AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Azure VPN Gateway Deployment and Site-to-Site Connection

The Azure VPN gateway provides a secure tunnel between on-premises networks and Azure virtual networks. By using a site-to-site VPN, organizations can extend their local infrastructure into Azure with encrypted traffic. This setup relies on IPsec/IKE policies to ensure that data remains confidential and integrity-protected as it traverses the internet.

To deploy a site-to-site connection, you must first create the necessary gateway resources in Azure. Key steps include:

• Create a VPN Gateway with a dedicated gateway subnet in your Azure virtual network.
• Define a Local Network Gateway by specifying the on-premises public IP address and address space.
• Establish the site-to-site VPN connection by providing a shared key and selecting route-based or policy-based configurations.

Traffic management is crucial for reliable connectivity. When using a route-based connection, you can enable BGP routing to automatically exchange prefixes for dynamic failover and route advertisement. Alternatively, static routes can be defined if BGP is not required. In both cases, all traffic in each direction is encrypted using IPsec to protect data in transit.

After deployment, you should validate tunnel health and routing convergence using Azure’s built-in tools. Use the Azure portal or PowerShell to check the status of BGP sessions, IPsec tunnels, and gateway diagnostics. Monitoring metrics like packet counts and tunnel uptime helps you quickly spot issues and confirm that traffic flows correctly.

Important considerations include ensuring there are no overlapping IP ranges between on-premises and Azure networks and configuring multiple tunnels for redundancy. Regularly rotate shared keys and update IPsec/IKE policies to maintain strong security postures. By following these guidelines, you can build a resilient and secure hybrid network environment.

Conclusion

Implementing a site-to-site VPN in Azure starts with deploying an Azure VPN gateway and defining a Local Network Gateway to represent your on-premises network. You then establish the connection by configuring IPsec/IKE policies and choosing between BGP or static routing for route-based connections.

Effective traffic management relies on secure encryption for all data and the use of dynamic routing protocols when needed. Monitoring tools in Azure enable you to validate tunnel health, track BGP sessions, and ensure routing convergence across your hybrid network.

By avoiding overlapping address spaces, enabling redundancy through multiple tunnels, and routinely updating security keys, you maintain a robust connection that integrates on-premises networks with Azure seamlessly. These practices form the foundation for secure, high-availability hybrid infrastructure.