AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies Exam

Configure and Validate Private Endpoints

Private endpoints are network interfaces with a private IP inside a virtual network that connect to Azure Private Link services. By mapping your PaaS or SaaS resource to a private endpoint, traffic remains on the Azure backbone network, eliminating exposure to the public internet. This setup provides traffic isolation and granular access control to specific service instances, reducing the risk of data exfiltration. Private endpoints can exist in the same or peered virtual networks, and they require registration of the Microsoft.Network resource provider to function. Overall, private endpoints strengthen security by keeping all service traffic within Azure’s trusted network.

To configure a private endpoint, you must prepare several prerequisites:

• Resource group containing both the target service and the virtual network.
• Virtual network and subnet designated for the private endpoint.
• RBAC permissions on the service resource and the resource group.

During creation, choose between auto approval or manual approval flows. The Azure portal will then automatically set up a private DNS zone to map your service’s FQDN to its private IP address.

Integrating custom DNS zones is critical to manage private traffic flow across different environments. Link your Private DNS Zone (for example, privatelink.myservice.azure.net) to each peered virtual network using virtual network links. Only a single VNet link per DNS zone should be used to prevent duplicate records or resolution conflicts. Additionally, apply Network Security Groups on your subnets to restrict outbound internet, ensuring all service traffic is forced through the private endpoint. This combination of DNS and NSG policies maintains a secure, private connection to Azure services.

You can validate endpoint health and access controls directly from a VM in the endpoint subnet. Use nslookup to confirm the service’s FQDN resolves to the private IP address. Attempting public access should result in a 403 Forbidden response, verifying that public endpoints are blocked. Next, connect to the service’s API or metadata endpoint over the private network to confirm successful data retrieval. Finally, leverage Azure Monitor and Network Watcher to continuously monitor endpoint connectivity and diagnose any network issues.

Conclusion

Configuring and validating private endpoints ensures that Azure service traffic stays on the private backbone, improving security and compliance. By preparing the right prerequisites, integrating custom DNS zones, and applying Network Security Groups, you create a robust and isolated connection to Azure services. Validating health with nslookup, public-access tests, and ongoing monitoring via Azure Monitor and Network Watcher guarantees that your private link setup remains secure and reliable. These steps form a comprehensive approach to planning and implementing Azure Private Link services.