Managing Access Keys in Microsoft Azure is an integral part of the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam. This involves understanding how to create, view, regenerate, and manage access keys, which enable one to interact with Azure resources.
Generating and Viewing Access Keys
First and foremost is the ability to generate and view access keys. Azure uses two types of keys: Primary and Secondary keys. They are interchangeable but provide a seamless transition while regenerating keys.
Access Keys for a storage account in Azure can be generated and viewed from the Azure portal.
Here are the steps:
- Go to the Azure portal.
- Select All services and in the list of resources, type Storage Accounts.
- Once you’re on the ‘Storage Accounts’ window, select the name of the storage account for which you want to create the access keys.
- In the Settings section, select Access keys.
Here you will see your Account name, two Key values (key1 and key2), and two Connection string values.
Regenerating Access Keys
The next crucial part of managing access keys is regenerating them. Regenerating the access keys is an essential security best practice because it prevents unauthorized access. It’s highly recommended to regenerate access keys regularly and whenever a security breach is suspected.
- Follow the steps outlined above to reach the ‘Access keys’ section.
- Select the key that you wish to regenerate (either key1 or key2) and then click the ‘Regenerate’ button.
Remember that regenerating a key invalidates the previous key and can lead to a temporary disruption of the service if the storage account is being actively used.
Managing Access Keys
The final aspect is managing access keys, this involves being able to update, delete, and monitor usage of access keys effectively. Azure provides features that can help you with management.
Azure Key Vault is a resource for storing and managing cryptographic keys and other sensitive data. Managing your access keys with Azure Key Vault enables you to avoid storing keys in your code, ensure your keys can be easily rotated, centrally manage key access policies, and monitor key usage.
Example of how to manage access keys with Azure Key Vault:
- Create a Key Vault.
- Create an Access Policy that gives user permissions to List, Set, Get, and Delete keys.
- Store your access keys within the Key Vault.
Using Azure Key Vault improves the security of your data by ensuring that all keys are stored securely and cannot be viewed or modified by unauthorized individuals.
If you suspect that a key is compromised, you can quickly disable or delete it from the Key Vault. This action prevents further access to your resources.
Remember to keep monitoring your keys for usage and automatically rotate them using the Azure functions whenever necessary.
In conclusion, understanding how to manage access keys in Azure is a critical part of the AZ-104 Microsoft Azure Administrator exam. With this knowledge, one can ensure secure and seamless connections to Azure resources while preventing unauthorized access.
Practice Test
Single Select: What is the purpose of Access Keys in Azure?
- A) To manage virtual networks
- B) To provide remote access to users
- C) To manage storage account data
- D) To provide access to APIs
Answer: D) To provide access to APIs
Explanation: Access Keys in Azure are used for authentication to provide access to different APIs.
True/False: Azure provides two access keys that you can use interchangeably to maintain full access to all your resources.
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure provides two identical access keys to ensure that you can maintain full access to your resources even during key regenerations.
Multiple Select: What can you do with Access Keys?
- A) Authenticate clients
- B) Store access policies
- C) Verify user identities
- D) Regenerate keys
Answer: A) Authenticate clients, D) Regenerate keys
Explanation: Access keys are particularly used to authenticate clients and regenerate keys, providing valid responses to API requests.
Single Select: When should you rotate your Azure storage account keys?
- A) After you have shared your account key
- B) Every time you log in to the Azure portal
- C) Every year during Azure account anniversary
- D) Never
Answer: A) After you have shared your account key
Explanation: Rotate your storage account keys regularly and immediately if you believe they have been compromised.
True/False: User names and passwords are required to manage access keys in Azure.
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure leverages keys not user names and passwords for management of access to resources.
Single Select: How many access keys are provided by Azure to each storage account?
- A) Four
- B) Two
- C) Six
- D) One
Answer: B) Two
Explanation: Azure provides two access keys, both of which grant equivalent access to resources.
Multiple Select: When you regenerate a key in Azure, what happens?
- A) The old key becomes immediately unavailable
- B) The new key is available immediately
- C) Regeneration affects both keys
- D) Nothing happens until the new key is activated
Answer: A) The old key becomes immediately unavailable, B) The new key is available immediately
Explanation: When a key is regenerated, the old key becomes immediately unavailable and the new key takes effect immediately.
Single Select: How can you maximize security when using Azure Access Keys?
- A) Share them with trusted users only
- B) Store them in a secure location
- C) Leave them out in the open
- D) A and B
Answer: D) A and B
Explanation: To maximize security, Access keys should be shared with trusted users only and stored in a secure location.
True/False: Azure Key Vault enables users to store and manage cryptographic keys, certificates, and secrets in a secure vault.
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Key Vault is a tool for securely storing and accessing secrets which includes API keys, passwords, or certificates.
Single Select: What does SAS stands for in Azure?
- A) Secure Access Service
- B) Shared Access Signature
- C) Secure Access Signature
- D) Shared Account Service
Answer: B) Shared Access Signature
Explanation: Shared Access Signature (SAS) is a URI that grants restricted access rights to Azure Storage resources.
Interview Questions
Question 1: How can you regenerate a storage account access key in Azure?
Answer: To regenerate a storage account access key in Azure, you can use the Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, or Azure Storage Service REST.
Question 2: What is the purpose of access keys in Azure?
Answer: Access keys in Azure are used to authenticate applications and services when they communicate with Azure storage accounts, Cosmos DB, event hubs, etc.
Question 3: How are access keys secured in Azure?
Answer: Access keys in Azure are secured through encryption and are not exposed directly. They are used by applications and services to authenticate and access resources in Azure.
Question 4: Can access keys be rotated in Azure for better security?
Answer: Yes, access keys should be rotated periodically in Azure to enhance security and prevent unauthorized access.
Question 5: What are the best practices for managing access keys in Azure?
Answer: Best practices for managing access keys in Azure include rotating keys regularly, assigning minimal permissions, and securely storing and transmitting keys.
Question 6: How many access keys does a storage account in Azure have by default?
Answer: A storage account in Azure has two access keys by default to enable secure access to the resources.
Question 7: Can access key permissions be customized in Azure?
Answer: Yes, access key permissions can be customized in Azure by assigning different levels of access to each key, such as read, write, delete, list, etc.
Question 8: What happens if an access key is compromised in Azure?
Answer: If an access key is compromised in Azure, it should be regenerated immediately to prevent unauthorized access to resources.
Question 9: How can you monitor access key usage in Azure?
Answer: You can monitor access key usage in Azure by using Azure Monitor logs and setting up alerts for any suspicious activity.
Question 10: Is it recommended to hardcode access keys in code when developing applications in Azure?
Answer: No, it is not recommended to hardcode access keys in code when developing applications in Azure. Instead, use managed identities or Azure Key Vault for secure access to resources.
extutorials.com