Azure Virtual WAN

Azure Virtual WAN is a networking service that brings many networking, security, and routing functionalities together in a single operationally managed cloud service. It allows you to connect your on-premises sites, remote users, and other clouds to Azure through a hub-and-spoke architecture.

Key Concepts

Virtual WAN Hub

The Virtual WAN hub is a Microsoft-managed resource deployed in an Azure region. It acts as a central transit point for your network traffic. Hubs can contain virtual network connections, VPN sites, ExpressRoute circuits, and Azure Firewall.

Virtual Hub Connections

Connections within a Virtual WAN hub allow you to link your Virtual Networks to the hub. This enables connectivity between spokes and between spokes and on-premises locations.

Site-to-Site VPN

Connect your on-premises network to Azure Virtual WAN using VPN devices. Virtual WAN simplifies the management of these connections and provides features like automatic failover.

ExpressRoute

For high-bandwidth, low-latency connections, you can connect your on-premises network to the Virtual WAN hub via ExpressRoute circuits.

Remote User VPN

Enable remote users to securely connect to your Azure Virtual WAN environment using point-to-site VPN connections.

Benefits of Azure Virtual WAN

• Simplified Management: Centralized management of network, security, and routing.
• Global Transit Network: Connect multiple regions and on-premises locations seamlessly.
• Enhanced Security: Integrate with Azure Firewall for advanced threat protection.
• Scalability: Easily scale your network as your organization grows.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Optimize network traffic flow and potentially reduce costs.

Getting Started

To get started with Azure Virtual WAN, you'll typically follow these steps:

1. Create a Virtual WAN Resource: Deploy a Virtual WAN resource in your Azure subscription.
2. Create a Virtual Hub: Deploy a virtual hub within your Virtual WAN resource.
3. Connect Your Sites: Configure site-to-site VPN or ExpressRoute connections to the hub.
4. Connect Your Virtual Networks: Link your Azure Virtual Networks to the virtual hub.
5. Configure Routing: Define routing policies to control traffic flow.

Example Configuration (Conceptual)

Here's a conceptual example of how you might configure a Virtual WAN hub:

# Example configuration snippet (not actual code)
resource "azurerm_virtual_wan" "example" {
  name = "my-virtual-wan"
  resource_group_name = azurerm_resource_group.example.name
  location = azurerm_resource_group.example.location
  tags = {
    environment = "production"
  }
}

resource "azurerm_virtual_hub" "example" {
  name = "my-virtual-hub"
  resource_group_name = azurerm_resource_group.example.name
  location = azurerm_resource_group.example.location
  virtual_wan_id = azurerm_virtual_wan.example.id
  address_prefix = "10.0.0.0/23"
}