AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies Exam

Plan and implement advanced security for compute

Advanced security for compute in Azure covers protecting virtual machines (VMs), containers, and serverless functions. Compute resources need a strong security baseline that includes patch management and configuration settings. Organizations should enable Just-In-Time (JIT) VM access to reduce exposure by opening ports only when needed. Using Azure Defender for servers adds threat detection and vulnerability assessments to each VM. Finally, audit logs and alerts help teams monitor any suspicious activity in real time.

Network-level controls are critical to secure compute workloads. Implement Network Security Groups (NSGs) to filter inbound and outbound traffic at the NIC or subnet level. For advanced filtering and logging, deploy Azure Firewall, which provides application-level rules and threat intelligence. You can also use Azure DDoS Protection to guard against volumetric attacks that can overwhelm your infrastructure. Combining these services ensures multiple layers of network defense.

At the host and OS level, endpoint security and monitoring are vital. Enable Azure Defender for Endpoint on Windows and Linux VMs to detect malicious processes. Integrate your VMs with Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to collect performance data and security logs. Automate patch deployment using Update Management in Azure Automation, ensuring systems are always up to date. This reduces the window of opportunity for attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities.

Containers and Kubernetes workloads also require specialized security steps. Use Azure Container Registry (ACR) with image scanning to detect vulnerabilities before deployment. For Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), enforce Pod Security Policies and Azure Policy for Kubernetes to govern cluster configurations. Enable Azure Defender for containers to get runtime protection and behavioral analytics. These measures help maintain a secure pipeline from code to production.

Plan and implement security for storage

Azure storage resources include Blob Storage, File Shares, Queues, and Tables, each requiring tailored security. All storage accounts should have Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE) enabled, which uses AES-256 encryption at rest by default. For stronger key management, integrate with Azure Key Vault to control your own encryption keys. This customer-managed key approach ensures only you can decrypt stored data.

Protect data in transit by enforcing TLS 1.2 or higher, ensuring all clients use secure channels. You can require HTTPS or use Azure Private Endpoint to isolate traffic within your virtual network. Blocking public network access and using Virtual Network Service Endpoints further narrows down where storage can be accessed from, reducing attack surfaces.

Access control to storage must follow the principle of least privilege. Assign Azure RBAC roles like Storage Blob Data Reader or Storage Queue Data Contributor to restrict who can read, write, or manage storage objects. Alternatively, use Shared Access Signatures (SAS) for temporary, scoped access that can limit permissions by IP, time window, and resource. Always review and expire SAS tokens to prevent long-lived credentials.

Monitoring and auditing are essential to detect unauthorized activity. Enable Azure Monitor alerts on storage metrics and diagnostics logs. Use Azure Storage Analytics to collect detailed information on requests, latency, and errors. Combining these logs with Azure Sentinel or Log Analytics helps you set up automated alerts for unusual patterns, such as multiple failed access attempts.

Plan and implement security for Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance

Azure SQL Database and Managed Instance are platform-as-a-service offerings that simplify database management but still need robust security. Start by enabling Azure Defender for SQL to provide advanced threat protection, vulnerability assessments, and behavioral analytics. This service flags suspicious queries and potential SQL injection attempts, helping you respond quickly to emerging threats.

Network isolation for your databases can be achieved with Azure Private Link or Virtual Network Service Endpoints. Both options force traffic through your virtual network, blocking access from the public internet. Additionally, configure server-level firewall rules and database-level firewall rules to specify allowed IP ranges. These layers keep your data locked down from unauthorized networks.

For data protection, implement Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) to encrypt data at rest automatically. Use Always Encrypted to keep sensitive columns encrypted even during query execution, preventing exposure on the database server. Other features like Dynamic Data Masking and Row-Level Security help limit data visibility for different user roles, ensuring users see only what they need.

Access control relies on strong identity and role management. Use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication to centralize identity management and support multi-factor authentication. Define least-privilege roles using SQL server-level roles and database-level roles, granting only the minimum permissions required. Regularly review and remove unused accounts to prevent privilege creep.

Conclusion

This section covered how to strengthen security across compute, storage, and database services in Azure. For compute, you apply layered defenses with network controls, host-level protection, and container security. Storage security focuses on encryption at rest and in transit, strict access controls, and continuous monitoring. Finally, Azure SQL services benefit from advanced threat detection, network isolation, encryption features, and precise role management. Together, these practices help maintain a robust security posture for critical resources in the cloud.