Posted in AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer Associate, Azure Administrator, Azure Security Engineer, Azure Solutions Architect, MS Cyber Security Architect Expert, MS Information Protection Administrator, MS Security Operations Analyst

Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance Security

   November 1, 2024

Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance are fully managed relational database services provided by Microsoft Azure. They offer high availability, scalability, and built-in security features to protect data at rest and in transit. This guide covers the core concepts, tools, functions, and features related to security in Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance, along with detailed steps on creation, configuration, management, and monitoring.

1. Overview of Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance Security

Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance security ensure that your data is protected against unauthorized access and potential threats. Security in Azure SQL encompasses a variety of tools and features that provide layers of protection, including network security, access control, data encryption, threat protection, and monitoring.

Key Use Cases for Azure SQL Security:

  • Protecting sensitive data in databases with encryption and access control.
  • Enforcing network security and isolation.
  • Managing user access and roles to ensure only authorized users can access the data.
  • Monitoring and detecting suspicious activity to prevent data breaches.

2. Core Concepts and Security Features

Here are the core security concepts and features available in Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance:

Core Concepts

  • Network Security: Protects access to databases by controlling network traffic, using tools such as Virtual Network (VNet) integration, firewall rules, and private endpoints.
  • Authentication and Authorization: Ensures that only authorized users can access the database. Supports both SQL authentication and Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication.
  • Data Encryption: Protects data at rest and in transit using Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Always Encrypted.
  • Threat Detection: Provides monitoring and alerting for unusual or potentially harmful activities.
  • Compliance and Auditing: Helps track access and changes to the database for compliance purposes.

Key Security Features

  • Firewall Rules: Control access to the SQL server or managed instance by specifying allowed IP ranges.
  • Private Endpoints: Securely access Azure SQL over a private IP address within your Virtual Network.
  • Azure AD Authentication: Allows centralized identity and access management with Azure Active Directory.
  • Transparent Data Encryption (TDE): Automatically encrypts data at rest in the database.
  • Always Encrypted: Protects sensitive data by encrypting it on the client-side before it reaches the database.
  • Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Monitors and alerts on suspicious activity.
  • Auditing and Compliance: Tracks database events to help with compliance and security monitoring.

3. Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Security for Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance

Let’s go through how to configure these security features.

Step 1: Creating an Azure SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance

  1. Go to the Azure Portal: In the Azure portal, search for SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance and select Create.
  2. Basic Configuration:
  • Subscription and Resource Group: Choose the subscription and resource group where the database will be created.
  • Database Name: Enter a name for the database.
  • Server or Managed Instance: If creating an SQL Database, select or create a new SQL server. For SQL Managed Instance, specify the managed instance.
  • Region: Choose the region where the database will be hosted.
  1. Review and Create: After configuring, review the settings and click Create to deploy the database or managed instance.

Step 2: Configuring Network Security (Firewall and Private Endpoint)

  1. Firewall Rules:
  • In the SQL Database or Managed Instance settings, go to Networking > Firewalls and virtual networks.
  • Add client IP: To allow your local IP address to connect to the database, click Add client IP.
  • Start and End IP Address: Specify IP ranges to allow access to the database from specific networks.
  • Click Save to apply firewall settings.
  1. Private Endpoint:
  • Go to Private Endpoint Connections: In the database settings, go to Private endpoint connections.
  • Create a Private Endpoint:
    • Select + Private endpoint and follow the wizard to create the endpoint.
    • Select the Virtual Network (VNet) and subnet where you want the private endpoint.
  • Configure DNS: Ensure that DNS is configured to resolve the database’s private IP within your VNet.

Using private endpoints is more secure as it allows access to the database only from within the VNet.

Step 3: Configuring Authentication and Access Control

  1. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Authentication:
  • Enable Azure AD Admin: In the SQL Database or Managed Instance settings, go to Azure Active Directory > Set admin.
  • Select an Azure AD user or group to be the Azure AD admin.
  • Click Save to enable Azure AD authentication.
  1. SQL Authentication:
  • You can create SQL authentication users by connecting to the database with SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure Data Studio.
  • Create Login:
    sql CREATE LOGIN sqluser WITH PASSWORD = 'Password123!'; CREATE USER sqluser FOR LOGIN sqluser;
  1. Grant Roles and Permissions:
  • Use SQL commands to grant permissions:
    sql ALTER ROLE db_datareader ADD MEMBER sqluser; ALTER ROLE db_datawriter ADD MEMBER sqluser;

Azure AD authentication allows centralized identity management, making it easier to manage users and permissions.

Step 4: Enabling Data Encryption

  1. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE):
  • TDE is enabled by default for Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance.
  • Go to Transparent Data Encryption settings to verify or manage encryption keys.
  • You can choose between service-managed keys (managed by Azure) or customer-managed keys (stored in Azure Key Vault).
  1. Always Encrypted (For Column-Level Encryption):
  • In SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), define the columns to be encrypted.
  • Configure Always Encrypted settings by choosing a column master key and encryption type (deterministic or randomized).

Always Encrypted is useful for encrypting sensitive fields, such as Social Security Numbers or credit card details, and keeps data encrypted even during query processing.

Step 5: Enabling Threat Protection and Monitoring

  1. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP):
  • Go to the Advanced Threat Protection settings in your SQL Database or Managed Instance.
  • Enable ATP to receive alerts on suspicious activities, such as SQL injection attacks or unusual access patterns.
  • Configure email alerts for real-time notifications.
  1. Auditing:
  • Go to Auditing settings in the database and enable SQL Auditing.
  • Choose a storage account or Log Analytics workspace to store audit logs.
  • Specify audit actions, such as SELECT or INSERT operations, to track specific activities.
  1. Azure Monitor:
  • Use Azure Monitor to create alerts for metrics like CPU usage, DTU consumption, or connection failures.
  • Configure Alert Rules for specific conditions and set up notifications to stay informed of potential issues.

These monitoring tools help you detect and respond to security incidents and ensure database health.

4. Managing and Monitoring Azure SQL Security Features

Azure provides several tools for ongoing management and monitoring of SQL security:

Ongoing Management of Users and Permissions

  • Use Azure AD for centralized user management and assign permissions at the database level.
  • Regularly review user roles and permissions to ensure they are appropriate.
  • Use SQL Security Auditing to identify unauthorized changes or suspicious activity.

Monitoring Compliance and Security

  1. Azure Security Center:
  • Go to Azure Security Center and review security recommendations for Azure SQL, such as enabling Advanced Threat Protection or using customer-managed keys.
  • Check for any alerts or recommendations and resolve them to maintain security compliance.
  1. Log Analytics and Auditing:
  • Use Log Analytics to query and analyze audit logs for database activities.
  • Identify patterns of unauthorized access or unusual database activity.
  1. Alerts for Security Events:
  • Set up alerts for key security events, such as failed logins, SQL injection attempts, or high server CPU utilization.

5. Working and Usage Examples

Example 1: Setting Up Firewall Rules for Secure Access

Suppose your organization requires that only specific IP addresses should access the Azure SQL Database.

  1. Go to Networking in the SQL Database settings.
  2. Under Firewalls and virtual networks, add the client IP address or specify an IP range.
  3. Save the changes, ensuring only allowed IP addresses can connect to the database.

Example 2: Encrypting Sensitive Columns with Always Encrypted

If you need to protect customer credit card information in the database:

  1. In SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), select the database and identify the column containing credit card data.
  2. Enable Always Encrypted on the column, using a column master key and choosing deterministic encryption.
  3. The data will be stored encrypted, and only authorized applications with access to the key can decrypt it.

Example 3: Setting Up Auditing for Compliance

To meet compliance requirements, you may need to audit database access and data changes.

  1. Go to Auditing in the SQL Database settings.
  2. Enable SQL Auditing and configure a Log Analytics workspace for log storage.
  3. Choose actions like SELECT and UPDATE to be logged and specify the retention period.

Example 4: Configuring Advanced Threat Protection for Real-Time Alerts

To monitor potential threats like SQL injection:

  1. Enable Advanced Threat Protection in your SQL Database settings.
  2. Configure email alerts to receive notifications for suspicious activity.
  3. ATP will automatically alert you of any unusual access patterns or potential attacks.

6. Best Practices for Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance Security

  • Use Azure AD Authentication: It’s more secure and manageable compared to SQL authentication.
  • Limit Network Access: Use private endpoints and firewall rules to restrict access.
  • Enable TDE and Always Encrypted: Protect data at rest and encrypt sensitive columns to ensure data protection.
  • Enable Advanced Threat Protection: Monitor suspicious activity to detect potential attacks early.
  • Use Auditing and Monitor Logs: Regularly review audit logs to ensure compliance and detect any unauthorized access.
  • Follow the Principle of Least Privilege: Grant users only the permissions they need to perform their roles.

Azure SQL Database and SQL Managed Instance offer a wide range of security features that protect data, ensure compliance, and safeguard against unauthorized access. This guide provides an overview of configuring and managing security settings for these services, including network security, authentication, encryption, threat protection, and monitoring. By following these steps, you can create a secure, compliant, and well-managed SQL environment in Azure, meeting organizational and regulatory requirements.

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Author: tonyhughes