentication method

Authentication method | Commvault SaaS | Commvault software | Use when
--- | --- | --- | ---
Managed identity | ✓ | ✓ | • Your access nodes run in Azure and have assigned identities • You want Azure to manage authentication without storing credentials
Azure application and secret | ✓ | ✓ | You need explicit control over Azure permissions, or managed identities aren't available

## Decide where backup infrastructure runs

Backup infrastructure consists of the access nodes that perform data protection operations.

Infrastructure option | Commvault SaaS | Commvault software | Use when
--- | --- | --- | ---
Hosted infrastructure | ✓ | ✓ | You want your Commvault service provider to manage the access nodes used for data protection operations
Self-managed infrastructure | ✓ | ✓ | You want to deploy and manage Azure VM access nodes in your own environment

## Decide how backup storage is managed

Storage option | Commvault SaaS | Commvault software | Use when
--- | --- | --- | ---
Bundled storage | ✓ | ✗ | You want Commvault to automatically deploy and manage backup storage
Self-managed storage | ✓ | ✓ | You want to select and manage your own backup storage

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