Azure Networking Reference Architecture
Overview
The Azure Networking Reference Architecture provides a blueprint for designing secure, resilient, and high‑performance network topologies across Azure. It addresses common scenarios such as multi‑region deployments, hybrid connectivity, and secure perimeters.
Network Topology
Key components include:
- Hub‑and‑Spoke model with a central Virtual WAN hub
- Azure Firewall and Azure Bastion for perimeter security
- Standard and Premium Load Balancers for inbound traffic distribution
- ExpressRoute and VPN Gateways for on‑premises connectivity
- Private Endpoints and Service Endpoints for PaaS services
| Component | Purpose | Typical Deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Hub VNet | Centralized routing & security | One per region |
| Spoke VNet | Workload isolation | Multiple per application |
| Azure Firewall | Network‑level filtering | Hub VNet |
| ExpressRoute | Private, high‑throughput link | Hybrid connections |
Security Design
The architecture enforces defense‑in‑depth using:
- Network Security Groups (NSGs) at subnet level
- Azure Firewall policies for centralized rule management
- Azure DDoS Protection Standard
- Managed identities for secure service‑to‑service communication
Performance & Scalability
Best practices to optimize performance:
- Use Accelerated Networking on VM NICs
- Leverage Azure Front Door for global HTTP(S) traffic
- Deploy Load Balancer Standard for high‑throughput workloads
- Configure BGP for ExpressRoute to ensure optimal routing
Monitoring & Management
Implement comprehensive observability with:
- Azure Monitor and Log Analytics workspaces
- Network Watcher for packet capture and topology view
- Azure Advisor recommendations for cost and performance
- Automation Runbooks for routine tasks