Azure Private Link FAQ

This document provides answers to frequently asked questions about Azure Private Link, a service that enables you to access Azure Platform as a Service (PaaS) and customer-owned services from your Azure Virtual Network (VNet) securely and privately. Private Link uses a private endpoint from your VNet that maps to a specific service instance in Azure.

What is Azure Private Link?

Azure Private Link provides a private endpoint connection from your virtual network to an Azure service. Traffic between your virtual network and the service travels over the Microsoft backbone network, eliminating exposure to the public internet.

What are the benefits of using Azure Private Link?

• Enhanced Security: Data doesn't traverse the public internet.
• Simplified Network Architecture: Eliminates the need for complex network setups like VNet peering or VPNs for accessing Azure services.
• Reduced Risk: Minimizes the attack surface by restricting access to services.
• Compliance: Helps meet regulatory and compliance requirements for data privacy.

What types of services can I access using Azure Private Link?

Azure Private Link supports access to a wide range of Azure services, including:

• Storage accounts (Blob, File, Table, Queue)
• Azure SQL Database
• Azure Cosmos DB
• Azure Key Vault
• Azure Databricks
• Azure Container Registry
• And many more PaaS services. You can also create private endpoints for your own services hosted in Azure.

How does Private Link work?

When you create a private endpoint in your VNet for a specific service, Azure assigns a private IP address from your VNet to that endpoint. When you access the service using its Private Link endpoint, the traffic is routed directly to the service through the Microsoft backbone network. DNS resolution is critical for this process, mapping the service's FQDN to its private IP address.

What is a Private Endpoint?

A private endpoint is a network interface that uses a private IP address from your virtual network to connect privately to a specific Azure service. It acts as an entry point for the service within your network.

What is a Private Link Service?

A Private Link Service allows you to expose your own Azure service (e.g., an application running on a VM scale set behind an internal load balancer) to other Azure customers or to different VNets within your organization. It enables consumers to connect to your service using private endpoints.

How is Private Link different from Service Endpoints?

While both enhance security, they differ in scope and implementation:

• Private Link: Provides a private IP address within your VNet for access to specific service instances. Traffic stays on the Microsoft backbone.
• Service Endpoints: Extends the private address space of your VNet and the identity of your VNet to the Azure service. Traffic travels over the Azure backbone, but the service is accessed via its public endpoint, with secured access from your VNet.

Do I need a public IP address for resources accessing services via Private Link?

No. Resources within your virtual network (e.g., VMs) do not need public IP addresses to access services through Private Link, as the traffic originates from within the VNet and uses private IP addresses.

How do I configure DNS for Private Link?

Proper DNS configuration is crucial. You typically need to create a DNS record (e.g., an A record) that maps the service's Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) to the private IP address of the private endpoint. Azure Private DNS zones are often used for this purpose.

What are the supported regions for Azure Private Link?

Azure Private Link is available in most Azure regions. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official Azure documentation.

Can I use Private Link with on-premises networks?

Yes. You can connect your on-premises networks to Azure VNets using Azure VPN Gateway or Azure ExpressRoute. Once connected, resources in your on-premises network can access Azure services through Private Link via the established VNet connection.

What is the pricing model for Azure Private Link?

Azure Private Link pricing typically involves costs for Private Endpoint connections and for the Private Link Service (if you are hosting a service). Data processing charges may also apply based on the service you are connecting to. Please consult the Azure pricing page for detailed information.

How do I manage access control for private endpoints?

Access control is managed using Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) on the private endpoint resource, and network security groups (NSGs) can be associated with the subnet where the private endpoint resides to further control traffic flow.

Are there any limitations to Azure Private Link?

While powerful, there are a few considerations:

• Private endpoints are specific to a VNet and a service instance.
• Not all Azure services currently support Private Link.
• DNS configuration needs careful management.

For the most detailed and up-to-date information, always refer to the official Azure Private Link documentation.