Tutorial / Cram Notes
Azure Key Vault is designed to safeguard cryptographic keys and other secrets used by cloud applications and services. Rather than storing sensitive information in application code or source control, Key Vault can store these securely and control access to them.
Key Features of Azure Key Vault:
- Secrets Management: Azure Key Vault can securely store and tightly control access to tokens, passwords, certificates, API keys, and other secrets.
- Key Management: Azure Key Vault can also be used to create, import, and manage cryptographic keys, including managing the key lifecycle.
- Certificate Management: Key Vault can manage SSL/TLS certificates, simplifying their procurement, deployment, and renewal.
Managing Secrets
Secrets in Azure Key Vault can include passwords, connection strings, and any other piece of information that should not be exposed. You manage secrets by setting and retrieving them via Azure CLI, PowerShell, or the Azure Portal.
Example:
To create a secret in the Azure Key Vault, you can use the Azure CLI command:
az keyvault secret set –vault-name ‘YourKeyVaultName’ –name ‘ExampleSecret’ –value ‘MyPassword’
Managing Keys
Keys in Azure Key Vault are cryptographic keys that enable encryption and digital signatures. Keys can be managed the same way as secrets using Azure CLI, PowerShell, or the Azure Portal.
Example:
Creating a key using PowerShell might look like this:
Add-AzKeyVaultKey -VaultName ‘YourKeyVaultName’ -Name ‘ExampleKey’ -Destination ‘Software’
Managing Certificates
Certificates are utilized for establishing identity and enabling secure communications. Azure Key Vault makes handling certificates easy by automating tasks like renewal and deployment.
Example:
To add a new certificate to Azure Key Vault:
az keyvault certificate create –vault-name ‘YourKeyVaultName’ -n ‘ExampleCertificate’ -p “$(az keyvault certificate get-default-policy)”
Access Policies and Permissions
Access to the Key Vault is controlled through access policies and Azure role-based access control (RBAC). You can set specific permissions for keys, secrets, and certificates to specific users or applications, ensuring that only authorized entities can access them.
Comparing Access Policies and RBAC:
Access Policies:
- Granular access control to keys, secrets, and certificates individually.
- Specific permissions for key operations like `get`, `list`, `decrypt`, etc.
- You set access policies in the Key Vault itself.
RBAC:
- Uses Azure roles to grant access at a broader scope.
- Can be used to control access to Key Vault data plane operations.
- Organized through Azure Active Directory and can be managed globally.
Best Practices for Managing Certificates, Secrets, and Keys in Azure
- Centralize Secret Management: Use Key Vault to centralize the storage of secrets, certificates, and keys in one secure location.
- Use RBAC: Implement role-based access control to ensure only authorized users have the necessary level of access.
- Monitor Access and Usage: Regularly audit access and utilization of secrets, certificates, and keys.
- Implement Key Rotation: Automatically rotate keys and secrets to reduce the risk of compromise.
- Secure your Key Vault: Use firewalls, virtual network service endpoints, and private endpoints to restrict access to the Key Vault.
Understanding and implementing these practices are essential for securing Azure applications and protecting sensitive information as part of the competencies measured by the AZ-500 exam.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Azure Key Vault can be used to manage SSH keys for virtual machines.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Key Vault provides a secure store for secrets, including SSH keys, which can be used for securing access to virtual machines.
In Azure, which service would you use to manage and rotate database connection strings securely?
- A. Azure App Service
- B. Azure Blob Storage
- C. Azure Key Vault
- D. Azure Active Directory
Answer: C. Azure Key Vault
Explanation: Azure Key Vault is the service designed to securely store and manage sensitive information such as secrets, keys, and certificates, including database connection strings.
True or False: The Azure platform automatically rotates storage account keys.
- Answer: False
Explanation: The Azure platform does not automatically rotate storage account keys. Users need to rotate these keys manually or set up a rotation policy.
Which of the following is NOT a feature of Azure Key Vault?
- A. Secret Management
- B. Key Management
- C. Certificate Management
- D. Network Security Group Management
Answer: D. Network Security Group Management
Explanation: Network Security Group Management is not a feature of Azure Key Vault. The Key Vault is specifically designed for managing secrets, keys, and certificates.
True or False: You can set an expiration date for a secret stored in Azure Key Vault.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Azure Key Vault allows the setting of expiration dates for secrets to ensure they are rotated or updated as required by security policies.
Which Azure service provides HSM-backed keys for added security?
- A. Azure Storage
- B. Azure Dedicated HSM
- C. Azure Key Vault
- D. Azure Active Directory
Answer: C. Azure Key Vault
Explanation: Azure Key Vault offers the option to use Hardware Security Module (HSM)-backed keys for enhanced security.
True or False: You can use Azure Active Directory to control access to Azure Key Vault.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Access to Azure Key Vault can be controlled using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) by assigning roles and configuring access policies.
What is the purpose of Azure Managed HSM?
- A. Web Application Firewall Management
- B. Hardware-based cryptographic key storage
- C. Managing virtual networks
- D. Load balancing
Answer: B. Hardware-based cryptographic key storage
Explanation: Azure Managed HSM (Hardware Security Module) is a fully managed service that provides hardware-based, high-performance cryptographic key storage.
True or False: Azure Key Vault can be used to directly encrypt virtual machine disks.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Key Vault stores cryptographic keys and secrets used for encryption, but it does not encrypt virtual machine disks directly. Azure Disk Encryption is used for this purpose in conjunction with keys stored in Key Vault.
In Azure, which feature allows you to automatically renew certificates before they expire?
- A. Azure App Service Auto-renew
- B. Azure Key Vault Certificate Renewal
- C. Azure Certificate Authority
- D. Azure Automation Account
Answer: B. Azure Key Vault Certificate Renewal
Explanation: Azure Key Vault allows for the automatic renewal of certificates, ensuring that certificates are replaced before they reach expiration without manual intervention.
True or False: Only users with Contributor role can manage secrets in Azure Key Vault.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Azure Key Vault has its own set of access policies. Users need specific permissions to manage secrets given by Key Vault access policies, not just the Contributor role on the subscription or resource group.
Which of the following actions can you perform on Azure Key Vault without any logging?
- A. Creating a new key
- B. Deleting a secret
- C. Retrieving a certificate
- D. None of the above
Answer: D. None of the above
Explanation: All actions performed on Azure Key Vault can be logged through Azure Monitor, which helps to track audit trails and ensures compliance with governance and regulatory requirements.
Interview Questions
What are secrets in Azure Key Vault?
Secrets are sensitive or private application data, such as passwords, connection strings, or API keys, that are securely stored in Azure Key Vault.
How can you manage secrets in Azure Key Vault?
You can manage secrets in Azure Key Vault using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, Azure PowerShell, Azure SDKs, or Key Vault REST API.
What is a certificate in Azure Key Vault?
A certificate is a digitally signed statement that binds the value of a public key to the identity of the certificate owner. In Azure Key Vault, certificates are used to secure communication between clients and services.
How can you import a certificate to Azure Key Vault?
You can import a certificate to Azure Key Vault using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or Azure PowerShell. You can also use Key Vault REST API or SDKs.
What is a key in Azure Storage?
A key in Azure Storage is a secret value that is used to encrypt and decrypt data. Keys are used to secure data in Blob storage and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen1.
What is the purpose of storage account keys in Azure Storage?
Storage account keys are used to authorize access to data in Blob storage and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen1.
How can you manage storage account keys in Azure Storage?
You can manage storage account keys in Azure Storage using the Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, or Azure Storage SDKs.
What is a storage encryption key in Azure Storage?
A storage encryption key is a 256-bit key that is used to encrypt and decrypt data in Blob storage and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen1.
How are storage encryption keys managed in Azure Storage?
Storage encryption keys are managed by Azure Storage on behalf of the user. By default, Azure Storage manages the storage encryption keys using Microsoft-managed keys.
How can you bring your own key (BYOK) for storage encryption in Azure Storage?
You can bring your own key (BYOK) for storage encryption in Azure Storage using Azure Key Vault. You can use Azure Key Vault to store and manage your encryption keys, and then configure your storage account to use these keys for data encryption.
Managing certificates in Azure Key Vault is crucial for securing communications and data.
Absolutely agree! It not only secures data but also simplifies the management of expired certificates.
Thanks for the informative post!
Are there any best practices for handling secrets in Azure Key Vault?
What are the differences between software-protected and HSM-protected keys?
Configuring key rotation policies can mitigate risks associated with key compromise.
Good point! Automation in key rotation can be very effective.
How can we audit access to certificates and keys?