Narayan Annamalai explores recent advancements in Azure Networking, detailing new features for security, resilience, AI-driven performance, and cloud-native application support crucial for enterprise cloud success.

Azure Networking Updates: Security, Resilience, and AI-Driven Scale

Author: Narayan Annamalai

Introduction

The cloud landscape is rapidly changing, with AI workloads pushing the boundaries of what cloud connectivity, security, and performance must deliver. Microsoft Azure Networking is driving these changes, rolling out updates purpose-built for high-performance, seamless, and secure cloud operations.

Azure Networking: Powering the Next Wave of Cloud Transformation

  • Azure Network services provide the core hyperscale infrastructure for both traditional and AI-powered cloud workloads.
  • Azure now supports over 60 AI regions and boasts more than 500,000 miles of fiber with WAN capacity tripling to 18 Pbps.

AI at the Core of Azure Networking

  • Azure’s network fabric is optimized for distributed AI workloads, supporting rapid model training and efficient data movement with technologies such as InfiniBand, high-speed Ethernet, and a dedicated AI WAN.
  • Distributed GPU clusters and Private Link connections ensure secure, high-performance networking for large-scale AI and data projects.

Latest Updates and Announcements

Resilience and High Availability

  • Introduction of Standard NAT Gateway V2 (Zone Redundant): Provides automatic traffic distribution during outages and IPv6 support out-of-the-box. Handles up to 10 million packets/sec with 100 Gbps throughput.
  • Zone Redundant NAT Gateways add resilience for outbound connectivity with no extra cost.

Security Enhancements

  • DNS Security Policy with Threat Intel: Now GA, offering dynamic protection by blocking known malicious domains via Microsoft threat intelligence.
  • Private Link Direct Connect (Preview): Extends private connectivity to any routable private IP, supporting compliance and external SaaS integration.
  • JWT Validation in Application Gateway (Preview): Enables native Layer 7 JWT validation for API and service-to-service communication, enhancing security and reducing backend complexity.
  • Forced Tunneling for VWAN Secure Hubs: Allows customized routing for internet-bound traffic for security enforcement in the Virtual WAN hub.

Scalability and Performance

  • ExpressRoute 400G: Multisite, multi-terabit direct connectivity between Azure and on-premises, with support for dedicated private GPU sites.
  • High Throughput VPN Gateway: Delivers up to 20 Gbps via four tunnels and single flow speeds up to 5 Gbps, supporting demanding workloads.
  • High Scale Private Link: Increases endpoints per VNet and scales cross-peered VNet support for more complex network topologies.
  • Advanced Traffic Filtering: Targeted traffic logs optimize storage costs and improve operational analytics with Azure Network Watcher.

Cloud-Native and Container Networking

  • Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Advanced Container Networking Service and AKS integration support high-performance, secure, and observable container networks.
  • Key Features:
    • eBPF Host Routing: Reduces latency for container workloads through Linux kernel optimizations.
    • Pod CIDR Expansion: Scales Kubernetes deployments without cluster redeployment.
    • WAF for Application Gateway for Containers: Provides security and policy management for AKS workloads.
    • Azure Bastion for AKS: Offers secure direct access to private clusters, maintaining network isolation.

Getting Started and Additional Resources

  • Azure Networking enables secure, resilient, and scalable cloud and AI infrastructure.
  • For the latest updates and resources, visit the Azure Updates page.

References

This post appeared first on “The Azure Blog”. Read the entire article here