cloudmonitor azure pricing featured image 2 • Cost Optimization

Understanding Azure Networking Costs: A Detailed Overview

Microsoft Azure, renowned for its extensive suite of cloud solutions, offers a variety of networking services, each with its unique pricing structure. In this article, we will delve into the cost dynamics of three commonly utilized Azure networking services: Azure Virtual Network, Azure VPN Gateway, and Azure Bandwidth.

Azure Virtual Network

The Azure Virtual Network service allows you to create your own isolated, private network within the Azure cloud. You can get started with the first 50 virtual networks without incurring any cost, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry for smaller organizations or those at the initial stages of cloud adoption. Public IP addresses associated with these networks have a nominal fee that starts from $0.0036 per hour. Furthermore, the service charges for data transfers between Virtual Networks (VNETs). For VNET peering within the same Azure region, the rate is $0.01 per GB for both inbound and outbound data transfers. Cross-region peering attracts different rates: $0.035 per GB in the US, Europe, and Australia, $0.09 in Asia, and $0.044 in South America and Africa.

Azure VPN Gateway

The Azure VPN Gateway, which facilitates secure connectivity between Azure and on-premise networks, follows a pricing model based on tunnel capacity. Pricing commences at $0.04 per hour for a VPN that supports 100 Mbps, allowing up to 10 site-to-site (S2S) tunnels and up to 128 point-to-site (P2S) tunnels.

Azure Bandwidth

Azure Bandwidth handles data transfers. Remarkably, Azure does not impose any charge on inbound data transfer, regardless of the volume. The first 5GB/month of outbound data transfer is free of charge. Beyond this quota, the rates begin at $0.087 per GB and progressively reduce depending on the data volume, dropping to $0.05 per GB for outbound data over 150 TB.

This information serves as a foundational understanding of Azure networking costs. For more detailed and up-to-date information, you should always refer to the official Azure pricing page. Understanding the pricing structure of Azure networking services is essential for managing cloud expenses and optimizing the overall cost of your cloud strategy.

Rodney Joyce

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