Azure VPN Gateway Costs

Understanding the cost associated with Azure VPN Gateway is crucial for effective cloud network design and budget management. This document outlines the various factors that contribute to the overall expense.

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Pricing Model

Azure VPN Gateway pricing is primarily based on a combination of:

  • Gateway Type and SKU: Different SKUs offer varying performance, features, and connection limits, directly impacting cost.
  • Data Transfer: Ingress and egress data transfer costs apply.
  • Zone Redundancy: Options for zone-redundant gateways incur additional costs for higher availability.

Key Cost Components

VPN Gateway Instances

This is the most significant component. You are billed for the hours the VPN gateway is provisioned and running. The cost varies by the SKU (e.g., Basic, VpnGw1, VpnGw2, VpnGw1AZ, etc.). Higher SKUs offer more tunnels, higher throughput, and more features, but at a higher hourly rate.

Example Pricing (Illustrative - check Azure pricing calculator for exact figures):


# Hypothetical pricing for VpnGw1 SKU (per hour)
$0.05 / hour
# Hypothetical pricing for VpnGw1AZ SKU (per hour)
$0.075 / hour

Data Transfer

Data transfer charges apply when data travels through your VPN Gateway. While ingress data transfer to Azure is generally free, egress data transfer from Azure to the internet or other regions is charged. Data transfer between VNets within the same region is typically free.

Key considerations:

  • Egress to Internet: Most expensive.
  • Egress to other Azure regions: Moderate cost.
  • Ingress from Internet: Free.
  • Intra-VNet/Intra-Region: Usually free.

Refer to the Azure VPN Gateway pricing page for detailed data transfer rates.

Optional Features

Additional features can incur extra costs:

  • Active-Active Configurations: Require two gateway instances, doubling the gateway instance cost.
  • Zone-Redundant Gateways: Offer high availability across availability zones and have a higher hourly instance cost.
  • P2S VPN (Point-to-Site VPN): Billed per connection per hour and data transfer.

Factors Influencing Cost

  • Gateway SKU: Higher performance and feature SKUs are more expensive.
  • Number of Connections: More tunnels (especially for VpnGw SKUs) or P2S connections increase usage and potentially cost.
  • Data Volume: Higher data transfer out of Azure directly impacts costs.
  • Uptime: Gateways are billed hourly, so continuous operation means continuous billing.
  • Redundancy Requirements: Active-Active or Zone-Redundant configurations increase costs.
  • Location: Azure pricing can vary slightly by region.

    • Cost Optimization Strategies

    To manage your Azure VPN Gateway costs effectively:

    Tip: Right-size your VPN Gateway SKU. Start with a smaller SKU and scale up only if performance metrics indicate it's necessary. Avoid over-provisioning.
    • Choose the Right SKU: Select the SKU that matches your throughput and connection requirements. Don't pick a high-end SKU for low-demand scenarios.
    • Monitor Data Transfer: Analyze your data transfer patterns. If egress costs are high, explore options like Azure ExpressRoute or optimizing application data usage.
    • Leverage Azure Cost Management: Utilize Azure Cost Management + Billing tools to track, analyze, and forecast your spending on VPN Gateways.
    • Review P2S Usage: For remote access, ensure P2S connections are necessary and monitor their usage. Consider alternatives if they become a significant cost driver.
    • Utilize Reserved Instances (if applicable): While not directly for VPN Gateway hourly charges, understanding reservation benefits for compute resources your gateway might interact with is good practice.

    Useful Tools