Azure Private Endpoint vs. Service Endpoint: A Comprehensive Guide
When building secure and scalable applications on Microsoft Azure, network connectivity becomes a critical factor. Azure provides two primary methods for enhancing security and connectivity: Private Endpoints and Service Endpoints. While both serve to establish secure connections to Azure resources, they function in distinct ways and cater to different networking needs. This blog will explain the differences between the two, their use cases, and when you should use each. Understanding Service Endpoints Azure Service Endpoints allow you to securely connect to Azure services over an optimized route through the Azure backbone network. When you enable service endpoints on a virtual network, they extend the private IP address space of that virtual network to the service. Essentially, they provide a direct, secure connection to Azure services like Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Key Vault without requiring the traffic to traverse the public internet. Key Characteristics of Service Endpoints: Public Services, Private IP: Service endpoints allow traffic to go through the Azure backbone but still access services using their public IP addresses. However, the traffic is not exposed to the internet. Network Security Group (NSG) Integration: Service endpoints can be secured using NSGs, which control access based on source IP addresses and subnet configurations. No DNS Resolution: Service endpoints use public DNS names to route traffic. Thus, the service endpoint enables network traffic to be routed privately but relies on public DNS resolution. Use Cases for Service Endpoints: Simplified Security: Service endpoints are ideal for connecting to Azure services in a straightforward manner without needing complex configurations. Lower Latency: Since traffic is routed through the Azure backbone network, there’s less congestion compared to public internet traffic. Integration with NSG: Service endpoints allow for tighter security control with Network Security Groups, ensuring only approved subnets and virtual networks can access specific services. Understanding Private Endpoints Private Endpoints, on the other hand, provide a direct, private connection to Azure resources by assigning a private IP address from your virtual network (VNet) to the service. Unlike service endpoints, which rely on public IPs, private endpoints fully encapsulate the service in a private address space. When a service is accessed via a private endpoint, the connection stays within the Azure network, preventing exposure to the public internet. Key Characteristics of Private Endpoints: Private IP Connectivity: Private endpoints map Azure resources to a private IP in your VNet, ensuring all traffic remains private and not exposed to the internet. DNS Resolution: Private endpoints also require DNS configuration so that the private IP address can be resolved for the associated Azure service. Azure offers automatic DNS resolution for private endpoints, but custom DNS configurations can also be set. End-to-End Security: Since the connection is over a private IP, it adds an additional layer of security by preventing any egress or ingress to public networks. Use Cases for Private Endpoints: Critical Security: Private endpoints are perfect for applications requiring high security, such as those handling sensitive data, financial transactions, or proprietary business logic. Strict Regulatory Compliance: If you are dealing with highly regulated industries, private endpoints provide a way to ensure your data is not exposed to the public internet. Network Isolation: Private endpoints are suited for scenarios where you want to fully isolate your Azure resources from the internet and only allow access from within your VNet. Key Differences: Private Endpoint vs. Service Endpoint Feature Private Endpoint Service Endpoint Connection Type Uses a private IP address from your VNet Uses a public IP address but traffic stays within the region DNS Resolution Requires DNS configuration to resolve private IPs Relies on public DNS for resolution Use Case Ideal for critical security and isolated traffic Best for connecting to Azure services with basic security requirements Supported Services Limited to resources that support private endpoints Supports a broader range of Azure services like Storage, SQL, etc. Note: Service endpoints are as secured as the private endpoints when configured appropriately. When to Use Each Option Choose Service Endpoints if: You want to connect to Azure services like Storage, SQL, or Key Vault using the Azure backbone network. Your security requirements do not mandate complete isolation from the public internet. You need to leverage Network Security Groups (NSGs) to limit access from specific subnets or VNets. Choose Private Endpoints if: Your application requires full isolation from the public internet, such as for sensitive workloads or highly regulated data. You want traffic to flow entirely within the private network, ensuring complete confidentiality. You need to maintain strict security standards for applications that interact with services like databases, storage accounts, or other critical infrastructure. Conclusion Both Private Endpoints and Service Endpoints play vital roles in securing connectivity to Azure services, but they cater to different security needs. Service Endpoints offer an easier, simpler way to secure access over the Azure backbone, while Private Endpoints provide complete isolation and enhanced security by assigning a private IP address. By carefully assessing your application's security needs and performance requirements, you can choose the appropriate method to ensure optimal connectivity and compliance with Azure services.
Deploying Multiple NPS Servers
I have been working on ditching our password-based WiFi with WPA2-Enterprise. On DC1 I deployed internal CA, NPS, and group policies that auto-request certs and deploy wireless network settings. Cisco AP is pointed to DC1 as the radius server. NPS has been registered in AD and wireless network policy has been created. Test laptops get their cert and connect just fine. It's working. For redundancy, I installed NPS on DC2. This NPS instance has also been registered in AD, and I imported the NPS config from DC1 to DC2 NPS. Cisco AP has DC1 as first radius server and DC2 as second radius server. If I stop NPS on DC1 to force the Cisco AP to authenticate against DC2, test laptops won't authenticate and connect. What am I missing? They're configured exactly the same (except DC1 hosts the CA...I was under the assumption the CA is AD integrated).
Win 10 to Win 11 with cpu/mb replacement
My desktop PC is a home built machine, a beast in its day but now about 6 years old, which is currently running Windows 10. I get the normal nags from Microsoft inviting me to upgrade to Windows 11 but the current system fails the “can your machine run Windows 11” test. I’m about to rebuild the PC by replacing the CPU, which means replacing the motherboard, but I’m retaining pretty much everything else. (Plan is to upgrade the GPU when prices calm down a bit.) I guess this is going to qualify as a brand new PC as far as Microsoft is concerned, but just before I go out and buy a new Win 11 license I thought I’d ask just in case I have overlooked something that will allow me to retain my existing license and save a little money on the upgrade.Windows update active hours constraint
I’m trying to avoid my machine rebooting while I am not around to exercise a modicum of control. In my Windows Update settings I have disabled “get the latest updates as soon as they’re available” and I have “pause updates” set to 1 week. In the advanced settings I have disabled “get me up to date”, and I have enabled “Notify me when a restart is required”. Today I sat down to my PC to discover that it had terminated all my running programs and rebooted. Without any kind of prompt or warning. Which brings me to “Active Hours”. Active hours can be set automatically or manually and I thought I could set them to 00:00 to 23:59 to prevent updates running without me being around. But no, Microsoft absolutely prevents the active hours from covering a period longer than 18 hours. Why??? So far as I can tell, I have done everything available in the settings to prevent what nevertheless happened at some point in the last 24 hours. I am not aware of an urgent zero-day security problem that demanded an instant patch. Why did my machine do a forced restart when so far as I can tell I have clearly insisted that it not do so? I must be missing something! Any suggestions?Is it worth purchasing the BitLocker feature for Windows 11 Pro?
For local/personal user, is buying pro worth it or no? I dont need any of those domain features but bit locker to encrypt my drive. I am living in shiithole and want to make sure my data and privacy stay safe. Currently using home,, but I dont know if encryption worths of 200 bucks.. or is there alternative?
Microsoft : “What needs your attention” displays during a Windows Upgrade
I'm experiencing an issue during a Windows upgrade where a message from Microsoft appears stating "What needs your attention." This notification seems to interrupt the upgrade process, and I'm unsure what specific actions are required to resolve it. It’s causing delays and uncertainty about whether the upgrade will complete successfully or if there are underlying problems that need addressing.Want to Avoid Accidently Deleting your Resources in Azure? It's Easier Than You Think
Sometimes, knowingly or unknowingly you might delete a resource group in Azure. In this article let's talk about how to configure Azure Resource Locking in order to protect them from being deleted or modified accidentally.GenAI vs Cyber Threats: Why GenAI Powered Unified SecOps Wins
Cybersecurity is evolving faster than ever. Attackers are leveraging automation and AI to scale their operations, so how can defenders keep up? The answer lies in Microsoft Unified Security Operations powered by Generative AI (GenAI). This opens the Cybersecurity Paradox: Attackers only need one successful attempt, but defenders must always be vigilant, otherwise the impact can be huge. Traditional Security Operation Centers (SOCs) are hampered by siloed tools and fragmented data, which slows response and creates vulnerabilities. On average, attackers gain unauthorized access to organizational data in 72 minutes, while traditional defense tools often take on average 258 days to identify and remediate. This is over eight months to detect and resolve breaches, a significant and unsustainable gap. Notably, Microsoft Unified Security Operations, including GenAI-powered capabilities, is also available and supported in Microsoft Government Community Cloud (GCC) and GCC High/DoD environments, ensuring that organizations with the highest compliance and security requirements can benefit from these advanced protections. The Case for Unified Security Operations Unified security operations in Microsoft Defender XDR consolidates SIEM, XDR, Exposure management, and Enterprise Security Posture into a single, integrated experience. This approach allows the following: Breaks down silos by centralizing telemetry across identities, endpoints, SaaS apps, and multi-cloud environments. Infuses AI natively into workflows, enabling faster detection, investigation, and response. Microsoft Sentinel exemplifies this shift with its Data Lake architecture (see my previous post on Microsoft Sentinel’s New Data Lake: Cut Costs & Boost Threat Detection), offering schema-on-read flexibility for petabyte-scale analytics without costly data rehydration. This means defenders can query massive datasets in real time, accelerating threat hunting and forensic analysis. GenAI: A Force Multiplier for Cyber Defense Generative AI transforms security operations from reactive to proactive. Here’s how: Threat Hunting & Incident Response GenAI enables predictive analytics and anomaly detection across hybrid identities, endpoints, and workloads. It doesn’t just find threats—it anticipates them. Behavioral Analytics with UEBA Advanced User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) powered by AI correlates signals from multi-cloud environments and identity providers like Okta, delivering actionable insights for insider risk and compromised accounts. [13 -Micros...s new UEBA | Word] Automation at Scale AI-driven playbooks streamline repetitive tasks, reducing manual workload and accelerating remediation. This frees analysts to focus on strategic threat hunting. Microsoft Innovations Driving This Shift For SOC teams and cybersecurity practitioners, these innovations mean you spend less time on manual investigations and more time leveraging actionable insights, ultimately boosting productivity and allowing you to focus on higher-value security work that matters most to your organization. Plus, by making threat detection and response faster and more accurate, you can reduce stress, minimize risk, and demonstrate greater value to your stakeholders. Sentinel Data Lake: Unlocks real-time analytics at scale, enabling AI-driven threat detection without rehydration costs. Microsoft Sentinel data lake overview UEBA Enhancements: Multi-cloud and identity integrations for unified risk visibility. Sentinel UEBA’s Superpower: Actionable Insights You Can Use! Now with Okta and Multi-Cloud Logs! Security Copilot & Agentic AI: Harnesses AI and global threat intelligence to automate detection, response, and compliance across the security stack, enabling teams to scale operations and strengthen Zero Trust defenses defenders. Security Copilot Agents: The New Era of AI, Driven Cyber Defense Sector-Specific Impact All sectors are different, but I would like to focus a bit on the public sector at this time. This sector and critical infrastructure organizations face unique challenges: talent shortages, operational complexity, and nation-state threats. GenAI-centric platforms help these sectors shift from reactive defense to predictive resilience, ensuring mission-critical systems remain secure. By leveraging advanced AI-driven analytics and automation, public sector organizations can streamline incident detection, accelerate response times, and proactively uncover hidden risks before they escalate. With unified platforms that bridge data silos and integrate identity, endpoint, and cloud telemetry, these entities gain a holistic security posture that supports compliance and operational continuity. Ultimately, embracing generative AI not only helps defend against sophisticated cyber adversaries but also empowers public sector teams to confidently protect the services and infrastructure their communities rely on every day. Call to Action Artificial intelligence is driving unified cybersecurity. Solutions like Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel now integrate into a single dashboard, consolidating alerts, incidents, and data from multiple sources. AI swiftly correlates information, prioritizes threats, and automates investigations, helping security teams respond quickly with less manual work. This shift enables organizations to proactively manage cyber risks and strengthen their resilience against evolving challenges. Picture a single pane of glass where all your XDRs and Defenders converge, AI instantly shifts through the noise, highlighting what matters most so teams can act with clarity and speed. That may include: Assess your SOC maturity and identify silos. Use the Security Operations Self-Assessment Tool to determine your SOC’s maturity level and provide actionable recommendations for improving processes and tooling. Also see Security Maturity Model from the Well-Architected Framework Explore Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, and Security Copilot for AI-powered security. Explains progressive security maturity levels and strategies for strengthening your security posture. What is Microsoft Defender XDR? - Microsoft Defender XDR and What is Microsoft Security Copilot? Design Security in Solutions from Day One! Drive embedding security from the start of solution design through secure-by-default configurations and proactive operations, aligning with Zero Trust and MCRA principles to build resilient, compliant, and scalable systems. Design Security in Solutions from Day One! Innovate boldly, Deploy Safely, and Never Regret it! Upskill your teams on GenAI tools and responsible AI practices. Guidance for securing AI apps and data, aligned with Zero Trust principles Build a strong security posture for AI About the Author: Hello Jacques "Jack” here! I am a Microsoft Technical Trainer focused on helping organizations use advanced security and AI solutions. I create and deliver training programs that combine technical expertise with practical use, enabling teams to adopt innovations like Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, and Security Copilot for stronger cyber resilience. #SkilledByMTT #MicrosoftLearnSecure external attachments with Purview encryption
If you are using Microsoft Purview to secure email attachments, it’s important to understand how Conditional Access (CA) policies and Guest account settings influence the experience for external recipients. Scenario 1: Guest Accounts Enabled ✅ Smooth Experience Each recipient is provisioned with a guest account, allowing them to access the file seamlessly. 📝 Note This can result in a significant increase in guest users, potentially in hundreds or thousands, which may create additional administrative workload and management challenges. Scenario 2: No Guest Accounts 🚫 Limited Access External users can only view attachments via the web interface. Attempts to download then open the files in Office apps typically fail due to repeated credential prompts. 🔍 Why? Conditional Access policies may block access to Microsoft Rights Management Services because it is included under All resources. This typically occurs when access controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) or device compliance are enforced, as these require users or guests to authenticate. To have a better experience without enabling guest accounts, consider adjusting your CA policy with one of the below approaches: Recommended Approach Exclude Microsoft Rights Management Services from CA policies targeting All resources. Alternative Approach Exclude Guest or External Users → Other external users from CA policies targeting All users. Things to consider These access blocks won’t appear in sign-in logs— as this type of external users leave no trace. Manual CA policy review is essential. Using What if feature with the following conditions can help to identify which policies need to be modified. These approaches only apply to email attachments. For SharePoint Online hosted files, guest accounts remain the only viable option. Always consult your Identity/Security team before making changes to ensure no unintended impact on other workloads. References For detailed guidance on how guest accounts interact with encrypted documents, refer to Microsoft’s official documentation: 🔗 Microsoft Entra configuration for content encrypted by Microsoft Purview Information Protection | Microsoft Learn
