Nightly backup of 311 requests
Each night, all Sentra 311 requests are written as a dated JSON file to the city's own Azure container.
Files & transfersConnector
Azure Blob Storage integration
for city data files
Azure Blob Storage is Microsoft's object storage. Cities on Azure use containers for backups, data exports, archives and files exchanged with vendors, often alongside Microsoft 365 and Azure SQL.
Pre-built connector
Azure Blob Storage
- Tier
- Pre-built connector
- Category
- Files & transfers
- Sign-in
- azure_blob
- Paging
- single response
§ Overview
What connecting Azure Blob Storage does.
SentraBridge reads files from a container, writes new ones and moves processed files to an archive path. Flows can turn database rows or API records into CSV or JSON files, or load files into another system. The files live in the city's storage; SentraBridge only logs counts and file names.
- Files: Read CSV, JSON, JSON Lines, XML, fixed-width and other formats; write new files by path.
- New files: Start a flow when new files appear under a path.
- Archive: Move processed files to an archive path after a run.
What SentraBridge can do with Azure Blob Storage
| resource | read | write | changes only | fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files | CSV, JSON, JSON Lines, XML, fixed-width, ACH, BAI2, GeoJSON, Shapefile | write files (including positive pay), transfer documents | yes (new files) | Columns from the file |
§ Use cases
What cities connect Azure Blob Storage for.
Database table to CSV
A permits or work order table in Azure SQL is exported nightly as a CSV so there is a plain-text copy outside the database.
Vendor drop folder
A vendor writes daily files into a container; SentraBridge reads new files, loads rows into SQL Server and archives the files.
Data for analytics
Records from several systems are written in one shape as JSON Lines for the city's analytics team to pick up.
§ How it works
How to connect Azure Blob Storage
- 01Get accessCreate a container, or pick an existing one, for SentraBridge's files.
- 02Add the connectionGenerate a container SAS token with read, add, create, write, delete and list rights.
- 03Preview real recordsChoose an expiry date that matches your key rotation policy.
- 04Turn it onEnter the account, container and token, then list files to test.
§ Often connected with
Azure Blob Storage and the rest of city hall.
Systems cities commonly connect with Azure Blob Storage, each with its own connector page.
Sentra 311§ FAQ
Azure Blob Storage integration questions
How does SentraBridge sign in to Azure Blob Storage?
With a container SAS token. It needs read, add, create, write, delete and list rights on that container, and you set its expiry.
Can we back up a database to Azure Blob every night?
Yes. A scheduled flow reads a table or query and writes it as a dated CSV or JSON file to the container.
Does SentraBridge keep a copy of the files?
No. File contents pass through memory. Run history records which files were read or written and how many rows.
Connect Azure Blob Storage to the rest.
We'll set up a workspace with your systems in a sandbox and build your first flow with you.