Azure - SQL Database Security

Introduction

• Azure offers a comprehensive suite of security options to protect Azure SQL Databases.
• These options cover various aspects of database security, including network security, authentication, encryption, threat detection, and auditing.
• Below is an overview of the key security features available:

1. Network Security
   • Virtual Network (VNet) Service Endpoints:
   • Allows you to extend your VNet to include Azure SQL Database. This restricts database access to your VNet.
   • Helps isolate your SQL database from the public internet. - Private Link:
   • Provides a private endpoint in your VNet, enabling private connectivity to your Azure SQL Database.
   • Ensures that traffic between your VNet and Azure SQL Database is entirely over the Microsoft backbone network. - Firewall Rules:
   • Configure IP-based firewall rules to control which IP addresses are allowed to connect to your SQL database.
   • Helps prevent unauthorized access by restricting access to known IP addresses.
2. Authentication and Authorization
   • SQL Authentication:
   • Uses a username and password to authenticate users. This method is simple but requires careful management of credentials. - Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Authentication:
   • Allows users to connect to Azure SQL Database using their Azure AD credentials.
   • Supports multi-factor authentication (MFA) and centralized identity management, providing enhanced security. - Managed Identity Authentication:
   • Uses managed identities (system-assigned or user-assigned) to authenticate to Azure SQL Database without storing credentials in the application code.
   • Simplifies identity management and improves security. - Role-Based Access Control (RBAC):
   • Uses Azure AD roles to manage permissions for users and applications.
   • Provides fine-grained access control over Azure SQL Database resources.
3. Encryption
   • Transparent Data Encryption (TDE):
   • Encrypts data at rest automatically using 256-bit AES encryption.
   • Protects the entire database, including backups and transaction logs, from unauthorized access. - Always Encrypted:
   • Protects sensitive data by encrypting it both at rest and in use.
   • Encryption keys are never revealed to the SQL Server engine, providing strong protection for sensitive data like credit card numbers and social security numbers. - Transport Layer Security (TLS):
   • Encrypts data in transit between the client application and Azure SQL Database.
   • Requires a minimum of TLS 1.2 for secure connections. - Cell-Level Encryption:
   • Allows for encrypting individual data cells or columns within the database.
   • Managed at the application level and requires custom implementation. - Backup Encryption:
   • Encrypts SQL database backups using AES-256 encryption.
   • Ensures that backups are protected from unauthorized access. - Customer-Managed Keys (CMK):
   • Allows you to manage your own encryption keys stored in Azure Key Vault.
   • Provides more control over the encryption keys used for TDE.
4. Threat Detection and Monitoring
   • Advanced Threat Protection (ATP):
   • Monitors SQL Database for potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
   • Includes threat detection for SQL injection, anomalous database access patterns, and more.
   • Provides alerts and recommendations for mitigating detected threats. - SQL Vulnerability Assessment:
   • Scans your SQL Database for potential vulnerabilities and provides recommendations to improve security.
   • Helps identify misconfigurations, excessive permissions, and other security risks. - Azure Defender for SQL:
   • Provides a unified package for advanced SQL security capabilities.
   • Includes vulnerability assessments and advanced threat protection features.
5. Auditing and Compliance
   • SQL Database Auditing:
   • Tracks database events and writes them to an audit log in your Azure storage account, Azure Monitor logs, or Event Hubs.
   • Helps maintain compliance with regulatory requirements by providing a detailed record of database activities. - Azure Policy:
   • Enforces organizational standards and assesses compliance at scale.
   • Allows you to define policies to ensure that your SQL Databases are configured in accordance with your security requirements.