Setting Up a Basic Azure VPN


What is an Azure VPN?

An Azure VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a secure and encrypted connection between your on-premises network and resources in Microsoft Azure. It enables you to extend your on-premises network into the Azure cloud, providing a secure and private communication channel.


Key Concepts and Features

Azure VPNs come with several key concepts and features:

  • Site-to-Site VPN: Connect your on-premises network to Azure over the internet through a secure tunnel, allowing communication between your on-premises resources and Azure virtual networks.
  • Point-to-Site VPN: Enable secure connections from individual devices or remote users to Azure resources.
  • VPN Gateway: Azure VPNs are established using a VPN Gateway, which acts as the endpoint for your VPN connections.
  • VPN Protocols: Azure supports various VPN protocols, including IPsec and SSTP, for secure communication.
  • Security and Compliance: Azure VPNs provide encryption, authentication, and compliance features to ensure data security and privacy.

Setting Up a Basic Azure VPN

To set up a basic Azure VPN, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in to your Azure Portal.
  2. Create a Virtual Network and a VPN Gateway.
  3. Configure your on-premises VPN device to establish a secure connection to the Azure VPN Gateway.
  4. Test the VPN connection to ensure secure communication between your on-premises network and Azure resources.

Sample Configuration

Here's an example of configuring a Site-to-Site VPN connection to Azure using a typical on-premises VPN device:

Local Network Gateway:
- IP Address: 203.0.113.1
- Shared Key: YourSecretKey123
Azure VPN Gateway:
- Virtual Network Gateway IP: 192.0.2.1
- Shared Key: YourSecretKey123
Configuration on On-Premises VPN Device:
- IPsec Tunnel Configuration:
    - Phase 1: Encryption AES-256, Authentication SHA-1, DH Group 2
    - Phase 2: Encryption AES-256, Authentication SHA-1, PFS Group 2
- Local Network Configuration:
    - Local Network IP Range: 10.0.0.0/24
    - Remote Network IP Range: 10.1.0.0/24
Establish the VPN tunnel between the on-premises device and Azure VPN Gateway.

Conclusion

Setting up a basic Azure VPN is essential for secure communication between your on-premises network and resources in Azure. By following the necessary steps and configuring your VPN devices correctly, you can establish a reliable and secure connection to extend your network into the cloud.