Using Azure VPN Client for Secure Connections to Azure

Azure VPN Client allows you to establish secure connections to Azure from your on-premises network or mobile devices.

This secure connection is made possible through the use of industry-standard protocols such as IKEv2 and OpenVPN.

Azure VPN Client is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.

By using Azure VPN Client, you can securely access Azure resources and services, including Azure Virtual Network, Azure Storage, and Azure SQL Database.

This is especially useful for organizations with sensitive data that need to be protected while accessing Azure resources.

To configure the Azure VPN Client, you need to import the Azure VPN client profile package.

The Azure VPN client profile package contains preconfigured settings that can be imported into the Azure VPN Client. To do this, open the Azure VPN Client, select the + button on the bottom left of the page, and then select Import. Navigate to the azurevpnconfig.xml or azurevpnconfig_cert.xml file, select it, and then select Open.

You can also configure the Azure VPN client profile on a Linux system. To do this, open the Azure VPN Client, select Import, and navigate to the azurevpnconfig.xml or azurevpnconfig_cert.xml file.

The Azure VPN client profile package contains settings such as the client certificate, which can be selected from the Certificate Information dropdown. You can also configure settings specific to the client computer.

To add a client certificate to the Azure VPN client profile on a Linux system, use the file picker to locate the related .pem files. You can also add the client certificate private key by selecting the certificate files path in the text boxes for the private key, with file extension .pem.

After importing the Azure VPN client profile package, you can save the configuration and connect to the VPN.

The Azure VPN client profile package can be imported on a Windows system, a Linux system, or a Windows 10/11 system.

Here's a list of the steps to import the Azure VPN client profile package:

Note that the order of deploying the Azure VPN Client app and the Azure VPN Client configuration doesn't matter. In either case, the configuration will be applied and available within the app.

To deploy the Azure VPN Client on Windows devices, you'll need to start by deploying the Azure VPN Client app from the Microsoft Store. This can be done using Microsoft Intune, which offers a six-step process to add the app.

First, open the Microsoft Intune admin center and navigate to Apps > Windows. Click Add, select Microsoft Store app (new) as App type, and click Select.

Next, select Azure VPN Client as the app and click Next. On the Scope tags page, configure the applicable scopes and click Next. On the Assignments page, configure the assignment and click Next. Finally, on the Review + create page, verify the configuration and click Create.

Alternatively, you can deploy the Azure VPN Client configuration using a Custom profile in Microsoft Intune. This involves creating a profile with the required OMA-URI setting to configure Azure VPN on Windows devices.

To create the Custom profile, select Windows 10 and later as the platform and select Templates as the profile type. Then, provide a unique Name for the profile and click Next.

On the Configuration settings page, add a row for the OMA-URI setting and click Next. On the Scope tags page, configure the applicable scopes and click Next. On the Assignments page, configure the assignment and click Next. On the Applicability rules page, configure the applicability rules and click Next. Finally, on the Review + create page, verify the configuration and click Create.

Note that deploying the Azure VPN Client app and configuration can have some quirks, such as performance problems during autopilot enrollment or even cause timeouts. This is because store apps are installed in the user phase of enrollment, and not in the device-phase where apps with the install-context “System” are installed.

To avoid these issues, consider ensuring that all apps that are “Required” are already installed in the device-phase of the enrollment. You can also skip or deactivate the account setup phase without any significant disadvantages.

The Azure VPN Client offers a range of optional configuration settings that can be tailored to your specific needs. These settings can help enhance the functionality and security of your VPN connection.

Optional settings for the Azure VPN Client include those discussed in the article sections. You can configure these settings to suit your requirements and improve the overall performance of your VPN connection.

The Azure VPN Client allows for optional configuration settings that can be accessed and adjusted as needed. This flexibility is beneficial for users who need to make adjustments to their VPN settings frequently.

Importing client profile configuration settings is a straightforward process. To start, you'll need to select Import on the Azure VPN Client page.

Browse to find the profile XML file and select it. With the file selected, select OK to proceed. The connection profile information will be displayed, and you'll need to change the Certificate Information value to show the default DigiCert_Global_Root G2.pem or DigiCert_Global_Root_CA.pem.

If your VPN client profile contains multiple client authentications, you'll need to select Microsoft Entra ID as the Authentication Type for Client Authentication. The Tenant field requires the URL of your Microsoft Entra Tenant, without a backslash at the end.

Here's a breakdown of the Tenant ID structure: https://login.microsoftonline.com/{Entra TenantID}. For the Audience field, specify the Application ID (App ID), which is c632b3df-fb67-4d84-bdcf-b95ad541b5c8 for Azure Public, or a custom App ID.

The Azure VPN Client offers some great optional settings that can enhance your experience.

You can configure optional settings for the Azure VPN Client, which is discussed in the Azure VPN Client documentation.

Optional settings can be accessed through the client's settings menu, making it easy to customize your experience.

These settings are optional, which means you can choose to use them or not, depending on your needs.

Some users may find that disabling the auto-reconnect feature helps reduce connectivity issues.

The Azure VPN Client provides a range of optional settings to suit different needs and preferences.

You can adjust the settings to optimize your VPN connection for better performance.

Troubleshooting can be a frustrating experience, but don't worry, we've got you covered. The Azure VPN client can sometimes fail to connect due to a misconfigured VPN gateway, as mentioned in the "Configuring the VPN Gateway" section.

First, check that your VPN gateway is correctly configured with the right subnet and address pool. Make sure it's also enabled for the correct protocol, IKEv2 or OpenVPN.

If you're still experiencing issues, try restarting the Azure VPN client and see if that resolves the problem. This simple step can often resolve connectivity issues.

A common mistake is forgetting to update the client's certificates, which can lead to authentication failures. Double-check that your certificates are up to date and correctly installed.

Another potential issue is a mismatch between the client's VPN settings and the Azure VPN gateway configuration. Ensure that both are in sync to avoid connectivity problems.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it may be worth checking the Azure VPN client logs for any error messages. This can provide valuable information to help you troubleshoot the problem.

To set up the Azure VPN Client, you'll need to meet some prerequisites. You created and configured your VPN gateway for point-to-site certificate authentication and the OpenVPN tunnel type. See Configure server settings for P2S VPN Gateway connections - certificate authentication for steps.

You've also generated and downloaded the VPN client configuration files. This is a crucial step to ensure a smooth setup process.

To connect to Azure, each connecting client computer requires the following items. Here's a list of what you'll need:

In addition to these requirements, you'll also need to ensure that your VPN gateway is configured for point-to-site certificate authentication and the OpenVPN tunnel type. This is a critical step to ensure secure connections.

You can either generate client certificates, or acquire the appropriate client certificates necessary for authentication. This will depend on your specific setup and requirements.

After setting up your Azure VPN Gateway P2S server configuration, you'll need to download and install the Azure VPN Client for Linux.

You can download the client from the Azure portal, but for now, let's focus on the steps to take after installation. To get started, import the client profile settings to the VPN client.

Here are the next steps in the workflow:

If you need more guidance, follow up with any additional server or connection settings. See the Point-to-site configuration steps for more information.

To connect to Azure, you'll need to generate and install client certificates. This involves locating the VPN client profile configuration package that you generated in a previous step.

Here's a summary of the basic workflow: