Azure AD is the cloud-based identity service from Microsoft. It provides identity management and access control capabilities for your applications, including those running in Azure like Azure SQL.
For instance, Azure AD allows you to manage access to your databases using role-based access control (RBAC). RBAC allows you to define “who has access to what”. With RBAC, you can assign roles to users, groups, and applications at a certain scope.
How to Authenticate Azure AD Users in Azure SQL
Here’s an example of how to configure Azure AD authentication for an Azure SQL database.
- First, create an Azure AD user, and assign them the SQL Database Contributor role.
- Use the following Transact-SQL command within a query editor session to create a contained Azure AD user:
CREATE USER [UserName] FROM EXTERNAL PROVIDER;
Keep in mind, for this method to work, you must be connected to the database as an Azure AD admin or user capable of creating other users.
Firewall and Virtual Network Rules
An Azure SQL Database implements a firewall that restricts incoming communications to specific IP addresses and Azure Virtual networks. By default, no external access to your SQL Database is permitted until you specify which IP addresses are allowed.
Server-Level IP Firewall Rules
These rules enable clients to connect to the entire Azure SQL Server, that is, all the databases within the same SQL server.
You can manage these rules in the Azure portal, via PowerShell, or reciting REST APIs. Below is a PowerShell example to create a server-level IP firewall rule:
New-AzSqlServerFirewallRule -ResourceGroupName "myResourceGroup" -ServerName "myserver" -FirewallRuleName "myFirewallRule" -StartIpAddress "0.0.0.0" -EndIpAddress "0.0.0.0"
Database-Level IP Firewall Rules
These rules allow clients to connect to an individual Azure SQL Database or Azure Synapse Analytics SQL Pool. Unlike server-level rules, they do not apply to the entire SQL server.
The commands to manage Database-level rules are very similar to the Server-level ones, just replace ‘AzSqlServerFirewallRule’ with ‘AzSqlDatabaseFirewallRule’.
Private Link & Private Endpoint
Private Link allows access to your SQL database on Azure via a private endpoint in your VNet, effectively bringing the service into your VNet. The connection via Private Link/Endpoint uses a private IP address from your VNet, ensuring network traffic between your VNet and the service does not travel over the internet or outside of the Azure backbone network.
Configuring Transport Layer Security (TLS)
Azure SQL Database supports Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols to encrypt data in transit. This security measure further ensures that the data being transmitted is safe from eavesdropping, tampering or message forgery.
Remember that data-in-transit encryption does not replace the need for data-at-rest encryption, like Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) or always encrypted feature for specific columns in your database.
In conclusion, the security configuration of your Azure SQL solutions comprises various methods, each catering for different needs. Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) offers identity management. The use of Firewall and Virtual Network rules adds an extra layer of protection for your data, while Private Link and Private Endpoint provide a dedicated, private connection to your SQL database and TLS ensures the integrity and security of data in transit. Combining these methods helps you build robust and secure Azure SQL solutions.
Practice Test
True or False: Azure SQL always encrypts data at rest.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: As part of its security features, Azure SQL automatically encrypts all data at rest utilizing service-managed Transparent Data Encryption.
Which of the following options are valid types of ‘Advanced Threat Protection’ alerts in Azure SQL?
- A) SQL Injection
- B) Data Exfiltration
- C) Unsafe Action
- D) Malicious Links
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: Azure SQL’s Advanced Threat Protection includes alerts for potential SQL injection, possible Data exfiltration, and Unsafe actions. Malicious links is not an alert type in Azure SQL advanced threat protection.
What is ‘Transparent Data Encryption’ used for in Azure SQL?
- A) Encrypting data at rest
- B) Encrypting data in transit
- C) Encrypting data backups
- D) Encrypting data stored in Azure Blob Storage
Answer: A
Explanation: Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) in Azure SQL is used to encrypt data at rest. It protects against the threat of malicious activity by encrypting the physical files of the database.
True or False: Azure SQL Data Discovery & Classification identifies, classifies, and protects sensitive data in your databases.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure SQL Data Discovery & Classification aims to provide advanced capabilities built into Azure SQL Database for discovering, classifying, labeling & protecting the sensitive data in your databases.
What is one of the features of Azure SQL’s “Always Encrypted” function?
- A) It encrypts data in transit.
- B) It allows clients to encrypt sensitive data inside database applications.
- C) It encrypts data at rest.
- D) It protects data from SQL Injection attacks.
Answer: B
Explanation: Always Encrypted allows clients to encrypt sensitive data inside client applications and never reveal the encryption keys to SQL Database.
True or False: Auditing in Azure SQL is based on Extended Events technology.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure SQL’s auditing feature is built on Extended Events (XEvents), a lightweight performance monitoring system.
What authentication types does Azure SQL support?
- A) SQL authentication
- B) Azure Active Directory authentication
- C) Windows authentication
- D) Biometric authentication
Answer: A, B
Explanation: Azure SQL supports SQL authentication and Azure Active Directory authentication but does not support Windows or Biometric authentication.
What is the function of ‘Private Link’ in Azure SQL?
- A) Increase the speed of data transfers
- B) Provide a secure connection between server and client
- C) Encrypt data at rest
- D) Detect and protect against SQL Injection attacks
Answer: B
Explanation: Private Link allows you to securely connect networks to Azure SQL using a private endpoint, thereby keeping data away from the public internet.
True or False: Azure Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) can detect anomalous activities indicating unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit databases.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure ATP is a cloud-based security solution that identifies, detects, and helps investigate advanced threats, compromised identities, and malicious insider actions.
Which of the following Azure SQL security feature analyses events such as failed logins and SQL injection threats?
- A) Transparent Data Encryption
- B) Private Link
- C) Advanced Threat Protection
- D) Always Encrypted
Answer: C
Explanation: Advanced Threat Protection in Azure SQL detects anomalous activities indicating unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit databases.
Interview Questions
What is Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) used for in relation to Azure SQL Database?
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is used to authenticate and authorize database users and manage identity in an Azure SQL Database.
How can you enable Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication for Azure SQL Database?
Azure AD authentication can be enabled by setting an Azure AD user or group as the Azure SQL Database Active Directory administrator.
What is Transparent Data Encryption?
Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) is a security feature that encrypts data at rest, including physical files for database and log files to prevent the loss of sensitive data if the storage media or data file is compromised.
Can you change the server’s firewall settings from the Azure portal?
Yes, you can change the server’s firewall settings from the Azure portal. It can be done through the ‘Firewall settings’ under the ‘Security’ section for the SQL server in Azure portal.
How does Azure SQL Database enforce encryption for data in transit?
Azure SQL Database enforces encryption by default for all data in transit between the client application and the service, using Transport Layer Security (TLS).
What are contained databases in Azure SQL Database?
Contained databases in Azure SQL Database are databases that encapsulate most of their metadata so that the database can be moved from server to server without worrying about dependencies on the server.
Is it possible to enable audit logging in Azure SQL Database?
Yes, you can enable audit logging in Azure SQL Database using either Azure Monitor logs or Azure Blob Storage to store your SQL audit logs.
What is the purpose of ‘Managed Identity’ in Azure SQL Database?
The purpose of ‘Managed Identity’ is to simplify the identification process for services in Azure SQL Database. It provides an identity for applications to use when connecting to resources, eliminating the need for storing credentials within the code.
What is Azure SQL Database Private Link?
Azure SQL Database Private Link allows you to access your SQL Server over a private network interface in your Azure Virtual Network (VNet), providing a secure connection method and isolating your data from the public internet.
Should you store your database keys and secrets in your application code?
No, it is not recommended to store sensitive data such as keys and secrets in the application code. Instead, Azure Key Vault should be used to securely store and tightly control access to tokens, passwords, certificates, API keys, and other secrets.
Which feature of SQL Server helps in reducing the surface area of a SQL Server instance that can be attacked?
SQL Server includes a feature called Surface Area Configuration that can be used to enable or disable SQL Server services and features to reduce the attackable surface area of a SQL Server instance.
What is the purpose of Database Threat Detection in Azure SQL Database?
The purpose of Database Threat Detection is to provide an additional layer of security, which detects anomalous activities indicating unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit databases.
How does Azure SQL Database handle updates related to security patches?
Azure SQL Database is a managed service and hence it automatically handles updates related to security patches. The maintenance does not require any actions from the users and ensures the databases are always up-to-date with the latest security patches.
How can Azure SQL Database help restrict access to a database from certain IP addresses?
Azure SQL Database provides a firewall at the server level that can be configured to allow or disallow traffic from specific IP addresses, facilitating the control of network access to your databases.
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