Virtual Network

Windows Azure Virtual Network enables you to create a logically isolated section in Windows Azure and securely connect it to your on-premises datacenter or a single client machine using an IPsec connection. Virtual Network makes it easy for you to take advantage of Windows Azure’s scalable, on-demand infrastructure while providing connectivity to data and applications on-premises, including systems running on Windows Server, mainframes and UNIX.

When using Virtual Network you are backed by a 99.9% monthly SLA and have flexibility to enable a range of hybrid IT scenarios.

Use Virtual Network to:

Extend your datacenter

Virtual Network makes it easy to extend your datacenter using Windows Azure much in the same way that you would set up and connect to a remote branch office. You retain control over the network topology and configuration, and manage it in the same way you would your on-premises infrastructure.

Build distributed applications

Virtual Network makes it easier to build cloud applications hosted in a hybrid environment, maintaining secure connections with on-premises infrastructure without the creation of custom codes. For example, a web application hosted in Windows Azure can securely access an on-premise SQL Server database server or authenticate users against an on-premise Active Directory service.

Remotely debug your applications

With Virtual Network, you can create a direct connection between your local development machine and virtual machines hosted in Windows Azure, which allows you to troubleshoot and debug them using the same tools you would use for on-premises applications.