Lab Overview

In this lab, we will see how to create network security groups. Network Security Groups enable restricting flows at a subnet or at a virtual machine’s network interface level. We will create rules and apply at a subnet level. We will also see how application security groups are applied.

Lab Diagram

Create application security groups

An application security group enables you to group together servers with similar functions, such as web servers.

1. Select + Create a resource on the Azure portal

2. In the Search the Marketplace box, enter Application security group. When Application security groups appears in the search results, select it.

3. Click +Add. Enter, or select, the following information:

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	Select your subscription
   Resource group	Select rg-lab from the dropdown
   Name	mgmt
   Location	West US 2

4. Click Review+Create

5. Once validation passes, click Create

6. Repeat steps 3, specifying the following values:

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	Select your subscription
   Resource group	Select rg-lab from the dropdown
   Name	web
   Location	West US 2

Associate ASG to network interface

1. In the Search resources, services, and docs box at the top of the portal, begin typing virtual machines. From the search results, select Virtual machines.
2. Select virtual machine vnet1-vm-mgmt1
3. Under Settings → Networking → Application security groups, select Configure the application security groups, select mgmt for Application security groups, and then select Save
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for virtual machines vnet1-vm-web1 and add application group web

Create a network security group

1. In the Search resources, services, and docs box at the top of the portal, begin typing Network security group. From the search results, select Network security group.

2. Click +Add. Enter, or select, the following information.

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	Select your subscription.
   Resource group	Select rg-lab from the dropdown.
   Name	nsg1
   Location	West US 2

3. Click Review+Create. Once validation passes, Create.

Create security rules

Create a security rule to allow SSH and RDP to the management servers.

1. On the network security groups page, click on the network security group nsg1 you just created.

2. Go to Settings → Inbound security rules and click +Add.

3. Enter, or select the following values, accept the remaining defaults, and then select Add:

   Setting	Value
   Destination	Select Application security group
   Destination Application security group	mgmt
   Destination port ranges	22, 3389
   Protocol	TCP
   Priority	100
   Name	allow-mgmt-access

4. Create another security rule that allows http and https traffic to the web application security group.

   Setting	Value
   Destination	Select Application security group
   Destination Application security group	web
   Destination port ranges	80,443
   Protocol	TCP
   Priority	120
   Name	allow-web

Associate network security group to subnet

1. On the Network security groups page, click on the security group nsg1
2. Under Settings, select Subnets and then select + Associate
3. Under Associate subnet, select Virtual network and then select vnet1. Select Subnet, select vnet1-subnet1, and then select OK.
4. Repeat step 3 to associate to subnet vnet1-subnet2 from vnet1

Verify NSG for the virtual machine

1. Go to the virtual machine vnet1-vm-mgmt1.

2. Got to Settings → Networking.

3. Check the network security group nsg1 is applied to the subnet vnet-subnet1.

4. You will also see another security group vnet1-vm-mgmt1-nsg attached to the network interface of the virtual machine. This was created when you created the VM and assigned Basic network security group as default configuration setting. You can go ahead and disassociate this security group from the network security group as we now have one applied at the subnet level. Note the name of the security group.

5. Click on the network security group attached to the interface.

6. Go to Settings → Network interfaces.

7. Click on the three dots … on the right and click Dissociate.

   

8. Repeat above steps for each VM created with a basic network security group

Verify Security rules

It’s time to see the rules in action.

Connect to the management server

1. From your laptop, SSH to the management server
2. SSH to vnet1-vm-mgmt1 using its public IP address
3. Verify you are successfully able to login

Which rule enabled ssh access?

Connect to the web server

1. From your laptop, SSH to the web server
2. SSH to vnet1-vm-web1

Are you able to reach the login prompt? Which rule was used for this flow?

Conclusion

We learnt how to configure network security groups and application security groups to protect your compute instances in Azure.

Challenge

Complete additional flows as given in the diagram below to restrict traffic further within your virtual network. Make sure only this traffic is allowed.

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