Summary:
Azure Bastion is a fully managed service by Microsoft Azure that provides secure and seamless RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell) access to virtual machines directly through the Azure portal. This service eliminates the need for public IP addresses on your VMs, reducing the surface area for attacks while providing a secure way of accessing VMs. Azure Bastion is deployed within a virtual network and offers a more secure and convenient way to connect to your VMs compared to traditional methods. It’s particularly beneficial for enterprises looking to enhance their VM access security without the complications of managing additional security infrastructure.
Key Features:
- Secure RDP and SSH Access: Provides RDP and SSH access to Azure VMs directly through the Azure Portal over SSL, eliminating the need for public IP addresses on VMs.
- Seamless Integration with Azure Portal: Enables direct integration with the Azure portal, allowing easy access to VMs without any additional client software.
- Zero Trust Access Model: Adheres to the principle of least privilege, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.
- Scale and Availability: Azure Bastion is a fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) that scales automatically to meet your workload demands and offers high availability.
- Audit Logs for Access Monitoring: Provides detailed logging and auditing capabilities, which can be integrated with Azure Monitor for comprehensive access monitoring.
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Tangible Benefits:
- Enhanced Security and Reduced Risk of VM Exposure:
- Quantification Path: Compare the number of security incidents related to VM access before and after the deployment of Azure Bastion. Measure the reduction in incidents to quantify the improvement in security posture.
- Operational Cost Savings:
- Quantification Path: Evaluate the savings in operational costs by assessing the reduction in the need for additional network security infrastructure, such as VPNs or public IP management.
- Increased Efficiency in VM Management:
- Quantification Path: Assess the time saved by system administrators and users in accessing and managing VMs. Measure the reduction in time spent on configuring and maintaining secure access methods.