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Azure Firewall Premium
What Azure Firewall Premium is
Azure Firewall Premium is the premium tier of a managed, cloud-based network security service that protects Azure Virtual Network resources and enforces and logs application and network connectivity policies. It filters inbound and outbound traffic, internal spoke-to-spoke connections, and hybrid connections through Azure VPN and ExpressRoute gateways. Premium decrypts outbound and east-west TLS traffic for inspection, then re-encrypts it. Its signature-based intrusion detection and prevention includes over 67,000 rules across more than 50 categories, with up to 10,000 customizable rules. When TLS inspection is enabled, URL filtering can evaluate full HTTP and HTTPS paths; web categories can also match full URLs. Azure Monitor integration is available, and logs can be sent to Log Analytics, Azure Storage, or Event Hubs. Management options include Azure Firewall Manager, with DevOps integration through REST, PowerShell, CLI, templates, and Terraform. Microsoft states that the service is PCI, SOC, and ISO compliant and describes Premium as suitable for sensitive, regulated settings such as payment and healthcare. The cloud service supports up to 100 Gbps. There is no free plan. Billing includes a fixed hourly fee per deployment and an additional data-processing fee; listed rates display as “$-”.
Who it suits
It suits Azure environments with sensitive or regulated workloads, including payment and healthcare settings. It may also suit teams that need TLS inspection, intrusion prevention, and centralized firewall management.
What it does well
- Inspects outbound and east-west TLS traffic.
- Includes over 67,000 intrusion detection and prevention rules.
- Allows customization of up to 10,000 rules.
- Supports hybrid connections through Azure VPN and ExpressRoute gateways.
- Logs can be sent to three listed Azure destinations.
What to know first
- No free plan.
- A fixed hourly deployment fee applies.
- Data processing has an additional fee.
- Partial hours are billed as full hours.
Limits
There is no free plan. Billing combines a fixed hourly charge per firewall deployment with a separate fee for processed data; partial hours count as full hours, and optional prescaling can add capacity-unit charges.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Premium deployment | Premium firewall tier · Fixed deployment charge | On request |
| Premium deployment | Premium firewall tier · Fixed deployment charge | On request |
| Premium data processing | Variable traffic-based charge | On request |
| Premium data processing | Variable traffic-based charge | On request |
| Premium capacity unit | Optional prescaling capacity | On request |
| Premium capacity unit | Optional prescaling capacity | On request |
| Azure Firewall Premium | Per deployment hour and per GB processed; the pricing page displays "$-" for both rates. · Up to 100 Gbps · 10 Gbps fat flow support · Capacity Unit charges apply if prescaling is enabled | On request |
As azure.microsoft.com lists them, read 21 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Azure Firewall website
- Create the firewall in the Azure portal
- Use PowerShell, REST API, or templates for deployment
- Choose the Premium firewall tier
- Configure management through Azure Firewall Manager
- Connect monitoring and log destinations such as Azure Monitor or Log Analytics
Verdict
Azure Firewall Premium combines network filtering with TLS inspection, intrusion prevention, and several management and logging options. Account for both deployment and traffic-based charges when assessing it.
Questions
What does Azure Firewall Premium cost?
The listed Premium rates display "$-". Billing uses a per-deployment-hour charge and a per-GB processed charge, with optional capacity-unit charges for prescaling.
Is there a free plan?
No. Azure Firewall Premium is a paid service.
Which platforms are supported?
It is available through API and web access.
Does it inspect encrypted traffic?
Yes. Premium decrypts outbound and east-west TLS traffic for inspection, then re-encrypts it.
What integrations are available?
It integrates with Azure Monitor, and logs can be sent to Log Analytics, Azure Storage, or Event Hubs. Azure Firewall Manager, REST, PowerShell, CLI, templates, and Terraform support management and automation.
Facts from Azure Firewall Premium's own pages
- Availability
- All Azure Firewall SKUs have built-in high availability and support Availability Zones, with no extra charge for multi-zone deployment. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Billing
- The pricing page says a fixed hourly fee is charged per firewall deployment regardless of scale, with an additional fee for data processed; a partial hour is billed as a full hour. · azure.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Azure Firewall can be set up in the Azure portal or with PowerShell, REST API, or templates. · azure.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · azure.microsoft.com, 21 Sept 2026
- IDPS
- Premium includes signature-based intrusion detection and prevention with over 67,000 rules across more than 50 categories, and users can customize up to 10,000 rules. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Azure Firewall integrates with Azure Monitor, and its logs can be sent to Log Analytics, Azure Storage, or Event Hubs. · azure.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- Microsoft describes Premium as suitable for highly sensitive and regulated environments, including payment and healthcare industries. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Management and automation
- Azure Firewall supports central management through Azure Firewall Manager and DevOps integration using REST, PowerShell, CLI, templates, and Terraform. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Network coverage
- Azure Firewall supports filtering inbound and outbound traffic, internal spoke-to-spoke connections, and hybrid connections through Azure VPN and ExpressRoute gateways. · azure.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- Microsoft states that Azure Firewall is PCI, SOC, and ISO compliant; Premium adds capabilities typically required for PCI DSS payment processing environments. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- TLS inspection
- Premium decrypts outbound and east-west TLS traffic for inspection, then re-encrypts it before sending it to its destination. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- URL filtering
- Premium URL filtering can evaluate the full URL path for HTTP and HTTPS traffic when TLS inspection is enabled. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Web categories
- Premium can allow or deny access using website categories and match categories against the full URL for HTTP and HTTPS traffic. · learn.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Azure Firewall is a managed, cloud-based network security service that protects Azure Virtual Network resources and enforces and logs application and network connectivity policies. · azure.microsoft.com, 11 Oct 2026
Where Azure Firewall Premium stands on Freedom251
- Network Firewall Software#17 of 37
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software#19 of 39
- Firewall Software#62 of 81