Manage connectivity to the internet and on-premises networks

To ensure a successful deployment and operation of Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), proper management of connectivity to the internet and on-premises networks is crucial. This article will guide you through the essential steps and considerations for managing connectivity in an AVD environment.

1. Understanding Connectivity Requirements:

Before diving into the implementation details, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the connectivity requirements for Azure Virtual Desktop. Some key points to consider include:

• Internet Connectivity: AVD requires outbound internet connectivity to establish a secure connection between the AVD environment and remote clients accessing the virtual desktops.
• Public IP Addresses: Ensure that the virtual machines (VMs) hosting the AVD session hosts have public IP addresses or are deployed within a virtual network that has an appropriate public IP address assigned.
• Virtual Network Connectivity: Proper connectivity between the AVD environment and on-premises networks is crucial if you have hybrid scenarios or need access to on-premises resources. You can establish this connectivity using either a Site-to-Site VPN connection or Azure ExpressRoute.

2. Configuring Internet Connectivity:

To enable internet connectivity for your AVD environment, follow these steps:

1. Create a Virtual Network: Begin by creating a virtual network in Azure that will host the AVD environment. This virtual network should be connected to the internet and have appropriate subnets defined for AVD resources.
2. Configure Network Security Groups (NSGs): NSGs provide network security by allowing or denying inbound and outbound traffic. Ensure that appropriate NSG rules are in place to allow outbound internet connectivity for the AVD resources.
3. Public IP Address Assignment: Assign public IP addresses to the virtual machines hosting the AVD session hosts. This step ensures that inbound and outbound internet connectivity is established for client connections.
4. Firewall Considerations: If you have a firewall in your environment, ensure that it allows outbound connectivity on the required ports for AVD. By default, AVD requires outbound access on ports 443 (HTTPS) and 3389 (RDP).

3. Establishing On-Premises Network Connectivity:

If you need to establish connectivity between your AVD environment and on-premises networks, you have two options: Site-to-Site VPN or Azure ExpressRoute.

• Site-to-Site VPN: This option allows you to connect your Azure virtual network to an on-premises network using an IPsec/IKE VPN tunnel. You’ll need a compatible VPN device on your on-premises network to establish the connection. Microsoft provides detailed documentation on configuring Site-to-Site VPN connections in Azure.
• Azure ExpressRoute: ExpressRoute provides a dedicated private connection between your on-premises network and Azure. It offers higher bandwidth, lower latencies, and increased security compared to a VPN connection. Consider ExpressRoute if you have high data transfer requirements or stringent security and compliance needs.

4. Securing Connectivity:

To ensure a secure AVD environment, consider implementing the following security measures:

• Network Security Groups: Apply appropriate NSG rules to restrict inbound and outbound traffic based on your organization’s security requirements.
• Azure Bastion: Use Azure Bastion as a secure way to remotely access your AVD session hosts over the internet without exposing RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) directly. Azure Bastion provides an SSL-encrypted browser-based remote desktop experience.
• Azure Private Link: Configure Azure Private Link to securely access Azure services, including AVD, over a private network connection. Private Link ensures that traffic travels over the Microsoft backbone network, minimizing exposure to the internet.

5. Monitoring and Troubleshooting Connectivity:

Once your AVD environment is up and running, it’s essential to monitor and troubleshoot connectivity to ensure a seamless user experience. Azure provides various monitoring and troubleshooting tools, including:

• Azure Monitor: Utilize Azure Monitor to proactively monitor the health and performance of your AVD environment. Set up alerts and utilize log analytics to identify and resolve connectivity-related issues.
• Azure Network Watcher: Use Network Watcher to diagnose connectivity problems and perform packet captures, analyze network traffic, and monitor network health.
• Azure Virtual Desktop Diagnostics: AVD Diagnostics is a built-in tool that provides insights into the performance and connectivity of your AVD environment. It helps identify and troubleshoot issues related to network connectivity.

By following these best practices and leveraging the available tools and resources, you can effectively manage connectivity to the internet and on-premises networks for your Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop environment.