Database auditing is a functionality that allows security administrators to keep track of the events that occur in the database. In the context of Microsoft Azure, implementing database auditing helps to maintain compliance, understand database activity, and gain insight into discrepancies and anomalies which could signify business concerns or suspected security violations.
To set up auditing for Azure SQL database or Azure Data Lake Storage, you can use either SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or Azure portal.
Enable Auditing using Azure Portal
You can enable Azure SQL Database auditing via the Azure portal. Here are the steps to do it:
- Navigate to the Azure portal, choose the SQL Database for which you want to enable Auditing.
- Click on “Auditing” under the “Security” heading in the SQL database navigation menu.
- Set the “Auditing” switch to “On”.
- In the “Target” Section, choose “Log Analytics”.
- In the “Log Analytics workspace” section, select a Log Analytics workspace where your audits will be saved.
- Finally, click on “Save”.
When you have carried out these steps, Azure SQL Database Auditing will be enabled and will automatically log all database events to the specified Log Analytics workspace.
Enable Auditing using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
You can also enable auditing using SSMS. The following steps outline the process:
- Open SSMS and connect to your SQL server instance.
- Expand the ‘Security’ folder, right-click on ‘Audits’ and select ‘New Audit’.
- Give your new audit a name, select a destination for the audit logs, specify other necessary configurations, and click ‘OK’.
- Then expand ‘Server Audit Specifications’, choose ‘New Server Audit Specification’.
- Give it a name, select the newly created audit from the ‘Audit’ dropdown and add the necessary audit action types, such as ‘SELECT’ or ‘UPDATE’ and click ‘OK’.
- Don’t forget to enable your newly created audit and server audit specification by right-clicking them and choosing ‘Enable’.
This way you can enable auditing for Azure SQL Database and monitor your database.
Enable Auditing for Azure Data Lake Storage
For Azure Data Lake Storage, it is recommended to enable Azure Monitor, which can audit operations related to the data.
- Navigate to the Azure portal and select the Data Lake Storage where you want to enable auditing.
- Under the “Monitoring” section, click on “Diagnostic settings”.
- Click on “Add Diagnostic Setting”.
- Check ‘Archive to a storage account’ if you want to send the logs to a storage account, ‘Stream to an event hub’ if you want to send the logs to an event hub, or ‘Send to Log Analytics’ if you want to send them to your Azure Monitor Log Analytics.
- In the “Log” Section, choose “AllMetrics” to ensure full audit coverage.
- Click on “Save”.
By enabling auditing in your databases, you can keep track of data operation and manage resources more intelligently in Azure. Alerts based on specific activities in the database can also be set, hence contributing greatly to the dynamic threat protection offered by Azure Security Technologies.
Remember, Azure auditing makes it easier to identify, categorize, and analyze different types of database activities, helping administrators maintain security, compliance, and optimize resources. It provides the lines of defense and visibility necessary in today’s digital landscape.
The AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies exam covers these topics in depth and tests candidates on their ability to effectively implement database auditing. Hence, understanding these aspects will surely enhance your preparation for this important certification exam.
Practice Test
True or False: Azure SQL Database Auditing is an Microsoft service that allows you to audit, and manage the audit data that is produced.
- True
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure SQL Database Auditing is indeed a service provided by Microsoft that helps you audit and manage the audit data.Which of the following are benefits of enabling database auditing in Azure? Select all that apply.
- a) Enhanced security
- b) Regulatory compliance
- c) streamlining database operations
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Enabling database auditing can improve security, help ensure regulatory compliance, and streamline operations by enabling the tracking and analysis of database activity.
Which of the following elements does Azure auditing record during data access?
- a) Date and time of the event
- b) Name of the user who performed the action
- c) The action performed by the user
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Azure Auditing records all of these details to provide comprehensive auditing capabilities.
True or False: You cannot modify audit settings on Azure SQL database during an ongoing audit process.
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: You can modify the audit settings even if the auditing process is already ongoing.
What does Azure SQL Database Threat Detection provide? Select the best answer.
- a) Vulnerability Assessment
- b) Threat Detection
- c) Both of the above
- d) None of the above
Answer: c) Both of the above
Explanation: Azure SQL Database Threat Detection provides both vulnerability assessments and threat detection.
Where are Azure SQL Database Audit logs stored?
- a) Azure Storage Account
- b) Azure Event Hubs
- c) Log Analytics workspace
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: The storage destination of Azure SQL Database Audit logs can be an Azure Storage account, Azure Event Hubs, or a Log Analytics workspace.
True or False: Azure SQL Database Auditing does not have any impact on the performance of your database.
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While the impact is typically minimal, enabling Azure SQL Database Auditing can have some impact on the performance of your database.
What data can you audit with Azure SQL Database Auditing? Select all that apply.
- a) Database operations
- b) Logins and logouts
- c) Data changes
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: Azure SQL Database Auditing enables auditing of all these types of data.
True or False: Azure SQL Database Auditing can be enabled on both Managed Instance and Single Database deployments.
- True
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure SQL Database Auditing can be turned on for both Managed Instance and Single Database deployments in Azure.
Which of the following are required to set up Azure SQL Database Auditing? Select the best answer.
- a) Enable server auditing
- b) Configure a storage account
- c) Set up an alert policy
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: All these steps are essential to set up Azure SQL Database Auditing effectively.
Interview Questions
What is database auditing in Azure?
Azure Database Auditing tracks database events and writes them to an audit log in your Azure blob storage account. It helps to maintain regulatory compliance, understand database activities, and gain insights into discrepancies and anomalies that could indicate business concerns or suspected security violations.
What are the different levels of auditing available in Azure SQL Database?
Auditing can be configured at two levels in Azure SQL Database: the database level and the server level.
In Azure SQL, can the audit log be stored on-premises?
No, in Azure SQL the audit logs can only be stored in an Azure Storage account, Log Analytics workspace, or Event Hubs.
What are some examples of actions or events that can be audited in Azure SQL Database?
Actions like INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE, etc., and events like successful or failed logins, database changes and T-SQL query executions can be audited in Azure SQL Database.
How should you enable Azure SQL Database auditing in the Azure portal?
To enable Azure SQL Database auditing in the Azure portal, you need to open the target SQL server’s page, click “Auditing” under the Security section, then switch the auditing toggle to ‘On’, choose the destination for the audit logs to be saved, and finally click ‘Save’.
Can Azure Database Auditing be enabled on a paused database?
No, to enable Azure Database auditing, the database must be in an active state, not paused.
What is the retention period of Azure SQL Database audit logs?
By default, Azure SQL Database audit logs are retained for 90 days.
Can you enable auditing on Azure Cosmos DB?
Yes, like Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB also supports auditing of the control plane activities through Azure Activity Logs.
Can Azure SQL audit logs be integrated with Azure Monitor?
Yes. Azure SQL Database and Azure Synapse Analytics auditing can integrate with Azure Monitor Diagnostics, which allows you to route audit logs to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or Azure Storage.
What is the purpose of Threat Detection in Azure SQL Database?
Threat Detection in Azure SQL Database provides an additional layer of security, alerting on suspicious activities or anomalies, potentially caused by harmful data access or query patterns.
When you enable auditing on Azure SQL server, does it also apply to the databases under it?
Yes, enabling auditing at server level will include all the existing and newly created databases under that server.
What is SQL Database Vulnerability Assessment (VA)?
SQL Database Vulnerability Assessment (VA) is an Azure service part of SQL advanced threat protection, which provides visibility into your security state, and includes actionable steps to resolve security issues and enhance your database fortifications.
Can the audit settings be configured using Azure Resource Manager templates?
Yes, the settings for Azure SQL Database Auditing can be configured using Azure Resource Manager templates.
Can you track changes of a database schema with Auditing?
Yes. Auditing will track changes to the database schema, and these changes will be logged.
Can you access the raw data of the audit log files?
Yes, the raw data in the audit log files is accessible from your chosen storage. It’s stored in a table format that can be queried or exported for further analysis.
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