AZ-305 Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions Exam

Recommend a Solution for Data Protection

Encryption, Key Management, and Threat Detection

Encryption is a critical tool for protecting data in the cloud, ensuring that sensitive information remains secure. In Azure, common encryption methods include Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) and Always Encrypted. TDE provides encryption-at-rest by encrypting data files and backups without requiring changes to existing applications. On the other hand, Always Encrypted offers protection for data in-use by encrypting sensitive columns within a database, preventing unauthorized access even by database administrators.

Transparent Data Encryption (TDE)

Transparent Data Encryption encrypts the entire database using an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm, which ensures that data and backups are protected from unauthorized access or theft. Key features include:

• Automatic: Newly created databases in Azure have TDE enabled by default.
• Key Management: By default, the database encryption key (DEK) is protected by a built-in server certificate, but customers can opt to manage their own keys using Azure Key Vault. This allows for greater control over key rotation and security.

Key Management with Azure Key Vault

Azure Key Vault provides a centralized platform for managing and protecting cryptographic keys. By leveraging Azure Key Vault:

• Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) enables you to control key creation and lifecycle management, enhancing security compliance.
• Separation of Duties: It ensures that those managing the keys are not necessarily those managing the data, providing an extra layer of security.

Always Encrypted

Always Encrypted ensures data confidentiality by encrypting specific columns within a database. The keys used for this encryption are never exposed to SQL Database or SQL Managed Instance. Important aspects include:

• Client-Side Processing: Data is decrypted only within the client application that has the access key.
• Column-Level Protection: Designed for highly sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or national identifiers, ensuring only authorized applications can access this data.
• Integration with Azure Key Vault or Windows Certificate Store for storing the encryption keys securely.

Dynamic Data Masking

Dynamic Data Masking limits sensitive data exposure by obscuring it to users who do not need full access. This feature auto-discovers potentially sensitive data within a database and can mask it inline with minimal impact on the application layer. This is particularly useful for scenarios where different users have varying levels of access to the data.

Vulnerability Assessment and Threat Detection

As part of Microsoft Defender for SQL, vulnerability assessments help to identify potential security flaws in your databases. Azure Defender for SQL provides advanced threat detection capabilities by continuously monitoring your databases, detecting anomalous activities that could indicate breaches or vulnerabilities.

Key components include:

• Vulnerability Assessments: Identify security holes and provide actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Threat Detection: Monitors real-time activities to detect suspicious behaviors potentially indicative of security threats.

In summary, integrating Azure’s comprehensive encryption solutions like TDE, Always Encrypted, and key management tools such as Azure Key Vault, alongside security features like dynamic data masking and threat detection, ensures robust data protection and compliance with security requirements. These mechanisms collectively enhance the security posture of any organization’s data stored within Azure.