Baseline architecture for an Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) cluster

This architecture diagram example provides a high-level overview of a cloud infrastructure leveraging Microsoft Azure services to create a secure and scalable environment. It illustrates the interconnections between various virtual networks, subnets, and essential Azure services, which are often used for deploying and managing cloud-native applications, especially in a Kubernetes-based environment.

Cloud Infrastructure Diagram Basics

This type of architecture diagram is commonly used in environments that require secure, scalable cloud infrastructure, particularly when deploying containerized applications using Kubernetes. Teams responsible for DevOps, cloud architects, and IT managers would typically create or use such diagrams to:

1. Plan or document infrastructure for reference.
2. Ensure team alignment on the setup and components.
3. Communicate the infrastructure's security, networking, and scalability features.

When creating an architecture diagram like this, it's crucial to focus on clearly illustrating:

1. Modular Components: Each major component, such as subnets, nodes, and services, should be logically grouped and visually distinct for easy comprehension.
2. Connections and Relationships: Virtual network peering, gateways, and firewalls should be marked clearly to show how different networks and components communicate securely.
3. Security: Highlighting security aspects such as firewalls, Azure Bastion, or key vaults is important to indicate how data and applications are protected in the cloud.
4. Network Segmentation: Dividing the architecture into different subnets, such as hub and spoke networks, helps showcase scalability and organization in cloud environments.
5. Scalability & Performance: Indicating the use of services like Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) or load balancers demonstrates how the infrastructure can efficiently manage workloads and traffic.

In this example architecture diagram, we see the use of multiple Azure services, split between hub and spoke virtual networks:

Hub Virtual Network: This network includes the outbound Azure Firewall, Azure Bastion for secure management, and a Gateway subnet, which connects the cloud environment to on-premises or remote office networks. The hub acts as a central point for communication and management.

Spoke Virtual Network: The spoke network, peered with the hub, includes key resources like:

1. Private Link Endpoints: This ensures secure access to services like Azure Key Vault and Azure Container Registry, allowing the system to manage sensitive data and containerized applications.
2. Ingress Resources: An internal load balancer within the ingress subnet manages incoming traffic, while the Application Gateway handles application-level routing.
3. Cluster Nodes (Azure Kubernetes Service - AKS): This represents the AKS cluster, consisting of a system node pool for infrastructure-related services and a user node pool for actual workloads like applications and Traefik ingress controllers.

Create your architecture diagram with MockFlow

This example serves as a great foundation for designing cloud-native architectures. You can easily replicate or create similar architecture diagrams using MockFlow’s Flowchart Maker to illustrate your own infrastructure setups. With tools like drag-and-drop symbols, real-time collaboration, and detailed customization, MockFlow makes it simple to create clear, structured, and effective architecture diagrams for documentation, presentations, and team collaboration. Get Started today.