Who has access to my Azure platform-managed encryption keys?

Sean Perryman 0 Reputation points
2024-04-17T17:06:15.16+00:00

Hello. The boss is askng a question about who is able to to access the encryption keys for our data that lives in Microsoft Azure. Looking through the docs, I see that employees are "technologically prevented" from accessing those keys.

As someone who has worked for hosting companies in the past, I know that disk encryption could be bypassed assuming a number of factors, most of all someone's extreme desire to get to that data.

I know this is not a plausible concern, and you probably do to.

Obviously, Azure is not a regular hosting company where someone could just lift the host node physically and do whatever they want with it. However, if someone were to compromise an Entra account they could access the data without anything (built-in, anyway) stopping them. This is by design, as having users need to enter an encryption key to access a file share would be terribly inconvenient.

How do I explain this to a somewhat-technical company owner?

Azure Disk Encryption
Azure Disk Encryption
An Azure service for virtual machines (VMs) that helps address organizational security and compliance requirements by encrypting the VM boot and data disks with keys and policies that are controlled in Azure Key Vault.
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  1. Marcin Policht 10,755 Reputation points MVP
    2024-04-17T17:13:07.41+00:00

    Here are the key points you can use:

    1. Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Microsoft Azure employs RBAC, which allows administrators to assign specific roles and permissions to users based on their job responsibilities. Only authorized personnel with the appropriate permissions can access encryption keys and perform cryptographic operations.
    2. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Azure provides the option to enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for user accounts, adding an extra layer of security beyond just a username and password. Even if an attacker were to compromise an account, they would still need to bypass MFA to gain unauthorized access to encryption keys.
    3. Network Security: Azure implements network security measures such as firewalls, virtual networks, and network security groups to control traffic and restrict access to sensitive resources. Access to encryption keys is further protected by network security controls, preventing unauthorized access from external sources.
    4. Physical Security: Azure data centers are highly secure facilities with physical access controls, surveillance systems, and strict security protocols. Physical access to hardware infrastructure, where encryption keys are stored, is limited to authorized personnel only.
    5. Encryption at Rest: Azure provides built-in encryption-at-rest for data stored in various services such as Azure Storage, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Disk Storage. Encryption keys are managed and stored securely by Azure Key Vault, and access to these keys is tightly controlled.
    6. Continuous Monitoring and Auditing: Azure continuously monitors and audits access to encryption keys and data, logging all access attempts and changes made to key vaults. Any suspicious activity or unauthorized access attempts are detected and reported in real-time.
    7. Compliance and Certifications: Azure complies with various industry standards and regulations, including GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO 27001, demonstrating its commitment to data security and privacy. Regular audits and assessments ensure that Azure's security controls are effective and meet the requirements of regulatory standards.

    If the above response helps answer your question, remember to "Accept Answer" so that others in the community facing similar issues can easily find the solution. Your contribution is highly appreciated.

    hth

    Marcin

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  2. KarishmaTiwari-MSFT 18,527 Reputation points Microsoft Employee
    2024-04-17T21:51:07.98+00:00

    @Sean Perryman You can explain to your company owner that in Azure, platform-managed encryption keys are designed to be highly secure and are not accessible to regular employees or even Microsoft personnel. Here's a simplified explanation you could use:

    "In Azure, our data is encrypted using platform-managed encryption keys, which are highly secure and not accessible by regular employees or Microsoft personnel. These keys are managed and stored within the Azure infrastructure, and access is strictly controlled and monitored. Even if someone were to compromise an Azure account, they would not be able to access the encryption keys directly. Azure's security measures are designed to protect our data from unauthorized access, and we can trust that our data is secure.

    The keys are managed by Azure Key Vault, which is a dedicated service for securely storing and managing cryptographic keys."

    You can also reassure them that Azure's security measures are continuously updated and audited to ensure the highest level of protection for our data. Compliance standards (such as ISO, SOC, and GDPR) ensure that Azure meets industry best practices.

    You can also share relevant Azure official documentation to build confidence:

    -https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/key-management

    -https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/best-practices

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