Mastering Azure Networking

Azure Networking

Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) provide the foundation for secure and private communication between virtual machines and other Azure resources. By default, each VNet is isolated, but you can connect multiple VNets using VNet peering to enable seamless communication across environments.

• Virtual Network Overview
• Virtual Network Design
• VNet Peering
• NAT Gateway
• LAB: Azure Networking

Azure Virtual Network Traffic Routing

Azure Virtual Networks include default routing tables that determine how traffic flows within and outside the network. To gain more granular control over routing behavior, you can configure user-defined routes or leverage dynamic routing with the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP).

• System Routes
• User Defined Networking
• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
• LAB: Network Routing

Name Resolution

Reliable name resolution is essential for enabling communication between application components in Azure and on-premises environments. Azure offers built-in DNS services as well as Azure Private DNS and the Azure DNS Private Resolver to support hybrid and multi-environment name resolution scenarios.

• Azure-Provided Name Resolution
• Azure Private DNS Zone
• Hybrid Name Resolution: Azure DNS Private Resolver
• Name Resolution with Azure Virtual WAN
• LAB: Name Resolution

Securing Azure Virtual Networks

Securing network traffic is critical to protecting Azure resources from unauthorized access and attacks. Azure provides multiple network security services that help you control traffic flow, enforce policies, and protect against threats.

• DDoS Proctection
• Network Security Groups
• Azure Firewall
• LAB: Securing Azure Virtual Networks

Azure Hybrid Networking

Many organizations choose to extend their on-premises networks to Azure to support hybrid cloud scenarios. Azure offers several connectivity options, including VPN Gateways for encrypted tunnels and ExpressRoute for private, dedicated connections to Azure datacenters. For large-scale or complex environments, Azure Virtual WAN simplifies the management of multiple network connections through a centralized interface.

• Virtual Network Gateway
• Site-to-Site Connections
• Point-to-Site Connections
• ExpressRoute
• Azure Virtual WAN
• Azure Virtual Network Hub
• LAB: Azure Hybrid Networking

VNet Integration Options for PaaS Solutions

Platform as a Service (PaaS) solutions are typically exposed through public endpoints, making them accessible over the internet by default. To improve security and reduce exposure, many Azure PaaS services can be integrated with Virtual Networks to restrict public access and enable private connectivity.

• Service Endpoints
• Private Endpoints
• VNet Integration
• App Service Environment
• Hybrid Connections
• LAB: VNet Integration Options for PaaS Solutions

Azure Load Balancing

Azure provides a range of load balancing and traffic distribution services to improve availability, performance, and security. These services can be used individually or combined to design scalable and resilient application architectures.

• Azure Load Balancer
• Application Gateway
• Web Application Firewall
• Traffic Manager
• Azure Front Door
• Comparing Load Balancing Solutions
• LAB: Azure Load Balancing

Network Monitoring

Monitoring and troubleshooting network connectivity is a core responsibility of the Azure network administrator. Azure offers a comprehensive set of monitoring and diagnostic tools to help identify misconfigurations, analyze traffic flows, and detect potential security issues.

• Monitor Networks with Azure Monitor
• Azure Network Watcher
• Network Diagnostic Tools: IP flow verify - NSG Diagnostics - Packet Capture
• Flow Logs
• LAB: Network Monitoring