Azure SRE Service – Example Use Cases and Cost Estimates

The Pitt Digital Secure Research Environment (SRE) enables research faculty and staff to remotely access a secure virtual workstation with managed data ingress and egress controls.

This is not a comprehensive representation of the cost of operating the Azure Secure Research Enclave. This is intended to provide an example of the implications of choosing certain classes and configurations for this environment.

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Cost Analysis

  • DSVM Cost:
    • Edsv5 (32 vCPU, 256 GiB RAM): Approximately $2.50 per hour
    • Monthly cost (assuming 160 hours of usage per month): 160 * $2.50 = $400
  • Attached Storage Cost:
    • 2TB Standard SSD: Approximately $0.10 per GB per month
    • Monthly cost: 2,000 GB * $0.10 = $200
  • Storage Account Cost:
    • Standard Storage Account: Approximately $0.02 per GB per month for block blob storage
    • 100GB data storage: 100 GB * $0.02 = $2
  • Data Transfer Cost:
    • Ingress cost: Free
    • Egress cost: $0.087 per GB
    • Cost for 100GB egress: 100 GB * $0.087 = $8.70

Total Monthly Cost

  • DSVM: $400
  • Attached Storage: $200
  • Storage Account: $2
  • Data Transfer: $8.70

Total Cost: $610.70 per month

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Cost Analysis

  • DSVM Cost:
    • NCas_T4_v3 (32 vCPU, 128 GiB RAM, GPU): Approximately $5.0 per hour
    • Monthly cost (assuming 160 hours of usage per month): 160 * $5.0 = $800
  • Attached Storage Cost:
    • 4TB Premium SSD: Approximately $0.12 per GB per month
    • Monthly cost: 4,000 GB * $0.12 = $480
  • Storage Account Cost:
    • Premium Storage Account: Approximately $0.15 per GB per month for block blob storage
    • 100GB data storage: 100 GB * $0.15 = $15
  • Data Transfer Cost:
    • Ingress cost: Free
    • Egress cost: $0.087 per GB
    • Cost for 100GB egress: 100 GB * $0.087 = $8.70

Total Monthly Cost

  • DSVM: $800
  • Attached Storage: $480
  • Storage Account: $15
  • Data Transfer: $8.70

Total Cost: $1,303.70 per month

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Cost Analysis

  • DSVM Cost:
    • HB120rs_v3 (120 vCPU, 480 GiB RAM): Approximately $10.0 per hour
    • Monthly cost (assuming 160 hours of usage per month): 160 * $10.0 = $1,600
  • Attached Storage Cost:
    • 10TB Ultra Disk: Approximately $0.20 per GB per month
    • Monthly cost: 10,000 GB * $0.20 = $2,000
  • Storage Account Cost:
    • Premium Storage Account: Approximately $0.15 per GB per month for block blob storage
    • 100GB data storage: 100 GB * $0.15 = $15
  • Data Transfer Cost:
    • Ingress cost: Free
    • Egress cost: $0.087 per GB
    • Cost for 100GB egress: 100 GB * $0.087 = $8.70

Total Monthly Cost

  • DSVM: $1,600
  • Attached Storage: $2,000
  • Storage Account: $15
  • Data Transfer: $8.70

Total Cost: $3,623.70 per month

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Cost Analysis

  • DSVM Cost:
    • DS4_v4 (8 vCPU, 32 GiB RAM): Approximately $0.50 per hour
    • Monthly cost (assuming 160 hours of usage per month): 160 * $0.50 = $80
  • Attached Storage Cost:
    • 500GB Standard SSD: Approximately $0.10 per GB per month
    • Monthly cost: 500 GB * $0.10 = $50
  • Storage Account Cost:
    • Standard Storage Account: Approximately $0.02 per GB per month for block blob storage
    • 100GB data storage: 100 GB * $0.02 = $2
  • Data Transfer Cost:
    • Ingress cost: Free
    • Egress cost: $0.087 per GB
    • Cost for 100GB egress: 100 GB * $0.087 = $8.70

Total Monthly Cost

  • DSVM: $80
  • Attached Storage: $50
  • Storage Account: $2
  • Data Transfer: $8.70

Total Cost: $140.70 per month

One Week Example SRE Running 24/7

Estimated weekly costs for SRE running 24/7 by use-case

Use-Case

DSVM Cost

Storage Cost

Storage Account

Data Transfer

ON Cost

OFF Cost

Est. Total*

Financial Analysis

$400

$200

$2

$8.70

$610.70

$202.00

~ $650

Healthcare Research

$800

$480

$15

$8.70

$1,303.70

$495.00

~ $1,400

Genomics Research

$1,600

$2,000

$15

$8.70

$3,623.70

$2,015.00

~ $3,700

General Analysis

$80

$50

$2

$8.70

$140.70

$52.00

~ $150

One Month Example SRE Running 24/7

Estimated monthly costs for SRE running 24/7 by use-case

Use-Case

DSVM Cost

Storage Cost

Storage Account

Data Transfer

ON Cost

OFF Cost

Est. Total*

Financial Analysis

$1,800

$200

$2

$8.70

$2,010.70

$202.00

~ $2,100

Healthcare Research

$3,600

$480

$15

$8.70

$4,103.70

$495.00

~ $4,200

Genomics Research

$7,200

$2,000

$15

$8.70

$9,223.70

$2,015.00

~ $9,500

General Analysis

$360

$50

$2

$8.70

$420.70

$52.00

~ $600

* These estimates provide a comprehensive overview of the costs associated with different research use-cases in Azure. Minimal additional costs will be incurred for various resources that make up the environment. Note that prices are approximate and may vary based on the specific Azure discounts or reserved instances that might apply.

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RESEARCH DATA SERVICES The Azure Secure Research Enclave (SRE) is a specialized Cloud Compute Service Offering tailored to meet the unique needs of researchers in healthcare and related fields.