As Microsoft Azure continues to evolve to accommodate its expanding user community, we are pleased to release a groundbreaking offering in response to developer feedback and demands: the new Bastion Developer SKU of Azure Bastion. Now generally available in 6 public regions this service will revolutionize connectivity for developers by delivering secure and seamless access to Azure Virtual Machines—at no extra cost. In this article, we’ll delve into what Azure Bastion Developer entails, the issues it tackles, and why it represents an essential solution for secure access by default.

What is Azure Bastion Developer?

Azure Bastion Developer is a new free, zero-configuration, always-on SKU of the Azure Bastion service. Its primary mission is to provide secure-by-default Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and Secure Shell (SSH) access to Azure Virtual Machines, allowing users to establish secure connections to a single Virtual Machine per Virtual Network at a time without the need for additional network configurations or public IP addresses on Virtual Machines. By connecting through Microsoft-managed Bastion Developer resources rather than directly with a public IP address, your Virtual Machine ports will not be exposed to the public internet. This service is designed to simplify and enhance the process of accessing your Azure Virtual Machines by eliminating the complexities, high costs, and security concerns often associated with alternative methods.

Feature Comparison of Azure Bastion Offerings

Bastion Developer is a lightweight SKU of the Bastion service, allowing a single connection per Virtual Network directly through the Virtual Machines connect experience. Bastion Developer is ideal for Dev/Test users who want to securely connect to their Virtual Machines without the need for additional features or scaling. The feature matrix below outlines the differences between Bastion Developer and Bastion Basic and Standard SKUs.

Features

Developer

Basic

Standard

Private connectivity to Virtual Machines

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dedicated host agent

No

Yes

Yes

Support for multiple connections per user

No

Yes

Yes

Linux Virtual Machine private key in AKV

No

Yes

Yes

Support for Network Security Groups

No

Yes

Yes

Audit logging

No

Yes

Yes

Kerberos support

No

Yes

Yes

VNET peering support

No

Yes

Yes

Host scaling (2-50 instances)

No

No

Yes

Custom port and protocol

No

No

Yes

Native SSH support via Azure CLI

Roadmap

Roadmap

Yes

Native RDP support via Azure CLI

No

No

Yes

Azure Active Directory login for RDP/SSH via native client

No

No

Yes

IP-based connection

No

No

Yes

Shareable links

No

No

Yes

Getting Started with Azure Bastion Developer

Getting started with Azure Bastion Developer is quick and easy.

Navigate to the Azure portal.
Deploy a Windows or Linux Virtual Machine in one of the following supported regions. (Note that Bastion Developer is currently only available in the regions listed, with full regional availability coming soon.)

Central United States EUAP
East United States EUAP
West Central United States
North Central Unites States
West United States
North Europe

Navigate to Bastion tab in the Virtual Machine blade, specify authentication type, enter your credentials, and click Connect to deploy and connect to Bastion Developer with just one click. (Bastion Basic and Standard deployments will be moved under “Dedicated Deployment Options”).

Learn to configure Bastion Developer.

Empower Your Development Workflow with Azure Bastion Developer

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just getting started with Azure, Azure Bastion Developer empowers you to work more efficiently and securely. With its simple configuration and cost-effective pricing, Azure Bastion Developer is the ultimate solution for accessing your Azure VMs with confidence.

Azure Bastion Developer—Secure, simplified, and free.

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