Microsoft Azure supports several VPN types as part of its services and infrastructure:
1. Azure Virtual Network VPN Gateway: Azure offers its own VPN Gateway service, which allows you to establish site-to-site (S2S) and point-to-site (P2S) VPN connections. It supports various protocols like IKEv2, OpenVPN, and SSTP for P2S connections, and IPsec for S2S connections.
2. Site-to-Site (S2S) VPN: Azure supports traditional S2S VPN connections, which allow you to connect your on-premises data center to your Azure virtual network securely. You can use a compatible VPN device or Azure VPN Gateway for this purpose.
3. Point-to-Site (P2S) VPN: P2S VPN connections are used for secure access to Azure resources from individual client devices. Azure VPN Gateway supports P2S connections using various VPN protocols, making it suitable for remote workers or small-scale scenarios.
4. ExpressRoute: While not a VPN in the traditional sense, Azure ExpressRoute provides a private connection to Azure through a dedicated circuit or connection from your on-premises network. It offers a more reliable and higher-bandwidth connection compared to standard VPNs.
5. Third-Party VPN Solutions: Azure is compatible with a wide range of third-party VPN devices and solutions. This allows you to integrate existing VPN infrastructure and appliances with Azure services.
6. Azure VPN Client: Azure provides a VPN client for Windows, macOS, and Linux, which can be used to connect to Azure Virtual Network resources using point-to-site VPNs.
7. Azure VPN Client for Mobile Devices: For mobile devices, Azure offers VPN clients for iOS and Android platforms, enabling secure access to Azure resources from smartphones and tablets.
8. Azure Bastion: While not a traditional VPN, Azure Bastion provides a secure and convenient way to connect to Azure VMs using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) or Secure Shell (SSH) directly from the Azure portal without exposing VMs to the public internet.
These various VPN types and connectivity options in Azure cater to a wide range of scenarios, from secure network extensions between on-premises and Azure environments to secure remote access for employees and partners.
