Let’s talk about encryption—because what’s more exciting than securing data pipelines across the internet? Okay, maybe coffee ☕️, but stick with me.

If you’re still using AES-256 with SHA-256 for your Azure Site-to-Site VPN, it’s time to move on. Enter GCM-AES-256—the security upgrade your VPN has been waiting for. Think of it like switching from a flip phone to the latest flagship smartphone. 📱✨

You can read more about here:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/vpn-gateway/about-gateway-skus

Why GCM-AES-256 Is the Superior Choice

🔹 Faster Performance – Traditional AES-256 with SHA-256 requires two separate operations: encryption (AES) and integrity verification (SHA). GCM does both in one step, reducing overhead and improving VPN throughput. Less processing, more speed. 🏎💨

🔹 Stronger Security – GCM (Galois/Counter Mode) isn’t just faster—it also has built-in authentication. That means no need for an extra hashing algorithm like SHA-256, which removes unnecessary complexity and potential weaknesses. Fewer moving parts = fewer attack surfaces. 🔐

🔹 Lower Latency – In a world where milliseconds matter, GCM-AES-256 can reduce latency in encrypted connections. If you’re running high-performance workloads or VoIP traffic, you’ll definitely appreciate the snappier response times. 🚀

🔹 Azure-Recommended – Microsoft explicitly recommends using GCM-AES-256 over AES-256 + SHA-256 for better performance and security.

📌 The Bottom Line

GCM-AES-256 is faster, more secure, and just plain smarter. If your VPN could talk, it would be begging for this upgrade. So why stick with older encryption methods that add unnecessary complexity?

Of course there is one examption , if your onpremise router do not supporting it 🙂 . Stay safe !

Azure #Networking #CyberSecurity #VPN #Encryption #CloudSecurity