Azure Virtual Network Service Endpoints

Azure Virtual Network (VNet) service endpoints provide secure and direct connectivity to supported Azure services over the Azure backbone network. By enabling service endpoints for a service on a VNet subnet, you restrict the accessible resources to only that subnet. This enhances security by allowing you to block all public internet traffic to those Azure services.

What are Service Endpoints?

Service endpoints extend your VNet's private address space and identity to Azure services. They ensure that traffic from your VNet to a supported Azure service always stays on the Azure backbone network. This means traffic doesn't traverse the public internet, offering a more secure and efficient communication channel.

Benefits of Using Service Endpoints:

  • Enhanced Security: Restrict access to Azure services to only your VNet subnets.
  • Improved Performance: Traffic routes directly over the Azure backbone, minimizing latency.
  • Simplified Management: No need for complex network configurations or NAT devices for connectivity to Azure services.
  • Cost-Effective: No additional charges for using service endpoints.

Supported Azure Services:

Service endpoints are supported for a growing list of Azure services, including but not limited to:

  • Azure Storage (Blob, Files, Tables, Queues)
  • Azure SQL Database
  • Azure Cosmos DB
  • Azure Key Vault
  • Azure Service Bus
  • Azure Event Hubs

How to Enable Service Endpoints:

You can enable service endpoints using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, PowerShell, or ARM templates.

Using Azure Portal:

  1. Navigate to your Virtual Network resource.
  2. Under 'Settings', select 'Subnets'.
  3. Click on the subnet for which you want to enable service endpoints.
  4. In the subnet configuration pane, under 'Service endpoints', select the desired service from the dropdown.
  5. Click 'Save'.

Using Azure CLI:


az network vnet subnet update \
    --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
    --vnet-name MyVNet \
    --name MySubnet \
    --service-endpoints Microsoft.Storage

Configuring Azure Services for VNet Access:

Once service endpoints are enabled on a subnet, you need to configure the target Azure service to allow access from that subnet. This is typically done by adding a VNet rule to the service's firewall settings.

Tip: When you enable service endpoints for a service, the subnet gains access to the public endpoints of that service. To restrict access to private IP addresses within Azure, consider using Azure Private Endpoints.

Use Cases:

  • Securing access to Azure Storage accounts from a virtual machine in a VNet.
  • Ensuring that Azure SQL Database is only accessible from specific VNet subnets.
  • Creating a highly secure environment for sensitive data by limiting access to Azure services.
Note: Service endpoints are enabled on a per-subnet basis. You can enable service endpoints for different services on different subnets within the same VNet.

Limitations:

  • Service endpoints are not available for all Azure services.
  • They operate at Layer 3, and don't provide private IP addressing for the service itself.

For more detailed information and advanced configurations, please refer to the official Azure VNet Service Endpoints documentation.