Best VPN Promotions | Azure Point to Site VPN Configuration Step by Step: A Complete Guide

In today's digital landscape, securing your online activities is paramount, whether for personal use or business operations. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) provide a secure tunnel for your internet traffic, making it crucial to understand how to configure them effectively. This article delves into the best VPN promotions available and provides a comprehensive guide on setting up an Azure Point-to-Site VPN.

Why Use a VPN?

Before diving into the specifics of Azure VPN configuration, let's explore why VPNs are essential. A VPN can mask your IP address, encrypt your internet traffic, and protect your data from prying eyes. This is particularly vital when using public Wi-Fi or when accessing sensitive corporate data remotely. Moreover, VPNs can bypass geographic restrictions, allowing users to access content not available in their region.

Exploring VPN Promotions

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3. **Surfshark** - This provider is famous for its unlimited simultaneous connections. They often have promotions where you can get an 80% discount on a 2-year plan.

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4. **CyberGhost** - CyberGhost provides various plans, with promotions typically offering up to 79% off on extended plans, which include a free trial period.

5. **IPVanish** - They frequently offer discounts like 50% off for the first year, making it an attractive choice for those looking for a short-term commitment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Azure Point-to-Site VPN Configuration

Setting up a Point-to-Site VPN in Azure allows individual clients to connect securely to an Azure virtual network. Here's how you can do it:

Step 1: Prerequisites

Ensure you have an Azure subscription.
Install Azure PowerShell or Azure CLI on your local machine.
Create a Virtual Network (VNet) in Azure.

Step 2: Create a Gateway Subnet

Your VNet must have a gateway subnet to deploy the VPN gateway:

New-AzureRmVirtualNetworkSubnetConfig -Name 'GatewaySubnet' -AddressPrefix 10.11.255.0/27

Step 3: Configure the VPN Gateway

Create a VPN gateway for your VNet:

New-AzureRmVirtualNetworkGateway -Name VNetGW -ResourceGroupName TestRG1 -Location 'East US' -IpConfigurations $gwipconfig -GatewayType Vpn -VpnType RouteBased -GatewaySku VpnGw1

Step 4: Set Up the Root Certificate

Generate a self-signed root certificate or use an enterprise certificate. Here's how to create one for testing:

New-SelfSignedCertificate -Type Custom -KeySpec Signature -Subject "CN=P2SRootCert" -KeyExportPolicy Exportable -HashAlgorithm sha256 -KeyLength 2048 -CertStoreLocation "Cert:\CurrentUser\My" -KeyUsageProperty Sign -KeyUsage CertSign

Step 5: Upload Certificate to Azure

Export the root certificate's public key and upload it to Azure:

$cert = Get-ChildItem Cert:\CurrentUser\My | Where-Object {$_.Subject -eq "CN=P2SRootCert"} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
$certData = [System.Convert]::ToBase64String($cert.RawData)
Add-AzureRmVpnClientRootCertificate -VpnClientRootCertificateName "P2SRootCert" -PublicCertData $certData -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "VNetGW" -ResourceGroupName "TestRG1"

Step 6: Generate Client Certificates

Create client certificates from the root certificate for each user or device:

New-SelfSignedCertificate -Type Custom -DnsName P2SChildCert -KeySpec Signature -Subject "CN=P2SChildCert" -KeyExportPolicy Exportable -HashAlgorithm sha256 -KeyLength 2048 -CertStoreLocation "Cert:\CurrentUser\My" -Signer $cert -TextExtension @("2.5.29.37={text}1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.2")

Step 7: Download VPN Client Configuration

Download and install the VPN client configuration package from Azure:

Get-AzureRmVpnClientPackage -ResourceGroupName "TestRG1" -VirtualNetworkGatewayName "VNetGW" -ProcessorArchitecture Amd64

Step 8: Connect to the VPN

Install the VPN client package on your client machine and connect using the provided credentials.

Conclusion

Securing your online activities with a VPN is not just about privacy; it's also about performance and accessibility. By understanding the best VPN promotions, you can choose a service that offers both value and security. Meanwhile, the detailed guide on Azure Point-to-Site VPN configuration ensures that you can set up a robust, secure network connection for remote access, enhancing both security and efficiency for your business operations. Whether you're looking for personal privacy or enterprise-level security, this guide and the promotions listed provide a comprehensive approach to safeguarding your digital presence.