Secure services by using Azure Virtual Networks

Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) provide a secure way to connect and isolate resources within the Azure cloud environment. VNets allow you to create your own private virtual network in Azure and enable secure communication between resources, including virtual machines, databases, and other services. In this article, we will discuss how to secure services using Azure Virtual Networks, focusing on key concepts and implementation details.

1. Creating an Azure Virtual Network

To get started, you need to create an Azure Virtual Network. You can do this using the Azure portal or through Azure Command-Line Interface (CLI). Here is an example using the Azure CLI:

az network vnet create \
--resource-group \
--name \
--address-prefixes 10.0.0.0/16 \
--subnet-name \
--subnet-prefix 10.0.0.0/24


In the above code snippet, we are creating a virtual network with an address space of 10.0.0.0/16 and a subnet with the address space of 10.0.0.0/24.

2. Configuring Network Security Groups (NSGs)

Network Security Groups (NSGs) allow you to define access control rules for your virtual network. These rules enable you to allow or deny inbound and outbound traffic based on source IP, destination IP, protocol, and port number. You can associate NSGs with subnets or network interfaces. Here is an example of creating an NSG rule:

az network nsg rule create \
--resource-group \
--nsg-name \
--name \
--protocol TCP \
--direction Inbound \
--source-address-prefixes '*' \
--source-port-ranges '*' \
--destination-address-prefixes '*' \
--destination-port-ranges '80' \
--access Allow \
--priority 1000


The above code creates an inbound rule in the NSG to allow traffic on port 80 from any source IP.

3. Virtual Network Service Endpoints

Azure Virtual Network Service Endpoints allow you to secure your Azure services by providing direct connectivity to virtual networks. By using service endpoints, you can secure traffic to Azure services, such as Azure Storage accounts or Azure SQL databases, without going over the public internet. To configure a service endpoint, you need to enable it for the specific subnet. Here is an example of enabling a service endpoint for Azure Storage:

az network vnet subnet update \
--resource-group \
--name \
--vnet-name \
--service-endpoints Microsoft.Storage


The above code enables the service endpoint for Azure Storage in the specified subnet.

4. Private Link

Azure Private Link allows you to securely access Azure services over a private network connection. It enables you to connect to services, such as Azure Storage or Azure Web Apps, using private IP addresses within your VNet. Private Link ensures that traffic between your virtual network and the service travels over the Microsoft backbone network, eliminating exposure to the public internet. To configure Private Link, you need to create a private endpoint and associate it with the desired service. Here is an example of creating a private endpoint for Azure Storage:

az network private-endpoint create \
--resource-group \
--name \
--vnet-name \
--subnet \
--private-connection-resource-id \
--group-ids blob


The above code creates a private endpoint in the specified subnet for Azure Storage blob service.

5. Network Security Group Flow Logs

Network Security Group (NSG) Flow Logs provide detailed visibility into inbound and outbound traffic for resources in your virtual network. By enabling NSG Flow Logs, you can capture diagnostic logs that contain information about connections allowed or denied by NSG rules. These logs can be used for monitoring, auditing, and troubleshooting network traffic within your virtual network. To enable NSG Flow Logs, you need to configure the logging settings for NSGs or specific NSG rules. Here is an example of enabling NSG Flow Logs:

az network watcher flow-log configure \
--resource-group \
--nsg \
--enabled true \
--storage-account


The above code enables NSG Flow Logs for the specified NSG and stores the logs in the specified storage account.

In conclusion, securing services using Azure Virtual Networks is crucial for protecting resources within the Azure cloud environment. By implementing features like Network Security Groups, Virtual Network Service Endpoints, Private Link, and NSG Flow Logs, you can ensure secure communication and minimize exposure to the public internet. Azure provides a robust set of tools and capabilities to help you design a secure network infrastructure for your AI solutions.