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Module 3: Azure Security 🔵

Learn Microsoft Azure security implementation and monitoring.

Learning Objectives

  • • Understand Azure security architecture and services
  • • Master Azure Active Directory and identity management
  • • Configure network security and monitoring
  • • Implement Azure security best practices

Azure Security Architecture

Azure provides a comprehensive security framework with multiple layers of protection.

Security Layers

  • Physical Security: Data center protection
  • Infrastructure Security: Network and compute security
  • Application Security: Code and configuration security
  • Data Security: Encryption and access controls
  • Identity Security: Authentication and authorization

Security Services

  • Azure Security Center: Unified security management
  • Azure Sentinel: SIEM and SOAR platform
  • Azure Key Vault: Secrets and key management
  • Azure Information Protection: Data classification
  • Azure DDoS Protection: DDoS mitigation

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)

Identity Management

  • User Management: Create and manage user accounts
  • Group Management: Organize users into groups
  • Role-based Access Control: Assign permissions
  • Conditional Access: Dynamic access policies
  • Multi-factor Authentication: Enhanced security

Authentication Methods

  • Password Authentication: Traditional username/password
  • Windows Hello: Biometric authentication
  • Certificate-based: Smart card authentication
  • OAuth 2.0/OpenID Connect: Modern protocols
  • SAML: Single sign-on integration

Network Security

Azure provides comprehensive network security controls for protecting resources.

Network Security Components

  • Network Security Groups: Firewall rules for subnets
  • Application Security Groups: Logical grouping of VMs
  • Azure Firewall: Cloud-native network security
  • Virtual Networks: Network isolation and segmentation
  • Private Endpoints: Private service connections

Network Design Best Practices

  • Hub-Spoke Architecture: Centralized network management
  • Subnet Segmentation: Separate subnets by purpose
  • Network Security Groups: Layer 4 filtering
  • Azure Firewall: Layer 7 filtering
  • ExpressRoute: Private network connections

Azure Sentinel

Azure Sentinel is a cloud-native SIEM and SOAR solution for security operations.

SIEM Capabilities

  • Data Collection: Log ingestion from multiple sources
  • Threat Detection: AI-powered threat detection
  • Incident Management: Case management and investigation
  • Hunting: Proactive threat hunting
  • Dashboards: Security visualization

SOAR Features

  • Playbooks: Automated response workflows
  • Connectors: Third-party integrations
  • Custom Analytics: KQL query language
  • Machine Learning: Advanced analytics
  • Community Content: Shared security content

Data Protection

Azure provides comprehensive data protection capabilities for securing sensitive information.

Encryption Services

  • Azure Key Vault: Centralized key management
  • Customer-managed Keys: User-controlled encryption
  • Azure Disk Encryption: VM disk encryption
  • Storage Service Encryption: Storage account encryption
  • Transparent Data Encryption: Database encryption

Data Governance

  • Azure Information Protection: Data classification
  • Data Loss Prevention: Sensitive data protection
  • Retention Policies: Data lifecycle management
  • Access Reviews: Regular permission audits
  • Privileged Identity Management: Just-in-time access

Interactive Azure Security Exercise

Configure Azure security controls and monitoring. Select the appropriate Azure AD components, network security components, and security services:

Scenario

Set up a secure Azure environment with proper identity management, network security, and monitoring. Configure the appropriate components for comprehensive Azure security.

Azure AD Components

Azure AD Users
Individual user accounts with permissions
Azure AD Groups
Collections of users for easier management
Azure AD Roles
Built-in and custom role assignments
Conditional Access
Dynamic access policies based on conditions

Network Security Components

Network Security Groups
Firewall rules for subnets and VMs
Azure Firewall
Cloud-native network security service
Virtual Networks
Network isolation and segmentation
Private Endpoints
Private connections to Azure services

Security Services

Azure Security Center
Unified security management
Azure Sentinel
SIEM and SOAR platform
Azure Key Vault
Secrets and key management
Information Protection
Data classification and protection

Azure Security Configuration

Click Azure AD components, network security components, and security services above to configure your Azure security

Configuration Explanation

Azure AD Components: Essential for identity and access management in Azure.
Network Security Components: Critical for network protection and isolation.
Security Services: Provide monitoring, threat detection, and data protection.
Best Practices: Follow the principle of least privilege and defense in depth.