In this scenario, VM1 is connected to VNet1, which has forced tunneling enabled. Forced tunneling ensures that all outbound traffic from the virtual network is directed to the on-premises network through the VPN gateway (vgw1). However, traffic from Azure resources (like VM1) to Azure Storage (storage1) would normally travel over the public internet unless special configuration is applied.
To ensure that the traffic from VM1 to storage1 stays within the Microsoft backbone network (i.e., the private Azure network infrastructure rather than the internet), Microsoft recommends using Azure Private Endpoints.
A Private Endpoint is a network interface that connects you privately and securely to a service powered by Azure Private Link. When a private endpoint is created for an Azure Storage account, the service gets assigned a private IP address from your virtual network, making it accessible only within that VNet (and via connected VNets through VPN or ExpressRoute).
This ensures that traffic between VM1 and storage1 never traverses the public internet. Instead, it stays entirely within Microsoft's internal network, thereby providing:
* Enhanced security (no exposure to the public internet).
* Improved performance and reliability due to backbone routing.
* Compliance with forced tunneling policies by keeping Azure service traffic within the private network.
Other options are incorrect:
* Azure Firewall (B): Controls traffic but doesn't guarantee Microsoft backbone routing.
* Azure AD Application Proxy (C): Used for publishing on-premises applications, not for controlling storage network paths.
* Azure Peering Service (D): Provides optimized routing for customer internet connectivity, not intra- Azure traffic routing.
Thus, according to Microsoft Learn and AZ-104 Administrator Study Guide, the correct configuration to ensure all traffic from VM1 to storage1 stays on the Microsoft backbone network is the use of Private Endpoints.