Azure Virtual Network Concept

An Azure Virtual Network (VNet) is a fundamental component of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure that provides a secure and isolated network environment for Azure resources. It enables users to deploy and manage resources within a defined boundary while controlling network traffic and security.

Virtual Networks are essential for creating hybrid cloud environments that connect resources in Azure to on-premises resources. Azure VNets also allow users to create connectivity between VNets within a single Azure region or across different Azure regions.

Azure VNets are created within an Azure region and can be linked to on-premises networks using either a VPN Gateway or Azure ExpressRoute. This allows resources in the VNet to communicate securely with on-premises resources using a private connection.

Azure VNets provide several key features that allow users to manage network traffic and security, including:

1. Subnets – VNets can be subdivided into multiple subnets to allow for better network isolation and management.
2. Network Security Groups (NSGs) – These are a set of firewall rules that can be applied to subnets, network interfaces, or individual virtual machines to control inbound and outbound network traffic.
3. User-Defined Routes – This allows users to define custom routes for network traffic within the VNet.
4. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Gateway – This enables users to connect their VNet to on-premises networks using a VPN tunnel over the internet.
5. Azure ExpressRoute – This provides a private, dedicated connection between the VNet and on-premises networks, which offers higher bandwidth and lower latencies compared to VPN.
6. Azure Load Balancer – This is a service that distributes incoming network traffic across multiple backend resources to improve performance and reliability.

An Azure Virtual Network is a fundamental component of Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure that provides a secure and isolated network environment for Azure resources. It enables users to deploy and manage resources within a defined boundary while controlling network traffic and security. By using features such as subnets, NSGs, VPN Gateway, and Azure ExpressRoute, users can create secure hybrid cloud environments and manage network traffic with ease.