Tutorial / Cram Notes

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) auditing is an essential component of an organization’s identity and access security strategy. It provides a way to track user sign-ins, access changes, and updates made within Azure AD. Configuring auditing in Azure AD allows administrators to ensure they have information necessary to adhere to compliance regulations, detect potential security incidents, and analyze operational trends.

Configuring Auditing in Azure AD

Azure AD provides two types of logs that are integral to auditing: Audit Logs and Sign-in Logs. Audit Logs contain records of system activities such as changes made to any resources within Azure AD, while Sign-in Logs keep track of user sign-ins.

Setup Audit and Sign-in Logs

To access and configure these logs, you need to:

  1. Navigate to the Azure portal.
  2. Go to Azure Active Directory.
  3. Under Monitoring, select Audit logs or Sign-in logs.

Here you can view the logs and set up basic filters to narrow down the events you are interested in.

Exporting Logs

Logs can be exported to Azure Monitor logs (part of Azure Monitor) or a third-party SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tool for further analysis and long-term storage.

  1. In the Azure AD, select Diagnostic settings.
  2. Click on “Add diagnostic setting.”
  3. Name your setting.
  4. Select the “Send to Log Analytics workspace” for integration with Azure Monitor logs.
  5. Choose or create a Log Analytics workspace.
  6. You can also select “Send to Event Hub” for streaming to an external SIEM tool or other Azure services.
  7. Choose the categories of logs to send (AuditLogs, SignInLogs, etc.).
  8. Save the setting.

Retention Policies

Audit logs in Azure AD are retained for a fixed period. Standard retention for free and basic editions is seven days, whereas Premium editions retain logs for 30 days. If you need to retain logs for longer periods for compliance purposes, you must export them to an external store like Azure Monitor logs.

Diagnostic Settings

Azure AD’s diagnostic settings allow you to integrate with Azure Monitor to collect, analyze, and act on the operational data. Setting up diagnostic settings ensures that you can export logs to Azure Monitor automatically.

Here’s a step-by-step example of creating a new diagnostic setting:

  1. In Azure Active Directory, go to Diagnostic settings.
  2. Click on “+ Add diagnostic setting.”
  3. Input a name for the setting (e.g., “AuditLogExport”).
  4. Check the box for AuditLogs and/or SignInLogs in the log categories.
  5. Choose the destination for logs (Azure Monitor logs, Event Hubs, or Storage Account).
  6. Configure the specific details for the destination like subscription, resource group, and specific resource.
  7. Click “Save” to create the diagnostic setting.

Automating Responses

By integrating with Azure Monitor, you can also set up alerts and automated responses. For instance, if an anomaly is detected, such as a high volume of failed sign-in attempts, an alert can be triggered and a response such as automatically disabling a user account or sending a notification can be initiated.

Auditing Access and Permissions

Regularly audit Azure AD roles and permissions to ensure that the principle of least privilege is being applied:

  1. Go to Azure Active Directory.
  2. Select Roles and administrators.
  3. Review roles and assigned members.

Auditing should be part of your routine to ensure that only authorized individuals have administrative access and that changes in roles are tracked for security and compliance purposes.

Conclusion

Configuring auditing in Azure AD is a critical step in securing your Azure environment. By keeping track of sign-ins and auditing changes made within Azure AD, organizations can identify security threats, maintain compliance with regulations, and gain insights into user activities. Using the diagnostic settings coupled with Azure Monitor, administrators can create a robust and responsive auditing system to monitor their Azure AD environment effectively.

Practice Test with Explanation

True or False: In Azure AD, you can configure audit logs to be retained indefinitely.

  • Answer: False

By default, Azure AD retains audit logs for 30 days. If you need to retain them longer, you need to export them to another storage solution, such as Azure Storage, an Azure event hub, or Azure Monitor logs.

To enable diagnostic settings in Azure Active Directory, which Azure service should you primarily use?

  • A) Azure Security Center
  • B) Azure Monitor
  • C) Azure Policy
  • D) Azure Logic Apps

Answer: B) Azure Monitor

Azure Monitor is the primary service used to create, manage, and consume diagnostic settings in Azure Active Directory.

True or False: Diagnostic settings in Azure AD allow you to stream logs to an event hub.

  • Answer: True

Diagnostic settings in Azure AD allow you to stream logs to different destinations, including an Azure event hub, Azure Monitor logs, and an Azure Storage account.

Which types of logs are available in Azure AD auditing?

  • A) Sign-in logs
  • B) Audit logs
  • C) Activity logs
  • D) Both A and B

Answer: D) Both A and B

Azure AD provides both sign-in logs and audit logs. Sign-in logs detail when users log in, while audit logs keep track of changes made within Azure AD.

True or False: You can configure Azure AD diagnostic settings to send logs to an SIEM tool directly.

  • Answer: False

Azure AD diagnostic settings cannot send logs directly to an SIEM tool; however, you can send logs to Azure Monitor or an event hub from where you can forward them to your SIEM tool.

How often can you configure log file export in Azure AD auditing?

  • A) Every 5 minutes
  • B) Hourly
  • C) Daily
  • D) Weekly

Answer: B) Hourly

In Azure AD, you can configure log file export to occur as frequently as every hour.

True or False: You need to have at least a P1 license in Azure AD to access all auditing features.

  • Answer: True

Some advanced auditing features, like longer data retention, require you to have a premium P1 or P2 Azure AD license.

What is required in Azure Active Directory to set up and configure diagnostic settings?

  • A) Global Administrator role
  • B) Security Administrator role
  • C) Compliance Administrator role
  • D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

Users with Global Administrator, Security Administrator, or Compliance Administrator roles have the necessary permissions to set up and configure diagnostic settings in Azure AD.

Through which of the following methods can you export Azure AD audit log and sign-in data?

  • A) Azure Portal
  • B) PowerShell
  • C) Azure CLI
  • D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

You can export Azure AD audit log and sign-in data via the Azure portal, PowerShell, and Azure CLI. Each method provides flexibility in managing the export of logs.

True or False: You must use a third-party tool to analyze Azure AD sign-in logs.

  • Answer: False

While third-party tools can be used for analysis, Azure AD provides built-in tools like Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics for analyzing sign-in logs.

Which log types can be used for creating diagnostic settings for streaming to an event hub in Azure Active Directory?

  • A) Audit and sign-in logs
  • B) Security logs
  • C) Provisioning logs
  • D) Both A and C

Answer: D) Both A and C

Diagnostic settings in Azure AD can be created for audit and sign-in logs, as well as provisioning logs, and these logs can be streamed to an event hub.

True or False: Azure AD audit logs include details about both successful and failed operations.

  • Answer: True

Azure AD audit logs provide a record of both successful and failed operations, which is critical for security and compliance monitoring.

Interview Questions

What is auditing in Azure AD?

Auditing in Azure AD is the process of recording events that occur within Azure AD, such as user sign-ins and administrative actions.

What is the purpose of Azure AD auditing?

The purpose of Azure AD auditing is to enable administrators to monitor and manage the security of their organization’s Azure AD resources, and to detect and respond to security threats.

What are Azure AD sign-ins?

Azure AD sign-ins are records of user authentication attempts to access resources that are protected by Azure AD.

How can you view sign-in logs in Azure AD?

You can view sign-in logs in Azure AD by going to the Azure AD portal and selecting “Sign-ins” under the “Monitoring” tab.

What is the “Risky sign-ins” report in Azure AD?

The “Risky sign-ins” report in Azure AD is a report that identifies sign-ins that have been identified as potentially risky based on pre-defined risk detection policies.

What is the “Audit logs” report in Azure AD?

The “Audit logs” report in Azure AD is a report that provides information on administrative actions that have been taken within Azure AD.

What is the purpose of Azure AD monitoring?

The purpose of Azure AD monitoring is to enable administrators to identify and respond to security threats within their organization’s Azure AD resources.

What are some examples of Azure AD monitoring capabilities?

Some examples of Azure AD monitoring capabilities include real-time alerts, reports and dashboards, and integration with other security tools.

What are diagnostic settings in Azure AD?

Diagnostic settings in Azure AD are a configuration that enables administrators to specify where Azure AD audit logs and metrics are sent for storage and analysis.

What are the benefits of using diagnostic settings in Azure AD?

The benefits of using diagnostic settings in Azure AD include centralized storage of audit logs and metrics, the ability to analyze data for security insights, and the ability to integrate with third-party security tools.

How can you configure diagnostic settings in Azure AD?

You can configure diagnostic settings in Azure AD by going to the Azure AD portal, selecting “Diagnostic settings” under the “Monitoring” tab, and then selecting the settings that you want to configure.

What is Azure AD Identity Protection?

Azure AD Identity Protection is a feature of Azure AD that provides additional security capabilities, such as risk-based conditional access and risk-based multifactor authentication.

How does Azure AD Identity Protection work?

Azure AD Identity Protection works by analyzing user sign-in and usage patterns, and identifying potential security risks based on pre-defined risk detection policies.

How can you view Azure AD Identity Protection reports?

You can view Azure AD Identity Protection reports by going to the Azure AD portal and selecting “Identity Protection” under the “Security” tab.

What is the purpose of Azure AD Identity Protection?

The purpose of Azure AD Identity Protection is to enhance the security of Azure AD resources by providing additional security capabilities and identifying and mitigating potential security risks.

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Alfred Berger
5 months ago

Great blog post on configuring auditing in Azure AD!

Benjamin Chan
2 years ago

Does anyone know how long it takes for the audit logs to appear in the Azure portal?

Felecia Ortiz
1 year ago

Can someone explain the importance of configuring auditing in Azure AD?

Sadie Jackson
1 year ago

How do I enable diagnostic settings for Azure AD auditing?

Umut Berberoğlu
1 year ago

Any best practices for configuring auditing in Azure AD?

مریم پارسا
1 year ago

Thanks for the detailed post on Azure AD auditing configuration!

Toivo Niemela
1 year ago

What logs should I be particularly focusing on after enabling auditing?

Dragica Emde
2 years ago

How can I automate the review of audit logs to detect anomalies?

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