Classic Doesn’t Mean Obsolete: The Enduring Power of the SMB Protocol

Just because something is old doesn’t mean it’s lost its value or become obsolete. Think of vintage cars, point-and-shoot cameras, or vinyl records. They’re classics that have not only stood the test of time but in many cases increased, sometimes significantly, in value. 

These days most people want the latest, shiniest gadgets—smartphones, smartwatches, laptops, etc… And if they keep their flip phones, it’s generally for the sake of nostalgia. While it’s hard not to be intrigued by the latest technology and want to have it, there are some things, even in tech, that, like vinyl records, never seem to go out of style. 

The Server Message Block (SMB) protocol is one of them. Introduced by IBM in the early 1980s and later expanded and later adopted and expanded by Microsoft, the SMB protocol is a network file sharing protocol that allows computers, applications, and devices to read and write to files, as well as request services from servers, over a network. 

Despite being more than four decades old, it’s still very relevant today. Let’s look at why, and what your data storage has to do with making the most of it. 

Why The SMB Protocol is Still Important and Relevant

Why is SMB still relevant? Namely, because of Microsoft, which has continued active development of the SMB protocol with Windows Server 2025, introducing significant SMB security enhancements, including SMB signing required by default and enhanced client access controls. This demonstrates that SMB remains a critical enterprise protocol that organizations must actively manage and optimize.

And although Window’s desktop market share has shrunk a little over the last few years, (current figures show approximately 71-72% global desktop market share, down from 88% in 2020), Windows still maintains clear dominance in enterprise environments where SMB implementations matter most. The continued prevalence of Windows-based infrastructure ensures SMB optimization remains a priority for data storage technology.

A few other key reasons it remains widely used include:

1. Cross-platform Interoperability

With open-source implementations like Samba, SMB is not limited to Windows—Linux, macOS, and even NAS devices can use it.

This cross-platform support means organizations can have mixed environments (Windows + Linux + Macs + storage appliances) that all communicate via SMB.

2. Enterprise storage and viirtualization

Many enterprise storage systems (e.g., NetApp, Pure Storage, Dell EMC, etc.) expose SMB shares for users and applications.

Virtualization platforms (like VMware and Hyper-V) often rely on SMB for certain storage backends.

3. Modern enhancements (SMB 3.x)

SMB has evolved: SMB 3.0+ introduced features like encryption, compression, multichannel, and RDMA support, making it more secure and performant.

This makes it suitable for not just office file sharing, but also data center and cloud workloads.

4. Cloud and hybrid relevance

Services like Azure Files and Amazon FSx for Windows File Server use SMB as the protocol layer for cloud-based file shares.

This means companies can lift-and-shift applications without rewriting them for object storage (like S3).

5. Backward compatibility and legacy needs

Many older applications and workflows still rely on SMB. Replacing it with newer protocols (NFS, S3, WebDAV, etc.) would require costly refactoring.

In short, SMB is still relevant because it bridges legacy and modern IT, is deeply embedded in enterprise workflows, and has evolved to support security and performance needs in today’s hybrid and cloud environments.

Is SMB Complex?

While SMB is simple to use, it’s also the most complex networking protocol of all. That’s because you must consider the environment in which it operates. SMB supports multiple versions of dialect negotiations and has features that have been built over three decades. 

SMB:

• Provides interoperability with a variety of other protocols, including TCP/IP, RPC, SSL, LDAP, and more
• Works with services such as DNS, NTP, ID mapping, IPC, netlogon, browser, directory services, and others
• Supports a wide variety of authentication methods, including LM, NTLM, NTLMv2, TLS, and Kerberos
• Handles multiple levels of encryption such as DES ciphers, RC4-HMAC, AES128, and AES256

Implementing the SMB protocol using the specs is one thing. But you also need to think about storage-side implementations for complex multiprotocol workflows. 

It gets further compounded when you have to integrate SMB with really complex Microsoft Windows domain environments and functionalities. It’s a herculean task for any storage vendor to implement the SMB protocol in its product from scratch.

Modern SMB Use Cases

While SMB may be old, its ubiquity ensures that it won’t be fading away anytime soon. SMB has evolved from just “Windows file sharing” into something much broader.

Here are some of the modern use cases where SMB remains relevant:

1. Enterprise file sharing

• Departmental file servers: Shared folders for HR, Finance, Legal, etc., where permissions map directly to Active Directory.
• Collaboration in mixed environments: Teams using Windows, macOS, and Linux can all access the same file shares thanks to Samba and SMB support across platforms.

2. Cloud-based file services

• Azure Files: Provides SMB-accessible file shares hosted in the cloud, letting businesses “lift and shift” Windows apps without rearchitecting for object storage.
• Amazon FSx for Windows File Server: Fully managed Windows file servers running SMB for companies that need enterprise file shares in AWS.
• Hybrid storage: On-premises SMB servers synced to cloud file storage, enabling global access while preserving familiar SMB-based workflows.

 3. Enterprise storage systems

• Many storage vendors (Pure Storage, NetApp, Dell EMC, Qumulo, etc.) support SMB as a protocol for accessing unstructured data.
• SMB is often chosen over NFS when Windows clients or mixed environments need secure file-level access.

4. Virtualization and VDI

• Hyper-V and VMware can use SMB 3.0 storage as a backend for storing VM images, offering benefits like SMB Direct (RDMA) and SMB Multichannel for performance.
• VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) setups often use SMB to deliver user profiles, home directories, and shared data seamlessly.

5. High-performance and secure data access

• With SMB 3.x, features like end-to-end encryption, transparent failover, compression, and RDMA make it useful for data center workloads, not just office file shares.
• SMB multichannel allows multiple network paths for higher throughput — important for applications like video editing or analytics.

6. Media, content, and creative workflows

• Video production and post-production studios use SMB shares for collaborative editing. SMB 3.x performance improvements mean large video files can be worked on directly from shared storage.
• Creative teams often prefer SMB over NFS because of better compatibility with Windows and macOS workstations.

 7. IoT, edge, and embedded devices

• Many network-attached devices (industrial systems, cameras, medical devices) expose data over SMB for compatibility with enterprise file servers.
• SMB’s longevity and broad support make it a common choice for device-to-server integration.

SMB vs Other Protocols

As organizations modernize their IT infrastructure, they often face a critical choice in how to store and deliver data: traditional file protocols (SMB, NFS) or cloud-native object storage (S3). 

Each option has its own strengths and trade-offs, shaped by decades of evolution and by the demands of today’s hybrid environments. SMB remains deeply embedded in Windows-centric enterprises, NFS continues to power Linux-heavy and high-performance computing workloads, and S3 has become the backbone of cloud-scale applications and data lakes. 

The table below breaks down where each protocol excels, how they compare in terms of performance, scalability, and security, and which modern use cases they best support.

SMB vs. NFS vs. S3

How Pure Storage Powers SMB

Pure Storage brings SMB into the modern era with FlashBlade®—a unified fast file and object (UFFO) platform built for performance, efficiency, and simplicity. With Purity//FB, FlashBlade delivers fast, scale-out native SMB alongside NFS and S3, supporting any workload with very low power consumption.

FlashBlade’s massively parallel all-flash architecture accelerates Windows applications at any file size, simplifies Active Directory integration, and secures cross-protocol access between SMB and NFS. You also get advanced data management—quotas, replication, rollback, and SafeMode™ snapshots—for ransomware protection and streamlined administration.

The result: a high-performance, secure platform that consolidates Windows-based workloads, reduces silos, and cuts data-center footprint. Validated solutions like Fast SQL Server Backup (>1TB/min) and Healthcare PACS extend SMB to mission-critical use cases in finance, healthcare, media, research, and beyond.

Better, Faster, Stronger SMB for Modern Data 

Ask yourself: Do you want a car that is fast and fun to drive, yet simple to operate? Do you want the best fuel economy and the latest technology? Then don’t compromise with an old gas guzzler that doesn’t have power steering.

Similarly, for a simple storage experience without compromises, sit back and enjoy the drive with FlashBlade. Purity//FB brings freshness to its SMB implementation that helps take you get the greatest simplicity, optimal performance, and best power economy for your data center.