Using Azure Portal

Use this page for browser-based Bastion access from Azure Portal.

Contents

Prerequisites

• Access to Azure Portal.
• Reader role on the target VM, the VM NIC, and the Azure Bastion resource.
• A Bastion host deployed in the target VM’s virtual network.
• No local client required — connection runs entirely in the browser.

When to use portal flow

• Fast manual access.
• No local SSH/RDP client setup needed.
• Useful for first-time validation before native CLI path.

Portal SSH (Linux VM)

1. Open Azure Portal.
2. Open target Linux VM.
3. Select Connect, then Connect via Bastion.
4. Choose protocol SSH.
5. Choose auth method (prefer Microsoft Entra ID when available).
6. Select Connect.

Reference doc:

• Create an SSH connection to a Linux VM using Azure Bastion

Portal RDP (Windows VM)

1. Open Azure Portal.
2. Open target Windows VM.
3. Select Connect, then Bastion.
4. In connection settings choose protocol RDP.
5. Set port (default 3389 unless custom configured).
6. Choose auth method, then select Connect.

Reference doc:

• Create an RDP connection to a Windows VM using Azure Bastion

Architecture references

The below are basic architectures show how SSH and RDP work with Azure Bastion

Linux SSH architecture screenshot:

Windows RDP architecture screenshot:

Planned local screenshot placeholders for Crime environment:

• TODO: VM Overview > Connect dropdown > Connect via Bastion
• TODO: Bastion pane with protocol/auth selections
• TODO: Browser SSH session tab
• TODO: Browser RDP session tab

Verification

After selecting Connect, Azure opens a new browser tab with a terminal (SSH) or remote desktop (RDP) session.

• SSH — a terminal prompt appears in the browser. Run hostname to confirm the correct VM.
• RDP — a Windows desktop loads in the browser tab. Check the machine name in System Properties if needed.

If the tab opens but immediately closes or shows an error, check the Bastion SKU supports your selected protocol and port, and confirm your role assignments.

Troubleshooting

See the Troubleshooting page for role assignment and connection failure steps.

Microsoft also provides troubleshooting guidance for portal connections:

• Troubleshoot Azure Bastion

Additional Information

• General SSH use — native CLI path as an alternative.
• SSH Port Forwarding and services — port forward from CLI path.
• Additional guidance via links — full Microsoft connection docs.

This page was last reviewed on 11 June 2026. It needs to be reviewed again on 11 December 2026 by the page owner platops-build-notices .

This page was set to be reviewed before 11 December 2026 by the page owner platops-build-notices. This might mean the content is out of date.