Inactive Tables in Storage Account

Service Category

Storage

Cloud Provider

Azure

Service Name

Azure Table Storage

Inefficiency Type

Unused Resource

Explanation

Tables with no read or write activity often represent deprecated applications, obsolete telemetry, or abandoned development artifacts. Retaining inactive tables increases storage costs and operational complexity. Regularly auditing and cleaning up unused tables helps maintain a streamlined, cost-effective storage environment.

Relevant Billing Model

Azure Table Storage charges for stored data per GB and separately for read, write, and delete operations. Tables incur ongoing storage costs even if no activity occurs, contributing to unnecessary baseline expenses.

Detection

Identify Azure Table Storage tables with no read or write operations over a defined lookback period
Review table creation dates, metadata, and ownership tags to assess relevance and intended retention
Check for compliance, legal hold, or audit requirements before initiating deletions or exports
Evaluate whether table contents require archival, and plan export strategies where needed
Validate findings with application owners, data stewards, or governance teams before proceeding

Remediation

Delete tables confirmed to be redundant or obsolete. If long-term retention is required, export the table contents (e.g., to CSV or JSON format) and store them in lower-cost services like Azure Blob Storage Archive tier. Incorporate tagging and lifecycle management practices to prevent reaccumulation of unused tables.

Relevant Documentation