What VPN Types Are Supported By Azure?

One of the most frequently asked questions we get here at Azure is “What VPN types are supported by Azure?” The answer is that Azure supports several different types of VPNs, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the different types of VPNs supported by Azure and help you decide which one is right for your needs.

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Introduction

Microsoft Azure supports different types of VPN technologies. You can use any of the following VPN types to connect Azure virtual networks:

Point-to-Site (P2S): P2S VPN connections are used to connect an individual client computer to an Azure virtual network.
Site-to-Site (S2S): S2S VPN connections are used to connect an on-premises network to an Azure virtual network. The on-premises network can be a datacenter, corporate office, or another type of network.
Azure supports two types of S2S VPN: IPsec and SSL.

Point-to-Site VPN

Point-to-Site VPN is appropriate when you need to connect individual clients, such as when you have telecommuters.

A Point-to-Site (P2S) VPN gateway connection lets you create a secure connection to your virtual network from an individual client computer. P2S connections are used when you have mostly non-domain-joined clients or devices, such as personal computers, smart phones, or tablets.

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Site-to-Site VPN

Site-to-Site VPN: Site-to-site VPNs connect an on premises network to an Azure virtual network over an IPsec connection. This type of VPN is also known as a gateway-to-gateway VPN. You can use this type of VPN if you have a device that cannot be used with Point-to-Site but it does support site-to-site connectivity, such as certain models of routers.

ExpressRoute

ExpressRoute is a direct, private connection between your organization and Azure. ExpressRoute connections don’t go over the public Internet, which makes them more secure and reliable. You can use an ExpressRoute connection to connect your on-premises network to virtual machines in Azure, or to PaaS services in Azure. You can also use an ExpressRoute connection for site-to-site VPN connectivity.

To learn more about ExpressRoute, see What is ExpressRoute?.

Conclusion

Azure supports three types of VPN: Point-to-Site (P2S), Site-to-Site (S2S), and VNet-to-VNet. P2S is the recommended type for most scenarios, such as remote access for mobile workers. S2S is necessary when you need to connect an on-premises network to an Azure virtual network, such as when you deploy a multi-tier application in Azure or extend your data center into Azure. VNet-to-VNet is used only when you need to connect two Azure virtual networks together.