Recommend a connectivity solution that connects Azure resources to the internet
5 minutes
5 Questions
When designing connectivity solutions for Azure resources to access the internet, Azure Solutions Architects must consider several key components and best practices. The primary recommendation involves implementing Azure Virtual Network (VNet) as the foundation, combined with appropriate outbound c…When designing connectivity solutions for Azure resources to access the internet, Azure Solutions Architects must consider several key components and best practices. The primary recommendation involves implementing Azure Virtual Network (VNet) as the foundation, combined with appropriate outbound connectivity methods. For outbound internet access, Azure provides multiple options. The most common approach uses Azure NAT Gateway, which offers scalable, reliable outbound connectivity with static public IP addresses. This service handles port exhaustion issues and provides consistent egress IP addresses, making it ideal for production workloads requiring predictable outbound connections. For inbound internet connectivity, Azure Load Balancer (Standard SKU) or Azure Application Gateway serves as the entry point. Application Gateway is recommended for HTTP/HTTPS workloads as it provides Layer 7 load balancing, SSL termination, and Web Application Firewall capabilities. For non-HTTP traffic, Azure Load Balancer handles Layer 4 distribution. Azure Firewall should be incorporated as a central network security service. It provides threat intelligence-based filtering, application rules, and network rules to control both inbound and outbound traffic. Deploying Azure Firewall in a hub VNet with spoke VNets connected via peering creates a secure hub-and-spoke topology. For hybrid scenarios requiring internet connectivity alongside on-premises connections, Azure ExpressRoute with Microsoft Peering enables access to Microsoft services, while a separate internet edge can handle general web traffic. Network Security Groups (NSGs) must be applied to subnets and network interfaces to filter traffic at the network layer. Additionally, implementing Azure DDoS Protection Standard safeguards public-facing resources from distributed denial-of-service attacks. Route tables with User Defined Routes (UDRs) allow traffic steering through the Azure Firewall or Network Virtual Appliances for inspection before reaching the internet. This architecture ensures security, scalability, and compliance while enabling Azure resources to communicate with internet endpoints effectively.
Recommend a Connectivity Solution That Connects Azure Resources to the Internet
Why This Topic Is Important
Understanding internet connectivity solutions for Azure resources is fundamental for the AZ-305 exam. As a Solutions Architect, you must design secure, scalable, and cost-effective ways for Azure workloads to communicate with the internet. Poor connectivity choices can lead to security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and unnecessary costs.
What Is Internet Connectivity in Azure?
Internet connectivity in Azure refers to the methods and services that enable Azure resources to send and receive traffic from the public internet. This includes both outbound connectivity (Azure resources accessing the internet) and inbound connectivity (internet users accessing Azure-hosted services).
Key Azure Services for Internet Connectivity
1. Public IP Addresses - Assigned to resources like VMs, Load Balancers, and Application Gateways - Can be Static or Dynamic - Standard SKU provides zone redundancy and security features
2. Azure NAT Gateway - Provides outbound internet connectivity for resources in a subnet - Offers SNAT (Source Network Address Translation) port exhaustion prevention - Highly available and scalable - Best for scenarios requiring predictable outbound IP addresses
3. Azure Load Balancer (Public) - Distributes inbound internet traffic across multiple VMs - Standard SKU supports availability zones - Provides outbound connectivity through load balancing rules
4. Azure Application Gateway - Layer 7 load balancer for web traffic - Includes Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities - Supports SSL termination and URL-based routing
5. Azure Front Door - Global entry point for web applications - Provides CDN, WAF, and global load balancing - Ideal for multi-region deployments
6. Azure Firewall - Managed firewall service for controlling outbound and inbound traffic - Provides FQDN filtering and threat intelligence - Centralizes internet egress points
How Internet Connectivity Works
Outbound Connectivity Options: - Default outbound access (being deprecated) - NAT Gateway (recommended) - Public Load Balancer outbound rules - Public IP on instance - Azure Firewall as central egress
Inbound Connectivity Options: - Public IP addresses - Public Load Balancer - Application Gateway - Azure Front Door
Decision Criteria for Choosing Solutions
Consider these factors when recommending a solution: - Security requirements: Use Azure Firewall or WAF for enhanced protection - Scale requirements: NAT Gateway handles large-scale outbound scenarios - Geographic distribution: Azure Front Door for global applications - Application layer requirements: Application Gateway for HTTP/HTTPS traffic - Cost considerations: Basic scenarios may only need Public IPs
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Internet Connectivity
Tip 1: When a question mentions SNAT port exhaustion or needing consistent outbound IPs, the answer is typically NAT Gateway.
Tip 2: For web application scenarios requiring SSL offloading, URL-based routing, or WAF, choose Application Gateway.
Tip 3: For global web applications with multiple regions, Azure Front Door is the preferred solution.
Tip 4: When centralized security monitoring and logging for internet traffic is mentioned, Azure Firewall is usually the correct choice.
Tip 5: Remember that Standard SKU Public IPs are secure by default and require NSG rules to allow traffic.
Tip 6: Look for keywords like high availability, zone redundancy, and enterprise-grade which point toward Standard SKU resources.
Tip 7: For Layer 4 (TCP/UDP) load balancing scenarios, choose Azure Load Balancer. For Layer 7 (HTTP/HTTPS), choose Application Gateway.
Tip 8: Questions about controlling and auditing all internet-bound traffic from a VNet typically require routing through Azure Firewall with forced tunneling.