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Private endpoints in Microsoft Azure are network interfaces that connect you privately and securely to services powered by Azure Private Link. As part of the exam AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator, you need to understand how to configure these private endpoints to enable secure access to Azure services without exposure to the public internet.
Azure Private Endpoint is a network interface that connects your virtual network (VNet) privately to a service powered by Azure Private Link. The Private Endpoint uses a private IP address from your VNet, enabling the service to be accessed securely within your VNet or even on-premises using an ExpressRoute or VPN.
When a private endpoint is created, Azure generates a private DNS zone for the service you are connecting to. You’ll need to integrate this DNS zone with your own DNS to resolve the private link service.
Let’s say you need to configure a private endpoint for an Azure Storage account.
The steps would be:
Microsoft.Storage/storageAccounts
as the resource type and choose “mystorageaccount” as the resource.Feature | Private Endpoint | Service Endpoint |
---|---|---|
Network Flow | Traffic to the service uses a private IP address within the VNet | Traffic goes to the public endpoint of the Azure service, but from within the VNet |
DNS | Maps the service to a private address in a private DNS zone | Uses public DNS |
Access Control | Can be used with Azure RBAC | Typically relies on firewall rules or network security groups |
Exposure | Not exposed to the public internet | Exposed to the internet, but restricted to specific VNets |
Supported Services | Limited to those supported by Azure Private Link | Applicable for a broader range of services |
By understanding how to configure private endpoints, you are positioning yourself to effectively secure and manage Azure service connectivity in line with best practices. This knowledge is crucial for any Azure Administrator and will serve you well in your AZ-104 certification efforts and in real-world Azure administration tasks.
Private endpoints are used to enable private access to Azure services from your virtual network, restricting access only to your network and blocking public access.
Azure Private Link is the service that provides private connectivity to Azure services through a private endpoint.
Private endpoints can be associated with various Azure services, not just Azure Web Apps.
Answer: C) Subnet within a virtual network
A private endpoint must be placed within a subnet in a virtual network to create a network interface that provides private connectivity to a service instance.
Answer: C) Use Azure Private DNS Zone linked to the virtual network
A private DNS zone typically needs to be configured and linked to the virtual network to resolve the private endpoint to its private IP address.
A private endpoint is a network interface that connects you privately and securely to a service powered by Azure Private Link, and NSG rules do not apply to it by default.
Answer: C) Role-Based Access Control
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is recommended to manage access to Azure resources including Private Endpoints, enabling fine-grained access management.
Private endpoints are used for connecting Azure virtual networks to Azure services, not for on-premises services.
Answer: D) Both B and C
A private link resource can be shared across both the same and different Azure AD tenants, and it can be within the same region or across different regions.
Not all Azure services support private endpoints; only a subset of services has this capability, and it’s important to check the documentation for supported services.
Answer: C) Private endpoints can be used to securely connect to Azure service resources from within a virtual network.
Private endpoints provide a secure and private connection to Azure service resources from within the customer’s own virtual network.
Azure allows both public and private access to be configured for the same service resource if needed, allowing clients from both internet and virtual network to access the resource.
Azure Private Link is a way to access Azure services over a private endpoint in a virtual network.
Azure Private Link enables access to Azure services over a private IP address in a virtual network.
Azure Private Link helps to improve security, simplify network architecture, improve performance, and reduce costs.
A private endpoint is a way to access Azure services over a private IP address in a virtual network.
To configure a private endpoint in Azure, you need to create a virtual network, create a subnet, create a private endpoint in the subnet, create a private DNS zone, add a DNS record for the private endpoint in the private DNS zone, configure the service to use the private endpoint, and validate the private endpoint.
A private DNS zone is a way to resolve names to private IP addresses in a virtual network.
To create a private DNS zone in Azure, you need to go to the Azure portal, navigate to the DNS zones blade, and create a new DNS zone.
A private DNS zone helps to improve security, simplify network architecture, and improve performance by enabling name resolution to private IP addresses in a virtual network.
To add a DNS record for a private endpoint in a private DNS zone, you need to go to the Azure portal, navigate to the private DNS zone, and add a new record.
Azure Private Link supports many Azure services, including Azure Storage, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Data Factory, among others.
To configure a service to use a private endpoint in Azure, you need to go to the service’s settings, and then configure the connection to use the private endpoint.
No, when using Azure Private Link, access to the service is only possible through the private endpoint.
To use Azure Private Link, you need a virtual network with a subnet and an Azure Private Link service endpoint.
Azure Private Link helps to improve compliance by providing a way to access services over a private endpoint, reducing the risk of exposure to the internet and improving data security.
Yes, private endpoints can be used to access resources in other regions, as long as the virtual network in the other region is peered with the virtual network containing the private endpoint.
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