Private Endpoints¶

Connect an Express app on App Service to SQL, Redis, and Key Vault over private endpoints while preserving standard Azure service DNS names.

flowchart TD
    A[Express app on App Service with VNet integration] --> B[Private DNS zones]
    B --> C[Private Endpoint SQL]
    B --> D[Private Endpoint Redis]
    B --> E[Private Endpoint Key Vault]
    C --> F[Private backend connectivity]
    D --> F
    E --> F

Prerequisites¶

• App Service Plan tier that supports VNet integration
• Virtual network with integration and private endpoint subnets
• Azure SQL, Redis, and Key Vault resources ready for private endpoint

Main Content¶

1) Prepare subnet and DNS architecture¶

Recommended layout:

• snet-appservice-integration for VNet integration
• snet-private-endpoints for private endpoint NICs
• Private DNS zones linked to the VNet

2) Enable VNet integration for the app¶

az webapp vnet-integration add \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "$APP_NAME" \
  --vnet "$VNET_NAME" \
  --subnet "snet-appservice-integration" \
  --output json

3) Create private endpoint for Azure SQL¶

az network private-endpoint create \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "pe-sql-node" \
  --vnet-name "$VNET_NAME" \
  --subnet "snet-private-endpoints" \
  --private-connection-resource-id "/subscriptions/<subscription-id>/resourceGroups/<sql-rg>/providers/Microsoft.Sql/servers/<sql-server>" \
  --group-id sqlServer \
  --connection-name "pe-sql-node-conn" \
  --output json

4) Create private endpoints for Redis and Key Vault¶

az network private-endpoint create \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "pe-redis-node" \
  --vnet-name "$VNET_NAME" \
  --subnet "snet-private-endpoints" \
  --private-connection-resource-id "/subscriptions/<subscription-id>/resourceGroups/<redis-rg>/providers/Microsoft.Cache/Redis/<redis-name>" \
  --group-id redisCache \
  --connection-name "pe-redis-node-conn" \
  --output json

az network private-endpoint create \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "pe-kv-node" \
  --vnet-name "$VNET_NAME" \
  --subnet "snet-private-endpoints" \
  --private-connection-resource-id "/subscriptions/<subscription-id>/resourceGroups/<kv-rg>/providers/Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults/<kv-name>" \
  --group-id vault \
  --connection-name "pe-kv-node-conn" \
  --output json

5) Configure environment variables for Express app¶

az webapp config appsettings set \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "$APP_NAME" \
  --settings \
    SQL_SERVER_FQDN="<sql-server>.database.windows.net" \
    SQL_DATABASE_NAME="<db-name>" \
    REDIS_HOST="<redis-name>.redis.cache.windows.net" \
    REDIS_PORT="6380" \
    KEY_VAULT_URI="https://<kv-name>.vault.azure.net/" \
  --output json

6) Use process.env, @azure/identity, mssql, and ioredis¶

const sql = require("mssql");
const Redis = require("ioredis");
const { DefaultAzureCredential } = require("@azure/identity");

const credential = new DefaultAzureCredential();

async function openSqlConnection() {
  const tokenResponse = await credential.getToken("https://database.windows.net/.default");
  return sql.connect({
    server: process.env.SQL_SERVER_FQDN,
    database: process.env.SQL_DATABASE_NAME,
    options: {
      encrypt: true,
    },
    authentication: {
      type: "azure-active-directory-access-token",
      options: {
        token: tokenResponse.token,
      },
    },
  });
}

const redisClient = new Redis({
  host: process.env.REDIS_HOST,
  port: Number(process.env.REDIS_PORT),
  tls: {},
});

7) Link required private DNS zones¶

Ensure links exist for:

• privatelink.database.windows.net
• privatelink.redis.cache.windows.net
• privatelink.vaultcore.azure.net

8) Add CI networking validation step¶

- name: Validate private endpoint state
  run: |
    az network private-endpoint list \
      --resource-group "$RG" \
      --output table

Verification¶

1. Confirm app has VNet integration.
2. Confirm each private endpoint is in Approved state.
3. Confirm SQL, Redis, and Key Vault hostnames resolve to private IP addresses.

az webapp vnet-integration list \
  --resource-group "$RG" \
  --name "$APP_NAME" \
  --output table

Troubleshooting¶

SQL login timeout or socket errors¶

• Verify NSG allows outbound 1433 from integration subnet.
• Confirm SQL private endpoint approval and firewall settings.
• Check token acquisition with managed identity.

Redis connection reset or timeout¶

• Confirm private DNS resolves Redis hostname to private IP.
• Verify Redis TLS port 6380 is reachable.

Key Vault calls fail intermittently¶

• Validate route table and DNS path for vault.azure.net via private link.
• Check App Service managed identity permissions on Key Vault.

Run It in the Portal¶

Portal view: Networking blade (app-side precondition for backend private endpoints)¶

Purpose: Show the app's inbound and outbound network configuration on one page.

Look for: Public network access and Private endpoints under inbound traffic, and Virtual network integration, Outbound DNS, and the outbound address lists under outbound traffic.

Expected result: This capture shows the displayed configuration of a public app without VNet integration: the listed outbound addresses are the platform's potential outbound address pool (not a measured egress address for any connection), and the integration subnet settings show N/A.

This web-app Networking blade is a supporting before-state for the recipe rather than the place where the SQL, Redis, and Key Vault private endpoints themselves are listed. The visible Virtual network integration: Not configured row is the app-side prerequisite the recipe changes before private DNS for those backend services can work, while Private endpoints: 0 private endpoints also makes clear the screenshot is not showing downstream private endpoints attached to other resources. Use this capture as the pre-integration checkpoint before running the recipe's VNet and backend private-endpoint steps for the Node.js app.

See Also¶

• Azure SQL
• Redis Cache
• VNet Integration
• Platform: Networking

Sources¶

• Use private endpoints for Azure App Service apps
• Integrate your app with an Azure virtual network
• Tutorial: Connect to Azure SQL Database from Node.js on App Service without secrets using a managed identity