Endpoint protection is a critical aspect of cloud security, particularly in relation to virtual machines (VMs). Configuring endpoint protection for VMs in Microsoft Azure involves the deployment and configuration of Azure Security Center, a unified security management and advanced threat protection service. This article provides comprehensive step-by-step instructions to configure endpoint protection for VMs in preparation for the AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies exam.
Understanding Endpoint Protection in Azure
Endpoint protection in Azure refers to the security management system implemented on VMs to protect against threats such as malware, viruses, and other security vulnerabilities. Azure Security Center provides a robust endpoint protection solution through its Azure Defender offering, a cloud-native security system that combines advanced threat protection, adaptive threat intelligence, and security posture management.
Before configuring endpoint protection for VMs, it is crucial to understand related features and concepts:
- Azure Defender: Besides endpoint protection, Azure Defender offers several layers of protection, including network, storage, application, and data security.
- Azure VM: VMs are emulations of computer systems providing the functionality of a physical computer. Endpoints are ports through which VMs communicate.
- Azure Security Center: It provides a unified security management system, integration of security solutions, and advanced threat protection across hybrid workloads.
Deploying Azure Security Center
The first step to configure Endpoint Protection on Azure VMs is to enables Azure Security Center, specifically Azure defender. Below are the steps:
- Sign in to the Azure portal.
- Navigate to Security Center from the left-hand menu.
- In the Security Center dashboard, select “Pricing & settings”.
- Choose your desired subscription.
- In “Defender plans”, Toggle Azure Defender “On”.
This will enable Azure defender on all supported resources in your selected subscription.
Provisioning Endpoint Protection
After enabling Azure Security Center, we will provision Endpoint Protection to Azure VM.
- Again, navigate to the Azure Security Center dashboard.
- From the menu on the left, under “Compute & apps”, select “Compute & apps”.
- In Security Center’s Compute & apps dashboard, select “Recommendations”.
- Click the row that says “Endpoints are without protection”.
- This will show all VMs. Choose the VMs you want to provision Endpoint Protection to, and click “Enable on 1 VM” or “Enable on all VMs”.
Skipped recommendations can be reviewed later in the “Prevention settings” in Azure Security Center.
Considerations and Best Practices
Azure Security Center Endpoint Protection uses heuristics and threat intelligence to detect threats. It should be noted that on Linux Servers, Azure Endpoint protections are enabled via the Azure Policy add-on for Kubernetes.
It is recommended to:
- Monitor the “Security alerts” in the Azure Security Center regularly
- Always install the latest system and security updates
- Configure application controls to limit vulnerable surface
- Follow Azure’s recommendations for hardening network, applying system configurations, and managing access control
The Azure Security Center provides a centralized view of the security state of all Azure resources. At the same time, it offers capabilities such as continuous security assessment, actionable recommendations, and cloud workload protection to help keep your Azure resources safe from threats. Understanding and implementing endpoint protection is a vital component of this, and an essential part of preparing for the AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies exam.
Practice Test
True or False: You can configure Azure Security Center to provide endpoint protection recommendations for your virtual machines (VMs).
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Security Center provides recommendations to install endpoint protection solutions on your VMs to defend against security threats.
Which of the following Azure service provides endpoint protection for virtual machines?
- A. Azure Security Center
- B. Azure Active Directory
- C. Azure Monitor
- D. Azure Logic Apps
Answer: A. Azure Security Center
Explanation: Azure Security Center offers threat protection for your VMs and provides endpoint protection recommendations.
True or False: Endpoint protection can only be configured for Windows-based virtual machines.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Endpoint protection can be configured for both Windows-based and Linux-based virtual machines in Azure.
Which of the following options is not an Endpoint protection solution offered by Azure for VMs?
- A. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- B. Qualys
- C. Azure Security Center Standard
- D. Azure Logic Apps
Answer: D. Azure Logic Apps
Explanation: Azure Logic Apps is a cloud service that helps you schedule, automate, and orchestrate tasks, it does not offer endpoint protection.
True or False: Azure endpoint protection can only be set up for already deployed VMs.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure endpoint protection can be setup not only for already deployed VMs but also during the creation of a new VM.
True or False: Azure Security Center only provides recommendations and does not allow the installation of endpoint protection solutions.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Security Center not only provides recommendations but also allows automatic provisions of endpoint protection solutions on your VMs.
Which of the following options can be used to set default configurations of Endpoint protection in Azure?
- A. Azure Security Center
- B. Azure Policy
- C. Azure Active Directory
- D. Azure DevOps
Answer: B. Azure Policy
Explanation: Azure Policy allows administrators to create, assign and manage policy definitions to set default configurations and enforce rules.
True or False: Installing endpoint protection on Azure VMs require VMs to be rebooted.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: There is generally no need to reboot the VMs when installing endpoint protection.
Azure Security Center provides threat protection for which of the following?
- A. Azure App Services
- B. Virtual Machines
- C. SQL Services
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: Azure Security Center provides unified security management and advanced threat protection across hybrid cloud workloads.
True or False: Azure Security Center can automatically remediate security misconfigurations for virtual machines.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Security Center can automatically remediate some common security misconfigurations, making it easier for you to secure your virtual machines.
Endpoint Protection in Azure is a feature of which of the following?
- A. Azure Security Center
- B. Azure Active Directory
- C. Azure Monitor
- D. Azure Logic Apps
Answer: A. Azure Security Center
Explanation: Endpoint Protection in Azure is a feature provided by the Azure Security Center to protect your virtual machines and services.
True or False: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint used in Azure VMs can be managed using Microsoft 365 security center.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint used in Azure VMs can be managed using the Microsoft 365 security center.
True or False: Endpoint Protection in Azure VMs protects against both known and unknown malware.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Endpoint Protection in Azure VMs protects against both known malware using signatures and unknown malware using advanced machine learning.
True or False: It is not possible to automate deployment of Azure endpoint protection to new and existing VMs?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: It is possible to automate deployment using Azure Policy.
Which of the following are ways to manage Endpoint protection for VMs in Azure?
- A. Azure Portal
- B. PowerShell
- C. Azure CLI
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: Endpoint protection for VMs can be managed by using Azure portal, PowerShell or Azure CLI.
Interview Questions
What are the steps involved in configuring endpoint protection for virtual machines in Azure?
Configuring endpoint protection involves the following steps: Assign an endpoint protection solution from Azure policy, apply the policy to all VMs, monitor and manage the policy, and review the policy reports for violations.
What is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a comprehensive, cloud-based, endpoint security solution that uses AI and automation to prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats.
Which Azure policy enables endpoint protection on all the VMs across the subscription?
The Azure policy “Deploy Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to Windows Servers – Azure Policy” enables endpoint protection on all the VMs across the subscription.
What is the role of Microsoft Defender for Cloud in Azure environment?
Defender for Cloud helps to secure servers, whether they’re running in Azure, on-premises, or in other clouds. It strengthens the security posture of your data centers and provides advanced threat protection across your hybrid workloads.
What do you mean by Azure Security Center?
Azure Security Center is a unified infrastructure security management system that strengthens the security posture of your data centers and provides advanced threat protection across your hybrid workloads in the cloud.
How do you assign an endpoint protection solution to all VMs?
You can assign an endpoint protection solution to all VMs by creating a new assignment in Azure Policy, selecting the specific endpoint protection policy, defining the scope and parameters, and applying the policy.
From compliance point of view, how does enabling endpoint protection on VMs help?
Enabling endpoint protection provides an additional layer of security to virtual machines and helps business organizations meet their regulatory compliance requirements.
What security features are provided by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Features provided by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint include threat & vulnerability management, attack surface reduction, next-generation protection, endpoint detection and response, automatic investigation & remediation, managed hunting services, and Microsoft threat experts.
How does Azure Policy help in managing endpoint protection across all VMs?
Azure Policy helps in defining corporate-wide security policies and enforcing them at scale across the organization, thus ensuring that all VMs comply with the policies and have the endpoint protection solution deployed.
Can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint be used with servers running on other cloud platforms or on-premises?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can be used to secure servers running in Azure, on-premises, or other cloud platforms.
How can one monitor and manage endpoint protection policy on VMs in Azure?
One can monitor and manage endpoint protection policy by navigating to Security Center’s “Security policy” dashboard within the Azure portal, where the compliance state, remediation recommendations, and other details for policy are available.
What are the prerequisites for deploying Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on VMs?
The prerequisites include – A valid Microsoft Defender for Endpoint license, Windows Server 2012 R2 or higher, Internet connectivity for the VM.
What type of threats can be identified and mitigated by Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can identify and mitigate various threats, including malware infections, suspicious network activities, potential vulnerabilities in the system, and advanced attacks across endpoints.
Can Linux machines also be protected using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers protection for servers running certain distributions of Linux as well.
Can the endpoint protection policy be applicable only to specific VMs instead of all VMs in the subscription?
Yes, through Azure Policy’s scope and exclusion parameters, endpoint protection policies can be applied selectively to specific VMs or resource groups.