Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure (AZ-800) Practice

The Azure service that provides secure access to applications without a VPN is Azure Bastion. Azure Bastion is specifically designed to securely connect to Azure virtual machines over SSL through the Azure portal, eliminating the need for exposing your virtual machines to the public internet. It allows users to access their applications securely by providing a seamless and secure connection, while also integrating natively within the Azure platform.

By using Azure Bastion, you establish a secure connection without the complexities and overhead associated with setting up a virtual private network (VPN). The service uses just-in-time access principles and supports RDP and SSH connections, which ensures that your applications and data remain secure while allowing for secure access.

The other services mentioned—Azure App Service, Azure API Management, and Azure Functions—focus more on application hosting, management, and serverless computing, rather than on providing secure access directly to applications without VPN requirements. While they do offer various security features, they do not serve the primary function of allowing secure connections like Azure Bastion does.