Azure Networking

Azure networking – No cloud infrastructure can function without networking, which can make or break a cloud deployment. IT teams need to make resources and performance work in harmony. Therefore, the organization needs to have a coherent and strong network architecture.

Microsoft Azure Networking provides several advantages to connecting and managing the cloud securely and efficiently. Azure networking owing to its diverse network capabilities offers users a smooth experience by linking the cloud with the on-site services and infrastructure. Since it is built on one of the most extensive fibre networks, it can support many types of hybrid and cloud-focused strategies. Connectivity and performance levels are directly positively impacted as a result. 

AZURE NETWORKING CAPABILITIES

Azure ExpressRoute

For a faster and private connection to Azure with lower latency and reliable speed, trust Azure ExpressRoute. It does not bypass the public network but connects directly to the WAN and on-premise network with the global network of Microsoft. 

This integration alternative gives the most significant cost benefits. The connections enable access to MS cloud services like MS Azure and MS Office 365 service. 

Content Delivery Network

Making use of the server closest to the user, the Azure Content Delivery Network sends high-bandwidth content like media files and pictures to customers faster and more efficiently. As a result, significant traffic is served through CDNs like popular sites like Amazon, Netflix and Facebook. The analytics capabilities help with getting better insights about the workflows by tracking the content. 

Virtual Networks or VNets

This alternative helps Azure resources to connect the internet and on-premise resources and networks. A secure and reliable environment is therefore created for the applications in a way that can be controlled by professionals. VNets can also be used for the following:

● Creating a dedicated and private cloud-only VNet. This allows services within the network to communicate in the cloud.

● Extending a secure data centre by building conventional S2S (site-to-site) VPNs to scale the capacity. 

● Use the hybrid cloud to connect cloud-based applications to on-premise systems. 

Azure Bastion

This fully managed PaaS service offers reliable and uncomplicated remote desktop access to virtual machines through the Azure platform. There is no hassle of managing network security policies. 

Azure DNS

This is a hosting service for DNS domains, facilitating name resolution using Microsoft Azure infrastructure. DNS records can be managed using the same credentials and tools as other Azure services. 

Azure Front Door

This is a scalable service for protecting applications that run on the web and makes a secure entry point for delivery. The azure front door is a control mechanism to manage web traffic and extracts actionable learnings about the users and back ends. 

Traffic Manager

Azure Traffic Manager is a load-balancer based on DNS-based capabilities, which enables users to distribute the traffic optimally across different global regions managed by Azure. It also helps to do the same while providing responsiveness and availability. Traffic manager provides a variety of routing methods such as weighted, priority, multi-value or subnet. 

Application Gateway

This is a web traffic load balancer that helps manage traffic to web applications. It offers 7-layer functionality for web applications. 

Load balancer

Customer experience transforms dramatically with load balancers. This high-performance layer 4 load-balancing application delivers network performance to applications. It helps integrate virtual machines and cloud services. 

Web application firewall

This cloud-native software operates through a set of policies that protect the applications from cyberattacks and vulnerabilities caused by the injection and cross-site scripting. It is available as both an appliance and a plugin. 

COMPONENTS INVOLVED IN AZURE NETWORKING SETUP

● Virtual Network Gateway: Virtual Network Gateway enables connectivity between the subnet and other networks, including VPNs. They facilitate the following:

– Communication between Azure resources: Virtual Messengers and other types of Azure resources can be used to make Azure resources communicate with one another. 

– Communicate with each other: VPNs can communicate by connecting the resources in the virtual networks. This is termed virtual network peering. 

– Communicate to the internet: By default, all resources of the VNet can communicate with the internet. A public IP address or a load balancer can be used to facilitate inbound communication between the VNet resources and the internet. 

– Communicating with on-premise networks and devices: VPN Gateway or ExpressRoute can be used to link the VNet resources with the devices and networks on the office premises.

● Local Network Gateway: This is a representation of the customers’ gateway on the other terminal of the network. 

● Border Gateway Protocol: BGP is a mechanism for connecting the on-site routes efficiently to ensure that the protocol communicates the route dynamically.