Azure VPN Gateway

Overview

Azure VPN Gateway is a managed network security service provided by Microsoft Azure. It sends encrypted traffic across public networks between an Azure virtual network and on-premises physical environments or remote users. Offering site-to-site IPsec/IKE VPN tunnels, point-to-site OpenVPN access, and VNet-to-VNet encrypted routing, it ensures private, high-performance connectivity. Integrated natively into the Microsoft cloud platform, Azure VPN Gateway simplifies hybrid cloud security and cross-region infrastructure operations.

What it does

• Encrypts network traffic between on-premises sites and Azure Virtual Networks using IPsec/IKE VPN tunnels.
• Facilitates secure remote access for individual mobile or home users through point-to-site OpenVPN and SSTP connections.
• Establishes secure VNet-to-VNet encrypted tunnels across different Azure regions and subscriptions.
• Provides high availability and zone redundancy across Azure Availability Zones for mission-critical enterprise workloads.

Who it's for

• Enterprise Network Engineers
• Cloud Infrastructure Architects
• DevOps & Security Operations Teams
• Hybrid Cloud IT Administrators

Why it works

• Native integration within Microsoft Azure environment reduces operational setup and hardware overhead.
• Zone-redundant gateway SKUs deliver high availability and resiliency against regional datacenter outages.
• Usage-based hourly billing scales seamlessly with bandwidth consumption and gateway tier selection.
• Comprehensive protocol support including IKEv1, IKEv2, OpenVPN, BGP routing, and Microsoft Entra authentication.

Founder story

Azure VPN Gateway was developed by Microsoft as a core cloud networking service following the launch of Microsoft Azure (originally Windows Azure in 2010). Designed to bridge the gap between legacy corporate datacenters and public cloud environments, Microsoft built the service to provide enterprise-grade IPsec and SSL encryption over standard internet connections. It remains a foundational element of Microsoft's global hybrid cloud architecture.

Alternatives

• AWS VPN
• Google Cloud VPN
• OpenVPN Cloud
• Cisco AnyConnect

Comparison overview

• Azure VPN Gateway is optimized natively for Microsoft Azure virtual networks and Entra ID identity management, whereas AWS VPN is built for Amazon Web Services ecosystems.
• Azure VPN Gateway provides built-in VNet-to-VNet encrypted routing directly across Microsoft's global backbone without third-party appliance overhead.