Azure Always On VPN Requirements and Deployment

To deploy Azure Always On VPN, you'll need a subscription to Azure and a VPN gateway. This gateway is the heart of the Always On VPN service, and it's what allows you to securely connect to your Azure resources.

Before you can deploy Azure Always On VPN, you'll need to create a VPN gateway in the Azure portal. This involves selecting a VPN type, such as a routing-based VPN or a policy-based VPN, and configuring the gateway settings.

The Azure VPN gateway requires a public IP address, which is used to establish the VPN connection. You can either use an existing public IP address or create a new one in the Azure portal.

Azure Always On VPN supports multiple VPN protocols, including IKEv2 and OpenVPN. You can choose the protocol that best suits your needs, but keep in mind that IKEv2 is the recommended protocol for Always On VPN.

To support Always On VPN, you need to enable point-to-site VPN connections on the Azure VPN gateway. Not all Azure VPN gateways are alike, and point-to-site connections are not supported in all scenarios.

The Azure VPN gateway must meet specific requirements to support Always On VPN. You can find guidance for implementing an Azure VPN gateway in the provided link.

To begin setting up Always On VPN, you'll need to provision a Virtual Network Gateway in Azure that meets the requirements. This involves creating a Virtual Network Gateway and configuring it to support point-to-site connections.

Here are the prerequisites for setting up an Always On VPN device tunnel:

1. Configure the point-to-site VPN tunnel using the provided article.

2. The device must be a domain-joined computer running Windows 10 Enterprise or Education version 1809 or later.

3. Only one device tunnel can be configured per device.

You can find more information on configuring the point-to-site VPN tunnel in the provided article.

To set up Always On VPN, you'll need to meet some specific requirements. Point-to-site VPN connections must be enabled on the Azure VPN gateway, but not all gateways support this feature.

The Azure VPN gateway must meet certain requirements to support Always On VPN. This includes using IKEv2 and certificate-based authentication, which can be configured using the "Configure a Point-to-Site VPN connection" article.

To use Always On VPN with Azure VPN, you'll need to provision a Virtual Network Gateway in Azure that meets the requirements. This involves configuring the gateway to use IKEv2 and certificate-based authentication.

Here are the specific requirements for the Azure VPN gateway:

These requirements ensure that the Azure VPN gateway can support Always On VPN connections. By meeting these requirements, you'll be able to set up a reliable and persistent VPN connection to Azure.

Using the Azure VPN gateway for Always On VPN may not be ideal in all scenarios. The following limitations should be considered thoroughly before choosing the Azure VPN gateway for Always On VPN.

One major limitation is that using the Azure VPN gateway for Always On VPN may not be ideal in all scenarios. This means you should carefully evaluate whether it's the right choice for your specific needs.

Another limitation is that the Azure VPN gateway may not be suitable for all VPN scenarios. This could be due to various factors, including the size of your network or the level of security required.

Azure VPN gateway limitations should be considered thoroughly before choosing it for Always On VPN. This will help you make an informed decision and avoid potential issues down the line.

The limitations of Azure VPN gateway for Always On VPN should be weighed against its benefits. This will help you determine whether it's the right solution for your organization's needs.

To support Always On VPN connections, the Azure VPN gateway must be configured to authenticate to a RADIUS server. The RADIUS server must be reachable from the VPN gateway subnet.

The RADIUS server can be hosted in Azure or on-premises. Ensure that any network routes, firewall rules, and site-to-site VPN tunnel configuration is in place to allow communication between the RADIUS server and the VPN gateway.

To configure RADIUS authentication, the Azure VPN gateway must meet specific requirements. The RADIUS server must be reachable from the VPN gateway subnet, which can be found by viewing the properties of the Azure VPN gateway in the Azure portal.

The RADIUS server can be hosted in Azure or on-premises, but it must be reachable from the VPN gateway subnet. This is a crucial step in setting up Always On VPN connections.

To configure an Always-On VPN device tunnel, you'll need a domain-joined computer running Windows 10 Enterprise or Education version 1809 or later.

The device must be configured with a client certificate in the Local Machine store, which can be achieved by installing client certificates on the Windows 10 or later client using the point-to-site VPN client article.

Only one device tunnel can be configured per device, and the tunnel is established using IKEv2 with computer certificate authentication.

Here are the configuration options for an Always-On VPN device tunnel:

When choosing a SKU for your Azure VPN gateway, you have a few options. The Azure VPN gateway SKU must be one of the following: VpnGw1, VpnGw2, VpnGw3, VpnGw1AZ, VpnGw2AZ, or VpnGw3AZ. The Basic SKU is not supported.

You can select from these SKUs based on your specific needs and requirements. The VpnGw1 SKU is a good starting point for most users.

Keep in mind that not all SKUs are created equal, and some may offer more features or better performance than others. The VpnGw2 and VpnGw3 SKUs offer higher throughput and more concurrent connections than the VpnGw1 SKU.

To configure IKEv2 security settings, you'll want to start by updating the default IKEv2 parameters to recommended baseline defaults. This involves using PowerShell commands to change the encryption and integrity settings to AES128 and SHA256 respectively.

A weak DH key of 1024 bits is used in phase 1 negotiation by default, so you'll need to update this to a 2048-bit key using DH group 14. The default IKEv2 security parameters are better than Windows Server, but this change will improve performance.

You can use the following PowerShell commands to update the default IKEv2 security parameters: $IPsecPolicy = New-AzVpnClientIpsecParameter -IpsecEncryption AES128 -IpsecIntegrity SHA256 -SALifeTime 28800 -SADataSize 102400000 -IkeEncryption AES128 -IkeIntegrity SHA256 -DhGroup DHGroup14 -PfsGroup PFS14.

Be sure to update the cryptography settings on the test VPN connection and in ProfileXML for Always On VPN connections to match the new VPN gateway settings. Failing to do so will result in an IPsec policy mismatch error.

Having a gateway and certificate can greatly enhance the security of your network. By using a gateway, you can filter out malicious traffic and block unauthorized access.

A certificate, on the other hand, provides a secure way to identify and authenticate devices on your network. This is especially important for remote workers who need to access sensitive data.

Using a gateway can also improve the performance of your network by reducing the amount of unnecessary traffic. For example, a gateway can prevent spam emails from reaching your inbox.

Certificates can also help to establish trust with your users. By displaying a trusted certificate, you can reassure your users that their data is being transmitted securely.

In some cases, a gateway can even help to improve your network's compliance with regulations. By filtering out sensitive data, you can ensure that your network is in line with industry standards.