Azure - Private Endpoints

Introduction

• Azure Private Endpoints are network interfaces that connect you privately and securely to a service powered by Azure Private Link.
• Private Endpoints enable secure communication by assigning a private IP address from your VNet to the Azure service, effectively extending your virtual network to the service.

Features of Azure Private Endpoints

1. Private Connectivity:
   • Provides secure connectivity to Azure services over a private link.
   • Uses a private IP address from your VNet, ensuring that traffic stays within the Azure backbone network.
2. Eliminates Exposure to the Public Internet:
   • Access services without exposing them to the public internet.
   • Reduces the risk of data breaches and attacks from the internet.
3. Network Security:
   • Integrates with Azure network security features like Network Security Groups (NSGs) to control traffic.
   • Ensures that only authorized traffic can access the services via the private endpoint.
4. Simplified Security Management:
   • Simplifies security management by avoiding the need for VPNs, ExpressRoute, or complex firewall rules to secure service access.
   • Provides a straightforward way to ensure services are only accessible through your private network.
5. Integration with Azure Services:
   • Supports multiple Azure services like Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Key Vault, and many others.
   • Enables private and secure access to these services from your VNet.
6. Scalability:
   • Scales with your Azure services, providing a consistent and reliable connection as your infrastructure grows.
7. DNS Integration:
   • Supports integration with Azure DNS private zones to resolve the private IP addresses of services.
   • Ensures seamless name resolution within your VNet.
8. Enhanced Compliance:
   • Helps meet compliance and regulatory requirements by keeping data within a controlled private network.
   • Reduces the scope of compliance audits by limiting exposure to public endpoints.

Service Endpoint vs Private Endpoint

• For the highest level of security and network isolation, Private Endpoints are preferred.
• They ensure that your storage account is accessible only via a private IP address within your VNet, providing enhanced security and compliance.
• For simpler configurations and cost-effectiveness, Service Endpoints can be used, providing good performance and keeping traffic within the Azure backbone while still allowing access via the public endpoint of the service.