Whether externally accessed solution reduce the attack surface?

Question

Hi Team,

Good morning. Refer this link -> https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/maintain-azure-cognitive-search-solution/02-manage-security-of-azure-cognitive-search-solution

"If your search solution can be accessed externally from the internet or apps, you can reduce the attack surface."

I think this is incorrect since search solution can be accessed externally and has larger attack surface. It need security control to secure it.

Also Private Endpoint - Mentioned in the text as a more secure alternative, which is true but not depicted.

Please clarify.

Thanks & Regards

Ratan Madnani

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Answer 1

Hi Ratan madnani,

Thank you for reaching out to us on the Microsoft Q&A forum. Your question about the security of externally accessed Azure Cognitive Search solutions is very insightful.

Understanding the Statement: The statement that "if your search solution can be accessed externally from the internet or apps, you can reduce the attack surface" may seem misleading. While it is true that external access can introduce vulnerabilities, the intent is to highlight that with proper security measures in place, the risks can be mitigated.

Security Controls: It is essential to implement robust security controls, such as:

• Firewalls: Restrict access to specific IP addresses.
• Private Endpoints: Using Azure Private Link can significantly enhance security by keeping traffic within the Azure network.
• Authentication: Implementing key-based or role-based access control (RBAC) to manage who can access the search solution.

Private Endpoint: As you mentioned, using a Private Endpoint is indeed a more secure alternative. It allows for a secure connection without exposing the service to the public internet, thus reducing the attack surface.

In summary, while external access can increase the attack surface, with the right security measures, it is possible to manage and reduce these risks effectively. Please let me know if you have any further questions or need additional clarification.

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