Retrieve BitLocker recovery keys

BitLocker is a key feature utilized for disk encryption to protect data on Windows devices, and is also relevant when operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack Hub. Azure Stack Hub Operators might need to retrieve BitLocker recovery keys to gain access to encrypted data for various reasons, such as during troubleshooting, performing maintenance, or when automating data protection tasks. Below are the methods for retrieving BitLocker recovery keys in the context of AZ-600 Configuring and Operating a Hybrid Cloud with Microsoft Azure Stack Hub.

Using Azure Stack Hub Administrator Portal

Azure Stack Hub comes with an administrator portal that provides various cloud management features. To retrieve BitLocker recovery keys using the portal, you must be an Azure Stack Hub operator with appropriate permissions.

Follow these steps:

• Sign in to the Azure Stack Hub administrator portal.
• Navigate to the ‘Virtual machines’ blade.
• Select the relevant VM that has BitLocker enabled.
• Click on ‘Disks’ to see the information about the OS and data disks.
• Select the encrypted disk for which you need the recovery key.
• Under the ‘Encryption settings’, you can find the BitLocker recovery keys associated with that disk.

This process will allow you to copy the BitLocker keys, which you can then use to unlock the encrypted disk.

Using PowerShell

PowerShell can also be utilized to retrieve BitLocker recovery keys. The BitLocker cmdlets provide a way to interact with BitLocker-enabled drives programmatically.

Here is an example of using PowerShell to retrieve the recovery key:

# Login to Azure Stack Hub
Add-AzureRmAccount -EnvironmentName AzureStackAdmin

# Get the VM
$vm = Get-AzureRmVM -ResourceGroupName “YourResourceGroup” -Name “YourVMName”

# List all resources related to VM
Get-AzureRmResource -ResourceId $vm.Id

# Assuming you know the disk name, get the BitLocker Key
$disk = Get-AzureRmDisk -ResourceGroupName “YourResourceGroup” -DiskName “YourDiskName”
$recoveryKeys = $disk.EncryptionSettingsCollection[0].EncryptionSettings[0].KeyUrl

# The actual key will be in an Azure Key Vault, so you will need to retrieve it:
$KeyVaultName = “YourKeyVaultName”
$SecretName = $recoveryKeys.Split(‘/’)[-1]
(Get-AzureKeyVaultSecret -VaultName $KeyVaultName -Name $SecretName).SecretValueText

Replace YourResourceGroup, YourVMName, YourDiskName, and YourKeyVaultName with your actual resource names.

This will output the recovery key as plain text which you can use to unlock the BitLocker-encrypted disk.

Using Azure Key Vault

When BitLocker keys are backed up to Azure Key Vault, operators can retrieve them from the vault directly.

Process outline:

1. Access the Azure Key Vault associated with your Azure Stack Hub deployment.
2. Navigate to the ‘Secrets’ section within the Key Vault.
3. Locate the secret that contains the BitLocker recovery key. Secrets are generally named based on the Azure Resource Identifier (ID) or another identifiable pattern.
4. Select the secret to view its details and access the recovery key.

Make sure you have the necessary permissions to view secrets in the Key Vault.

Security Considerations

When handling BitLocker recovery keys, security best practices must be followed:

• Access to keys should be strictly controlled using role-based access control (RBAC).
• Activity logs should be monitored for unauthorized access attempts.
• Use secure methods for transmitting the keys when needed. Avoid sending keys over insecure channels like plain email.

Retrieving BitLocker recovery keys is a sensitive operation and should only be done by authorized personnel. Azure Stack Hub integrates with Azure security features like Azure Key Vault to manage and protect these keys effectively. By using the methods outlined above, Azure Stack Hub operators can ensure that data remains accessible and secure at all times.