What configuration can be recommended to increase Secure management ports controls score in Azure Security Benchmark V3 report?

Enabling adaptive network hardening is a strong recommendation for increasing the Secure management ports controls score in the Azure Security Benchmark V3 report. Adaptive network hardening works by evaluating the traffic flows and resources associated with your virtual machines and other Azure resources, allowing Azure to make informed decisions about which network security rules should be applied. This dynamic adjustment enhances the security posture by restricting access to management ports based on actual usage patterns and minimizing the attack surface.

By leveraging adaptive network hardening, organizations can ensure that secure management ports are only accessible under predefined conditions, thus significantly reducing the potential for unauthorized access and bolstering overall security.

While other options like implementing Azure Bastion or using Azure VPN Gateway are also effective in improving secure access to Azure resources, they serve different purposes. Azure Bastion provides secure and seamless RDP and SSH access to virtual machines directly in the Azure portal without exposing them to the public internet. Azure VPN Gateway creates a secure connection between on-premises networks and Azure, facilitating secure traffic but not specifically adjusting management port access dynamically. Configuring private endpoints is focused on ensuring private link access for services, which also aids in security but does not directly increase control over management ports.