I'm trying to find a good balance between security and ease of access when using Azure resources like Key Vault or function apps with private endpoints. Currently, I have a setup with a DNS resolver and a point-to-site VPN gateway, but I'm running into issues accessing the data plane through the portal. While I know I can use the Azure CLI locally to get around these limitations, I'm concerned about what happens during an incident investigation—especially when time is crucial. Should I temporarily enable public access for easier troubleshooting, or is there a better method? I'm struggling with how to efficiently manage these situations without compromising security. Any insights?
5 Answers
It sounds like a misconfiguration issue with your VPN client. Ensure it's set to resolve the private link URLs. You should be able to access the portal and view logs, application insights, etc., without issue if everything's configured right.
Make sure your device can resolve the private FQDN correctly. You can't troubleshoot Azure resources from a home computer unless you're connected via VPN. Alternatively, consider setting up a jumphost in Azure to access resources securely.
I get your concern, but local tools like the storage browser or Azure CLI will still face the same DNS issues that the portal does. Instead, try configuring your local DNS or adjusting your hosts file. This could help bypass the blocks.
If you're having trouble with DNS resolution, I'd recommend checking the following steps:
1. Perform an nslookup on the resource name. It should resolve to a private IP. If not, you likely have a DNS issue.
2. Make sure your browser isn’t going through a proxy, as this could block access to the Key Vault. Adjust your settings accordingly and test directly over your private network.
Actually, your assumption about being unable to access the data plane from the portal is a misunderstanding. If your DNS is configured properly with conditional forwarders for off-Azure resolution, you should be able to access the data plane through the portal without issues. It might take some time to ensure everything is set up correctly, but this approach is critical for access to any resource type, including storage accounts.
For P2S connections, nslookup may not work. Instead, use PowerShell with 'Resolve-DnsName -Name [YourStorageAccountFQDN] -DnsOnly'. It's more reliable due to the NRPT Table.