What is the primary purpose of Azure Security Center's Just-in-Time VM access?

The primary purpose of Azure Security Center's Just-in-Time (JIT) VM access is to reduce exposure to brute-force attacks on virtual machines (VMs). JIT creates a more controlled environment by limiting the time frame during which a VM is accessible over the network through management ports, such as RDP and SSH.

When JIT is configured, it allows users to access a specific VM for a limited time, which greatly minimizes the attack surface. Since these management ports are typically common targets for unauthorized access attempts, reducing the time they are open significantly enhances security.

By requiring users to explicitly request access and defining the duration of this access, JIT helps protect against automated attack methods that rely on exploiting open management interfaces. This proactive approach reduces the risk of unauthorized access while still allowing legitimate users to perform necessary operations on the VMs without compromising security.