AZ-800 Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Exam

Configure and Audit Access Controls on Azure File Shares

Azure File Shares use Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and NTFS access control lists (ACLs) to manage who can read, write, or modify files. By combining these tools, you get both broad and granular permission settings. It’s important to apply the principle of least privilege, ensuring users have only the access they need. This approach helps secure your data and makes auditing simpler.

Azure RBAC lets you assign roles at the storage account or share level to control access. You can choose from:

• Built-in Roles such as Storage File Data SMB Share Contributor and Storage File Data SMB Share Reader.
• Custom Roles when the built-in options don’t match your exact needs.
• Assignment Methods through the Azure portal, CLI, PowerShell, or REST API.
  Always verify assignments and remove unused permissions to reduce security risks.

NTFS ACLs provide fine-grained control over files and folders in SMB shares. Each access control entry (ACE) specifies permissions for a user or group, such as read, write, or execute. You can enable inheritance so that folders pass down permissions to their subfolders and files automatically. Properly configuring ACLs ensures that only the right people can access sensitive data within a share.

For domain-joined File Shares, integrating Azure AD Kerberos authentication strengthens security by using identity-based methods instead of storage keys. This setup leverages AES-256 encryption for Kerberos tickets, reducing the risk of exposure through intercepted keys. Enabling Kerberos also allows you to turn off weaker protocols like NTLMv2. As a result, authentication becomes both more secure and easier to manage.

Effective auditing and monitoring help you maintain ongoing security and compliance. Key practices include:

• Configuring firewall rules to restrict storage access to specific virtual networks.
• Enabling Microsoft Defender for Storage to detect unusual activity and generate alerts.
• Applying Azure Policy to enforce settings like secure transfer and disabling public network access.
  Additionally, use Azure Key Vault for storing and rotating storage account keys, and consider private endpoints to keep traffic off the public internet.

Conclusion

Managing permissions for Azure File Shares requires combining Azure RBAC, NTFS ACLs, and Azure AD Kerberos to achieve both broad and detailed control. Implementing proper firewall, Defender, and policy configurations ensures you can audit access and respond to threats. By following these practices, you can maintain a secure and compliant file-sharing environment in Azure.