What type of connectivity do Azure Virtual Network Gateways primarily facilitate?

Azure Virtual Network Gateways primarily facilitate hybrid cloud connectivity, which involves connecting on-premises networks to Azure cloud environments. This connectivity allows organizations to extend their existing infrastructure to the cloud, enabling seamless integration between on-premises data centers and Azure resources. By utilizing Virtual Network Gateways, users can establish secure connections via VPN or ExpressRoute, thereby facilitating a reliable and efficient hybrid cloud architecture.

Hybrid cloud connectivity is essential for businesses that want to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud services while maintaining their critical resources on-premises. This approach provides a unified network experience and ensures that data can be transferred securely between the two environments.

The other connectivity types do not encompass the primary functions of Azure Virtual Network Gateways. Local area network access is more about internal network configurations rather than bridging to the cloud. Direct internet access provides internet connectivity but does not specifically involve Azure's hybrid capabilities. While VPN tunneling is a method used by these gateways, it is merely a component of how hybrid connectivity is achieved rather than a complete definition of their primary function.