Azure Key Vault policy
Azure Key Vault Policy is a feature of Azure Key Vault that enables you to enforce rules and requirements for the management and use of keys, secrets, and certificates stored in the Key Vault. Policies can be used to ensure that your Azure Key Vault resources are used in a secure and compliant manner, and to prevent accidental or unauthorized use of sensitive information.
Azure Key Vault Policies can be created and managed using the Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, the Azure CLI, or the Azure Key Vault REST API. Policies are defined using a JSON-based language called Azure Policy Definition Language (Azure Policy DSL).
Here are some examples of policies that can be enforced using Azure Key Vault Policy:
- Key expiration policy: This policy can be used to require that cryptographic keys stored in Azure Key Vault have an expiration date. This can help ensure that keys are regularly rotated and replaced with new keys to enhance security.
- Secret format policy: This policy can be used to require that secrets stored in Azure Key Vault meet specific format requirements, such as minimum length or complexity. This can help ensure that secrets are strong and resistant to brute-force attacks.
- Certificate expiration policy: This policy can be used to require that SSL/TLS certificates stored in Azure Key Vault have an expiration date. This can help ensure that certificates are regularly renewed and replaced to maintain secure connections.
- Access control policy: This policy can be used to restrict access to Azure Key Vault resources, such as cryptographic keys or secrets, to specific users, groups, or applications. This can help ensure that sensitive information is only accessible to authorized users and applications.
- Key usage policy: This policy can be used to restrict the usage of cryptographic keys stored in Azure Key Vault, such as limiting the types of operations that can be performed using a particular key. This can help prevent accidental or unauthorized use of keys.
Azure Key Vault Policy is a powerful feature that enables you to enforce security and compliance requirements for the management and use of keys, secrets, and certificates stored in Azure Key Vault. By using policies, you can ensure that your Azure Key Vault resources are used in a secure and compliant manner, and that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access and use.
Azure Key Vault RBAC
Azure Key Vault RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) is a feature of Azure Key Vault that enables you to control access to keys, secrets, and certificates stored in Azure Key Vault using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) roles. With Azure Key Vault RBAC, you can grant users, groups, or applications the permissions they need to perform specific operations on your Azure Key Vault resources, while ensuring that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access.
Here are some examples of how Azure Key Vault RBAC can be used with applications:
- Web application access: If you have a web application that needs to retrieve sensitive information, such as a connection string or API key, you can use Azure Key Vault RBAC to grant the web application access to the appropriate secrets in Azure Key Vault. By granting the web application a “Reader” role, for example, you can allow it to read the secrets it needs without giving it more permissions than necessary.
- DevOps access: If you have a DevOps team that needs to manage certificates for your applications, you can use Azure Key Vault RBAC to grant the team the appropriate permissions. By granting the team a “Certificate Officer” role, for example, you can allow them to create, manage, and delete certificates in Azure Key Vault without giving them access to other resources they don’t need.
- Service-to-service access: If you have multiple services that need to communicate with each other securely, you can use Azure Key Vault RBAC to grant the appropriate permissions to each service. By granting each service a “Managed Identity” role, for example, you can allow them to access the cryptographic keys and certificates they need to secure their communications without sharing sensitive information between services.
- Backup and restore access: If you need to backup or restore your Azure Key Vault resources, you can use Azure Key Vault RBAC to grant the appropriate permissions to your backup and restore applications. By granting the applications a “Backup Operator” or “Restore Operator” role, for example, you can allow them to perform these operations without giving them access to other resources they don’t need.
Azure Key Vault RBAC is a flexible and powerful feature that enables you to control access to your Azure Key Vault resources using Azure AD roles. By granting users, groups, or applications the appropriate roles and permissions, you can ensure that sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access, while still enabling your applications and teams to access the resources they need to operate effectively.
