Configure a webhook to get activity log alerts

Article
09/11/2024

As part of the definition of an action group, you can configure webhook endpoints to receive activity log alert notifications. With webhooks, you can route these notifications to other systems for post-processing or custom actions. This article shows what the payload for the HTTP POST to a webhook looks like.

For more information on activity log alerts, see how to create Azure activity log alerts.

For information on action groups, see how to create action groups.

Note

You can also use the common alert schema for your webhook integrations. It provides the advantage of having a single extensible and unified alert payload across all the alert services in Azure Monitor. Learn about the common alert schema.

Authenticate the webhook

The webhook can optionally use token-based authorization for authentication. The webhook URI is saved with a token ID, for example, https://mysamplealert/webcallback?tokenid=sometokenid&someparameter=somevalue.

Payload schema

The JSON payload contained in the POST operation differs based on the payload's data.context.activityLog.eventSource field.

Note

Currently, the description that's part of the activity log event is copied to the fired Alert Description property.

To align the activity log payload with other alert types, as of April 1, 2021, the fired alert property Description contains the alert rule description instead.

In preparation for that change, we created a new property, Activity Log Event Description, to the activity log fired alert. This new property is filled with the Description property that's already available for use. So, the new field Activity Log Event Description contains the description that's part of the activity log event.

Review your alert rules, action rules, webhooks, logic app, or any other configurations where you might be using the Description property from the fired alert. Replace the Description property with the Activity Log Event Description property.

If your condition in your action rules, webhooks, logic app, or any other configurations is currently based on the Description property for activity log alerts, you might need to modify it to be based on the Activity Log Event Description property instead.

To fill the new Description property, you can add a description in the alert rule definition.

Common

{
    "schemaId": "Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
    "data": {
        "status": "Activated",
        "context": {
            "activityLog": {
                "channels": "Operation",
                "correlationId": "aaaa0000-bb11-2222-33cc-444444dddddd",
                "eventSource": "Administrative",
                "eventTimestamp": "2017-03-29T15:43:08.0019532+00:00",
                "eventDataId": "8195a56a-85de-4663-943e-1a2bf401ad94",
                "level": "Informational",
                "operationName": "Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups/write",
                "operationId": "aaaa0000-bb11-2222-33cc-444444dddddd",
                "status": "Started",
                "subStatus": "",
                "subscriptionId": "aaaa0a0a-bb1b-cc2c-dd3d-eeeeee4e4e4e",
                "submissionTimestamp": "2017-03-29T15:43:20.3863637+00:00",
                ...
            }
        },
        "properties": {}
    }
}

Administrative

{
    "schemaId": "Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
    "data": {
        "status": "Activated",
        "context": {
            "activityLog": {
                "authorization": {
                    "action": "Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups/write",
                    "scope": "/subscriptions/bbbb1b1b-cc2c-dd3d-ee4e-ffffff5f5f5f/resourceGroups/CONTOSO-TEST/providers/Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups/IncidentActions"
                },
                "claims": "{...}",
                "caller": "me@contoso.com",
                "description": "",
                "httpRequest": "{...}",
                "resourceId": "/subscriptions/bbbb1b1b-cc2c-dd3d-ee4e-ffffff5f5f5f/resourceGroups/CONTOSO-TEST/providers/Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups/IncidentActions",
                "resourceGroupName": "CONTOSO-TEST",
                "resourceProviderName": "Microsoft.Insights",
                "resourceType": "Microsoft.Insights/actionGroups"
            }
        },
        "properties": {}
    }
}

Security

{
  "schemaId":"Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
  "data":{"status":"Activated",
    "context":{
      "activityLog":{
        "channels":"Operation",
        "correlationId":"2518408115673929999",
        "description":"Failed SSH brute force attack. Failed brute force attacks were detected from the following attackers: [\"IP Address: 01.02.03.04\"].  Attackers were trying to access the host with the following user names: [\"root\"].",
        "eventSource":"Security",
        "eventTimestamp":"2017-06-25T19:00:32.607+00:00",
        "eventDataId":"Sec-07f2-4d74-aaf0-03d2f53d5a33",
        "level":"Informational",
        "operationName":"Microsoft.Security/locations/alerts/activate/action",
        "operationId":"Sec-07f2-4d74-aaf0-03d2f53d5a33",
        "properties":{
          "attackers":"[\"IP Address: 01.02.03.04\"]",
          "numberOfFailedAuthenticationAttemptsToHost":"456",
          "accountsUsedOnFailedSignInToHostAttempts":"[\"root\"]",
          "wasSSHSessionInitiated":"No","endTimeUTC":"06/25/2017 19:59:39",
          "actionTaken":"Detected",
          "resourceType":"Virtual Machine",
          "severity":"Medium",
          "compromisedEntity":"LinuxVM1",
          "remediationSteps":"[In case this is an Azure virtual machine, add the source IP to NSG block list for 24 hours (see https://azure.microsoft.com/documentation/articles/virtual-networks-nsg/)]",
          "attackedResourceType":"Virtual Machine"
        },
        "resourceId":"/subscriptions/12345-5645-123a-9867-123b45a6789/resourceGroups/contoso/providers/Microsoft.Security/locations/centralus/alerts/Sec-07f2-4d74-aaf0-03d2f53d5a33",
        "resourceGroupName":"contoso",
        "resourceProviderName":"Microsoft.Security",
        "status":"Active",
        "subscriptionId":"12345-5645-123a-9867-123b45a6789",
        "submissionTimestamp":"2017-06-25T20:23:04.9743772+00:00",
        "resourceType":"MICROSOFT.SECURITY/LOCATIONS/ALERTS"
      }
    },
    "properties":{}
  }
}

Recommendation

{
  "schemaId":"Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
  "data":{
    "status":"Activated",
    "context":{
      "activityLog":{
        "channels":"Operation",
        "claims":"{\"http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/ws/2005/05/identity/claims/emailaddress\":\"Microsoft.Advisor\"}",
        "caller":"Microsoft.Advisor",
        "correlationId":"bbbb1111-cc22-3333-44dd-555555eeeeee",
        "description":"A new recommendation is available.",
        "eventSource":"Recommendation",
        "eventTimestamp":"2017-06-29T13:52:33.2742943+00:00",
        "httpRequest":"{\"clientIpAddress\":\"0.0.0.0\"}",
        "eventDataId":"1bf234ef-e45f-4567-8bba-fb9b0ee1dbcb",
        "level":"Informational",
        "operationName":"Microsoft.Advisor/recommendations/available/action",
        "properties":{
          "recommendationSchemaVersion":"1.0",
          "recommendationCategory":"HighAvailability",
          "recommendationImpact":"Medium",
          "recommendationName":"Enable Soft Delete to protect your blob data",
          "recommendationResourceLink":"https://portal.azure.com/#blade/Microsoft_Azure_Expert/RecommendationListBlade/recommendationTypeId/12dbf883-5e4b-4f56-7da8-123b45c4b6e6",
          "recommendationType":"12dbf883-5e4b-4f56-7da8-123b45c4b6e6"
        },
        "resourceId":"/subscriptions/12345-5645-123a-9867-123b45a6789/resourceGroups/contoso/providers/microsoft.storage/storageaccounts/contosoStore",
        "resourceGroupName":"CONTOSO",
        "resourceProviderName":"MICROSOFT.STORAGE",
        "status":"Active",
        "subStatus":"",
        "subscriptionId":"12345-5645-123a-9867-123b45a6789",
        "submissionTimestamp":"2017-06-29T13:52:33.2742943+00:00",
        "resourceType":"MICROSOFT.STORAGE/STORAGEACCOUNTS"
      }
    },
    "properties":{}
  }
}

ServiceHealth

{
    "schemaId": "Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
    "data": {
        "status": "Activated",
        "context": {
            "activityLog": {
            "channels": "Admin",
            "correlationId": "cccc2222-dd33-4444-55ee-666666ffffff",
            "description": "Active: Virtual Machines - Australia East",
            "eventSource": "ServiceHealth",
            "eventTimestamp": "2017-10-18T23:49:25.3736084+00:00",
            "eventDataId": "6fa98c0f-334a-b066-1934-1a4b3d929856",
            "level": "Informational",
            "operationName": "Microsoft.ServiceHealth/incident/action",
            "operationId": "cccc2222-dd33-4444-55ee-666666ffffff",
            "properties": {
                "title": "Virtual Machines - Australia East",
                "service": "Virtual Machines",
                "region": "Australia East",
                "communication": "Starting at 02:48 UTC on 18 Oct 2017 you have been identified as a customer using Virtual Machines in Australia East who may receive errors starting Dv2 Promo and DSv2 Promo Virtual Machines which are in a stopped &quot;deallocated&quot; or suspended state. Customers can still provision Dv1 and Dv2 series Virtual Machines or try deploying Virtual Machines in other regions, as a possible workaround. Engineers have identified a possible fix for the underlying cause, and are exploring implementation options. The next update will be provided as events warrant.",
                "incidentType": "Incident",
                "trackingId": "0NIH-U2O",
                "impactStartTime": "2017-10-18T02:48:00.0000000Z",
                "impactedServices": "[{\"ImpactedRegions\":[{\"RegionName\":\"Australia East\"}],\"ServiceName\":\"Virtual Machines\"}]",
                "defaultLanguageTitle": "Virtual Machines - Australia East",
                "defaultLanguageContent": "Starting at 02:48 UTC on 18 Oct 2017 you have been identified as a customer using Virtual Machines in Australia East who may receive errors starting Dv2 Promo and DSv2 Promo Virtual Machines which are in a stopped &quot;deallocated&quot; or suspended state. Customers can still provision Dv1 and Dv2 series Virtual Machines or try deploying Virtual Machines in other regions, as a possible workaround. Engineers have identified a possible fix for the underlying cause, and are exploring implementation options. The next update will be provided as events warrant.",
                "stage": "Active",
                "communicationId": "636439673646212912",
                "version": "0.1.1"
            },
            "status": "Active",
            "subscriptionId": "cccc2c2c-dd3d-ee4e-ff5f-aaaaaa6a6a6a",
            "submissionTimestamp": "2017-10-18T23:49:28.7864349+00:00"
        }
    },
    "properties": {}
    }
}

For specific schema details on service health notification activity log alerts, see Service health notifications. You can also learn how to configure service health webhook notifications with your existing problem management solutions.

ResourceHealth

{
    "schemaId": "Microsoft.Insights/activityLogs",
    "data": {
        "status": "Activated",
        "context": {
            "activityLog": {
                "channels": "Admin, Operation",
                "correlationId": "dddd3333-ee44-5555-66ff-777777aaaaaa",
                "eventSource": "ResourceHealth",
                "eventTimestamp": "2018-09-04T23:09:03.343+00:00",
                "eventDataId": "2b37e2d0-7bda-4de7-ur8c6-1447d02265b2",
                "level": "Informational",
                "operationName": "Microsoft.Resourcehealth/healthevent/Activated/action",
                "operationId": "2b37e2d0-7bda-489f-81c6-1447d02265b2",
                "properties": {
                    "title": "Virtual Machine health status changed to unavailable",
                    "details": "Virtual machine has experienced an unexpected event",
                    "currentHealthStatus": "Unavailable",
                    "previousHealthStatus": "Available",
                    "type": "Downtime",
                    "cause": "PlatformInitiated"
                },
                "resourceId": "/subscriptions/<subscription Id>/resourceGroups/<resource group>/providers/Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/<resource name>",
                "resourceGroupName": "<resource group>",
                "resourceProviderName": "Microsoft.Resourcehealth/healthevent/action",
                "status": "Active",
                "subscriptionId": "<subscription Id>",
                "submissionTimestamp": "2018-09-04T23:11:06.1607287+00:00",
                "resourceType": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines"
            }
        }
    }
}

Element name	Description
status	Used for metric alerts. Always set to `activated` for activity log alerts.
context	Context of the event.
resourceProviderName	The resource provider of the affected resource.
conditionType	Always `Event`.
name	Name of the alert rule.
ID	Resource ID of the alert.
description	Alert description set when the alert is created.
subscriptionId	Azure subscription ID.
timestamp	Time at which the event was generated by the Azure service that processed the request.
resourceId	Resource ID of the affected resource.
resourceGroupName	Name of the resource group for the affected resource.
properties	Set of `<Key, Value>` pairs (that is, `Dictionary<String, String>`) that includes details about the event.
event	Element that contains metadata about the event.
authorization	The Azure role-based access control properties of the event. These properties usually include the action, the role, and the scope.
category	Category of the event. Supported values include `Administrative`, `Alert`, `Security`, `ServiceHealth`, and `Recommendation`.
caller	Email address of the user who performed the operation, UPN claim, or SPN claim based on availability. Can be null for certain system calls.
correlationId	Usually a GUID in string format. Events with `correlationId` belong to the same larger action and usually share a `correlationId`.
eventDescription	Static text description of the event.
eventDataId	Unique identifier for the event.
eventSource	Name of the Azure service or infrastructure that generated the event.
httpRequest	The request usually includes the `clientRequestId`, `clientIpAddress`, and HTTP method (for example, PUT).
level	One of the following values: `Critical`, `Error`, `Warning`, and `Informational`.
operationId	Usually a GUID shared among the events corresponding to a single operation.
operationName	Name of the operation.
properties	Properties of the event.
status	String. Status of the operation. Common values include `Started`, `In Progress`, `Succeeded`, `Failed`, `Active`, and `Resolved`.
subStatus	Usually includes the HTTP status code of the corresponding REST call. It might also include other strings that describe a substatus. Common substatus values include `OK` (HTTP Status Code: 200), `Created` (HTTP Status Code: 201), `Accepted` (HTTP Status Code: 202), `No Content` (HTTP Status Code: 204), `Bad Request` (HTTP Status Code: 400), `Not Found` (HTTP Status Code: 404), `Conflict` (HTTP Status Code: 409), `Internal Server Error` (HTTP Status Code: 500), `Service Unavailable` (HTTP Status Code: 503), and `Gateway Timeout` (HTTP Status Code: 504).

For specific schema details on all other activity log alerts, see Overview of the Azure activity log.

Next steps

Learn more about the activity log.
Execute Azure Automation scripts (Runbooks) on Azure alerts.
Use a logic app to send an SMS via Twilio from an Azure alert. This example is for metric alerts, but it can be modified to work with an activity log alert.
Use a logic app to send a Slack message from an Azure alert. This example is for metric alerts, but it can be modified to work with an activity log alert.
Use a logic app to send a message to an Azure queue from an Azure alert. This example is for metric alerts, but it can be modified to work with an activity log alert.

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