Azure Bastion for secure VM access - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - Azure Bastion for secure VM access

User wants VM access

↓

Connect to Azure Portal

↓

Select VM

↓

Use Azure Bastion

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Azure Bastion creates secure tunnel

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User accesses VM securely

↓

Session ends

User connects to VM through Azure Portal using Azure Bastion, which creates a secure tunnel without exposing VM to public internet.

Execution Sample

Azure

az network bastion create \
  --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
  --location MyLocation \
  --name MyBastionHost \
  --public-ip-address MyBastionIP \
  --vnet-name MyVnet

This command creates an Azure Bastion host in a virtual network to enable secure VM access.

Process Table

Step	Action	Resource Created/Used	Result/State
1	Create public IP for Bastion	Public IP: MyBastionIP	Public IP allocated and ready
2	Create Bastion host in VNet	Bastion Host: MyBastionHost	Bastion host deployed and linked to VNet
3	User selects VM in portal	VM: TargetVM	VM selected for connection
4	User clicks 'Connect' via Bastion	Bastion Host	Secure tunnel established
5	User accesses VM via browser RDP/SSH	VM: TargetVM	Secure session active
6	User ends session	Bastion Host	Tunnel closed, VM remains secure

💡 User ends session, secure tunnel closes, VM remains protected without public IP exposure

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 1	After Step 2	After Step 4	After Step 5	Final
Public IP	None	Allocated	Allocated	Allocated	Allocated	Allocated
Bastion Host	None	None	Created	Created	Created	Created
VM Connection	Disconnected	Disconnected	Disconnected	Connected	Connected	Disconnected
Secure Tunnel	Closed	Closed	Closed	Open	Open	Closed

Key Moments - 3 Insights

Why can't I connect directly to the VM without Azure Bastion?

The VM does not have a public IP and is protected inside a virtual network. Azure Bastion creates a secure tunnel to access it without exposing it to the internet, as shown in execution_table steps 4 and 5.

What happens if the public IP for Bastion is not created first?

Azure Bastion requires a public IP to accept connections. Without it (see variable_tracker Public IP at Start and After Step 1), the Bastion host cannot be created or used.

Does Azure Bastion expose the VM's RDP or SSH ports to the internet?

No. Azure Bastion tunnels the connection securely inside Azure's network, so the VM's ports remain closed to the public internet, as seen in execution_table step 5.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution_table, at which step is the secure tunnel established?

A Step 3

B Step 5

C Step 4

D Step 2

💡 Hint

Check the 'Result/State' column for when the tunnel opens.

According to variable_tracker, what is the state of the VM connection after Step 2?

A Connected

B Disconnected

C Connecting

D Unknown

💡 Hint

Look at the 'VM Connection' row under 'After Step 2'.

If the public IP is not allocated, what will happen to the Bastion host creation?

A Bastion host creation will fail

B Bastion host will be created successfully

C Bastion host will be created but unusable

D Public IP is not required for Bastion

💡 Hint

Refer to key_moments about the necessity of public IP for Bastion.

Concept Snapshot

Azure Bastion enables secure VM access without public IPs.
Create a public IP, then deploy Bastion host in the VNet.
Use Azure Portal to connect via Bastion, which tunnels RDP/SSH securely.
No direct exposure of VM ports to the internet.
Session ends close the tunnel, keeping VM protected.

Full Transcript

Azure Bastion is a service that lets you securely connect to virtual machines without exposing them to the public internet. First, you create a public IP address for the Bastion host. Then, you deploy the Bastion host inside your virtual network. When you want to access a VM, you select it in the Azure Portal and connect through Bastion. This creates a secure tunnel that lets you use RDP or SSH in your browser. The VM itself does not need a public IP and remains protected. When you finish, the tunnel closes, and the VM stays secure. This process avoids opening VM ports to the internet and uses Azure's secure infrastructure.