Details of the New Zealand ISM Restricted Regulatory Compliance built-in initiative
The following article details how the Azure Policy Regulatory Compliance built-in initiative definition maps to compliance domains and controls in New Zealand ISM Restricted. For more information about this compliance standard, see New Zealand ISM Restricted. To understand Ownership, see Azure Policy policy definition and Shared responsibility in the cloud.
The following mappings are to the New Zealand ISM Restricted controls. Use the navigation on the right to jump directly to a specific compliance domain. Many of the controls are implemented with an Azure Policy initiative definition. To review the complete initiative definition, open Policy in the Azure portal and select the Definitions page. Then, find and select the New Zealand ISM Restricted Regulatory Compliance built-in initiative definition.
This built-in initiative is deployed as part of the New Zealand ISM Restricted blueprint sample.
Important
Each control below is associated with one or more Azure Policy definitions. These policies may help you assess compliance with the control; however, there often is not a one-to-one or complete match between a control and one or more policies. As such, Compliant in Azure Policy refers only to the policy definitions themselves; this doesn't ensure you're fully compliant with all requirements of a control. In addition, the compliance standard includes controls that aren't addressed by any Azure Policy definitions at this time. Therefore, compliance in Azure Policy is only a partial view of your overall compliance status. The associations between compliance domains, controls, and Azure Policy definitions for this compliance standard may change over time. To view the change history, see the GitHub Commit History.
Information security monitoring
6.2.5 Conducting vulnerability assessments
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark ISM-3 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A vulnerability assessment solution should be enabled on your virtual machines | Audits virtual machines to detect whether they are running a supported vulnerability assessment solution. A core component of every cyber risk and security program is the identification and analysis of vulnerabilities. Azure Security Center's standard pricing tier includes vulnerability scanning for your virtual machines at no extra cost. Additionally, Security Center can automatically deploy this tool for you. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Vulnerability assessment should be enabled on SQL Managed Instance | Audit each SQL Managed Instance which doesn't have recurring vulnerability assessment scans enabled. Vulnerability assessment can discover, track, and help you remediate potential database vulnerabilities. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.1 |
| Vulnerability assessment should be enabled on your SQL servers | Audit Azure SQL servers which do not have vulnerability assessment properly configured. Vulnerability assessment can discover, track, and help you remediate potential database vulnerabilities. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
6.2.6 Resolving vulnerabilities
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark ISM-4 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Container registry images should have vulnerability findings resolved | Container image vulnerability assessment scans your registry for security vulnerabilities and exposes detailed findings for each image. Resolving the vulnerabilities can greatly improve your containers' security posture and protect them from attacks. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| SQL databases should have vulnerability findings resolved | Monitor vulnerability assessment scan results and recommendations for how to remediate database vulnerabilities. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 4.0.0 |
| SQL servers on machines should have vulnerability findings resolved | SQL vulnerability assessment scans your database for security vulnerabilities, and exposes any deviations from best practices such as misconfigurations, excessive permissions, and unprotected sensitive data. Resolving the vulnerabilities found can greatly improve your database security posture. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Vulnerabilities in container security configurations should be remediated | Audit vulnerabilities in security configuration on machines with Docker installed and display as recommendations in Azure Security Center. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Vulnerabilities in security configuration on your machines should be remediated | Servers which do not satisfy the configured baseline will be monitored by Azure Security Center as recommendations | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Vulnerabilities in security configuration on your virtual machine scale sets should be remediated | Audit the OS vulnerabilities on your virtual machine scale sets to protect them from attacks. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Vulnerability Assessment settings for SQL server should contain an email address to receive scan reports | Ensure that an email address is provided for the 'Send scan reports to' field in the Vulnerability Assessment settings. This email address receives scan result summary after a periodic scan runs on SQL servers. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
6.4.5 Availability requirements
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark ISM-7 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit virtual machines without disaster recovery configured | Audit virtual machines which do not have disaster recovery configured. To learn more about disaster recovery, visit https://aka.ms/asr-doc. | auditIfNotExists | 1.0.0 |
Physical Security
8.3.5 Network infrastructure in unsecure areas
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark PS-4 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Only secure connections to your Azure Cache for Redis should be enabled | Audit enabling of only connections via SSL to Azure Cache for Redis. Use of secure connections ensures authentication between the server and the service and protects data in transit from network layer attacks such as man-in-the-middle, eavesdropping, and session-hijacking | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Secure transfer to storage accounts should be enabled | Audit requirement of Secure transfer in your storage account. Secure transfer is an option that forces your storage account to accept requests only from secure connections (HTTPS). Use of HTTPS ensures authentication between the server and the service and protects data in transit from network layer attacks such as man-in-the-middle, eavesdropping, and session-hijacking | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
Infrastructure
10.8.35 Security Architecture
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark INF-9 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| API Management services should use a virtual network | Azure Virtual Network deployment provides enhanced security, isolation and allows you to place your API Management service in a non-internet routable network that you control access to. These networks can then be connected to your on-premises networks using various VPN technologies, which enables access to your backend services within the network and/or on-premises. The developer portal and API gateway, can be configured to be accessible either from the Internet or only within the virtual network. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.1 |
| App Configuration should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The private link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your app configuration instances instead of the entire service, you'll also be protected against data leakage risks. Learn more at: https://aka.ms/appconfig/private-endpoint. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Azure Event Grid domains should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The Private Link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your Event Grid domain instead of the entire service, you'll also be protected against data leakage risks. Learn more at: https://aka.ms/privateendpoints. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Azure Event Grid topics should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The Private Link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your Event Grid topic instead of the entire service, you'll also be protected against data leakage risks. Learn more at: https://aka.ms/privateendpoints. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Azure Machine Learning workspaces should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The Private Link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to Azure Machine Learning workspaces, data leakage risks are reduced. Learn more about private links at: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/machine-learning/how-to-configure-private-link. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.1.0 |
| Azure SignalR Service should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The private link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your Azure SignalR Service resource instead of the entire service, you'll reduce your data leakage risks. Learn more about private links at: https://aka.ms/asrs/privatelink. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Azure Spring Cloud should use network injection | Azure Spring Cloud instances should use virtual network injection for the following purposes: 1. Isolate Azure Spring Cloud from Internet. 2. Enable Azure Spring Cloud to interact with systems in either on premises data centers or Azure service in other virtual networks. 3. Empower customers to control inbound and outbound network communications for Azure Spring Cloud. | Audit, Disabled, Deny | 1.1.0 |
| Container registries should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The private link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network.By mapping private endpoints to your container registries instead of the entire service, you'll also be protected against data leakage risks. Learn more at: https://aka.ms/acr/private-link. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.1 |
| Private endpoint connections on Azure SQL Database should be enabled | Private endpoint connections enforce secure communication by enabling private connectivity to Azure SQL Database. | Audit, Disabled | 1.1.0 |
| Private endpoint connections on Batch accounts should be enabled | Private endpoint connections allow secure communication by enabling private connectivity to Batch accounts without a need for public IP addresses at the source or destination. Learn more about private endpoints in Batch at https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/batch/private-connectivity. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Private endpoint should be enabled for MariaDB servers | Private endpoint connections enforce secure communication by enabling private connectivity to Azure Database for MariaDB. Configure a private endpoint connection to enable access to traffic coming only from known networks and prevent access from all other IP addresses, including within Azure. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Private endpoint should be enabled for MySQL servers | Private endpoint connections enforce secure communication by enabling private connectivity to Azure Database for MySQL. Configure a private endpoint connection to enable access to traffic coming only from known networks and prevent access from all other IP addresses, including within Azure. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Private endpoint should be enabled for PostgreSQL servers | Private endpoint connections enforce secure communication by enabling private connectivity to Azure Database for PostgreSQL. Configure a private endpoint connection to enable access to traffic coming only from known networks and prevent access from all other IP addresses, including within Azure. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Storage accounts should restrict network access using virtual network rules | Protect your storage accounts from potential threats using virtual network rules as a preferred method instead of IP-based filtering. Disabling IP-based filtering prevents public IPs from accessing your storage accounts. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.1 |
| Storage accounts should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The Private Link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your storage account, data leakage risks are reduced. Learn more about private links at - https://aka.ms/azureprivatelinkoverview | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| VM Image Builder templates should use private link | Azure Private Link lets you connect your virtual network to Azure services without a public IP address at the source or destination. The Private Link platform handles the connectivity between the consumer and services over the Azure backbone network. By mapping private endpoints to your VM Image Builder building resources, data leakage risks are reduced. Learn more about private links at: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/linux/image-builder-networking#deploy-using-an-existing-vnet. | Audit, Disabled, Deny | 1.1.0 |
Product Security
12.4.4 Patching vulnerabilities in products
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark PRS-5 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| System updates on virtual machine scale sets should be installed | Audit whether there are any missing system security updates and critical updates that should be installed to ensure that your Windows and Linux virtual machine scale sets are secure. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| System updates should be installed on your machines | Missing security system updates on your servers will be monitored by Azure Security Center as recommendations | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 4.0.0 |
Software security
14.1.8 Developing hardened SOEs
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark SS-2 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Service apps should have remote debugging turned off | Remote debugging requires inbound ports to be opened on an App Service app. Remote debugging should be turned off. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Function apps should have remote debugging turned off | Remote debugging requires inbound ports to be opened on Function apps. Remote debugging should be turned off. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Management ports should be closed on your virtual machines | Open remote management ports are exposing your VM to a high level of risk from Internet-based attacks. These attacks attempt to brute force credentials to gain admin access to the machine. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
14.1.9 Maintaining hardened SOEs
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark SS-3 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure API for FHIR should use private link | Azure API for FHIR should have at least one approved private endpoint connection. Clients in a virtual network can securely access resources that have private endpoint connections through private links. For more information, visit: https://aka.ms/fhir-privatelink. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Azure Defender for App Service should be enabled | Azure Defender for App Service leverages the scale of the cloud, and the visibility that Azure has as a cloud provider, to monitor for common web app attacks. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Azure Defender for Azure SQL Database servers should be enabled | Azure Defender for SQL provides functionality for surfacing and mitigating potential database vulnerabilities, detecting anomalous activities that could indicate threats to SQL databases, and discovering and classifying sensitive data. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Azure Defender for Key Vault should be enabled | Azure Defender for Key Vault provides an additional layer of protection and security intelligence by detecting unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit key vault accounts. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Azure Defender for servers should be enabled | Azure Defender for servers provides real-time threat protection for server workloads and generates hardening recommendations as well as alerts about suspicious activities. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Azure Defender for SQL servers on machines should be enabled | Azure Defender for SQL provides functionality for surfacing and mitigating potential database vulnerabilities, detecting anomalous activities that could indicate threats to SQL databases, and discovering and classifying sensitive data. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
| Azure Defender for Storage should be enabled | Azure Defender for Storage provides detections of unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit storage accounts. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Deploy the Linux Guest Configuration extension to enable Guest Configuration assignments on Linux VMs | This policy deploys the Linux Guest Configuration extension to Linux virtual machines hosted in Azure that are supported by Guest Configuration. The Linux Guest Configuration extension is a prerequisite for all Linux Guest Configuration assignments and must be deployed to machines before using any Linux Guest Configuration policy definition. For more information on Guest Configuration, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. | deployIfNotExists | 3.0.0 |
| Deploy the Windows Guest Configuration extension to enable Guest Configuration assignments on Windows VMs | This policy deploys the Windows Guest Configuration extension to Windows virtual machines hosted in Azure that are supported by Guest Configuration. The Windows Guest Configuration extension is a prerequisite for all Windows Guest Configuration assignments and must be deployed to machines before using any Windows Guest Configuration policy definition. For more information on Guest Configuration, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. | deployIfNotExists | 1.2.0 |
| Endpoint protection solution should be installed on virtual machine scale sets | Audit the existence and health of an endpoint protection solution on your virtual machines scale sets, to protect them from threats and vulnerabilities. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Management ports of virtual machines should be protected with just-in-time network access control | Possible network Just In Time (JIT) access will be monitored by Azure Security Center as recommendations | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Microsoft Defender for Containers should be enabled | Microsoft Defender for Containers provides hardening, vulnerability assessment and run-time protections for your Azure, hybrid, and multi-cloud Kubernetes environments. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Monitor missing Endpoint Protection in Azure Security Center | Servers without an installed Endpoint Protection agent will be monitored by Azure Security Center as recommendations | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
14.2.4 Application Whitelisting
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark SS-5 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive application controls for defining safe applications should be enabled on your machines | Enable application controls to define the list of known-safe applications running on your machines, and alert you when other applications run. This helps harden your machines against malware. To simplify the process of configuring and maintaining your rules, Security Center uses machine learning to analyze the applications running on each machine and suggest the list of known-safe applications. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Allowlist rules in your adaptive application control policy should be updated | Monitor for changes in behavior on groups of machines configured for auditing by Azure Security Center's adaptive application controls. Security Center uses machine learning to analyze the running processes on your machines and suggest a list of known-safe applications. These are presented as recommended apps to allow in adaptive application control policies. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
14.5.8 Web applications
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark SS-9 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Service apps should not have CORS configured to allow every resource to access your apps | Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) should not allow all domains to access your app. Allow only required domains to interact with your app. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| App Service apps should only be accessible over HTTPS | Use of HTTPS ensures server/service authentication and protects data in transit from network layer eavesdropping attacks. | Audit, Disabled, Deny | 4.0.0 |
| App Service apps that use Java should use the latest 'Java version' | Periodically, newer versions are released for Java software either due to security flaws or to include additional functionality. Using the latest Java version for web apps is recommended in order to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. Currently, this policy only applies to Linux apps. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| App Service apps that use PHP should use the latest 'PHP version' | Periodically, newer versions are released for PHP software either due to security flaws or to include additional functionality. Using the latest PHP version for App Service apps is recommended in order to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. Currently, this policy only applies to Linux apps. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| App Service apps that use Python should use the latest 'Python version' | Periodically, newer versions are released for Python software either due to security flaws or to include additional functionality. Using the latest Python version for App Service apps is recommended in order to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. This policy only applies to Linux apps. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 4.0.0 |
| Function apps should not have CORS configured to allow every resource to access your apps | Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) should not allow all domains to access your Function app. Allow only required domains to interact with your Function app. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Function apps should only be accessible over HTTPS | Use of HTTPS ensures server/service authentication and protects data in transit from network layer eavesdropping attacks. | Audit, Disabled, Deny | 5.0.0 |
| Function apps that use Java should use the latest 'Java version' | Periodically, newer versions are released for Java software either due to security flaws or to include additional functionality. Using the latest Java version for Function apps is recommended in order to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. Currently, this policy only applies to Linux apps. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Function apps that use Python should use the latest 'Python version' | Periodically, newer versions are released for Python software either due to security flaws or to include additional functionality. Using the latest Python version for Function apps is recommended in order to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. This policy only applies to Linux apps since Python is not supported on Windows apps. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 4.0.0 |
Access Control and Passwords
16.1.32 System User Identitfication
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-2 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Service apps should use managed identity | Use a managed identity for enhanced authentication security | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Function apps should use managed identity | Use a managed identity for enhanced authentication security | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Service Fabric clusters should only use Azure Active Directory for client authentication | Audit usage of client authentication only via Azure Active Directory in Service Fabric | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.1.0 |
16.1.35 Methods for system user identification and authentication
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-3 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFA should be enabled on accounts with read permissions on your subscription | Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) should be enabled for all subscription accounts with read privileges to prevent a breach of accounts or resources. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.1.40 Password selection policy
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-4 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Linux machines that have accounts without passwords | Requires that prerequisites are deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. Machines are non-compliant if Linux machines that have accounts without passwords | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Windows machines should meet requirements for 'Security Settings - Account Policies' | Windows machines should have the specified Group Policy settings in the category 'Security Settings - Account Policies' for password history, age, length, complexity, and storing passwords using reversible encryption. This policy requires that the Guest Configuration prerequisites have been deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.1.46 Suspension of access
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-5 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deprecated accounts should be removed from your subscription | Deprecated accounts should be removed from your subscriptions. Deprecated accounts are accounts that have been blocked from signing in. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Deprecated accounts with owner permissions should be removed from your subscription | Deprecated accounts with owner permissions should be removed from your subscription. Deprecated accounts are accounts that have been blocked from signing in. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.3.5 Use of Privileged Accounts
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-9 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A maximum of 3 owners should be designated for your subscription | It is recommended to designate up to 3 subscription owners in order to reduce the potential for breach by a compromised owner. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.4.30 Privileged Access Management
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-11 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| An Azure Active Directory administrator should be provisioned for SQL servers | Audit provisioning of an Azure Active Directory administrator for your SQL server to enable Azure AD authentication. Azure AD authentication enables simplified permission management and centralized identity management of database users and other Microsoft services | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Audit Windows machines missing any of specified members in the Administrators group | Requires that prerequisites are deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. Machines are non-compliant if the local Administrators group does not contain one or more members that are listed in the policy parameter. | auditIfNotExists | 2.0.0 |
| Audit Windows machines that have extra accounts in the Administrators group | Requires that prerequisites are deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. Machines are non-compliant if the local Administrators group contains members that are not listed in the policy parameter. | auditIfNotExists | 2.0.0 |
| Audit Windows machines that have the specified members in the Administrators group | Requires that prerequisites are deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. Machines are non-compliant if the local Administrators group contains one or more of the members listed in the policy parameter. | auditIfNotExists | 2.0.0 |
| External accounts with owner permissions should be removed from your subscription | External accounts with owner permissions should be removed from your subscription in order to prevent unmonitored access. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| External accounts with write permissions should be removed from your subscription | External accounts with write privileges should be removed from your subscription in order to prevent unmonitored access. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| MFA should be enabled for accounts with write permissions on your subscription | Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) should be enabled for all subscription accounts with write privileges to prevent a breach of accounts or resources. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.1 |
| MFA should be enabled on accounts with owner permissions on your subscription | Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) should be enabled for all subscription accounts with owner permissions to prevent a breach of accounts or resources. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| There should be more than one owner assigned to your subscription | It is recommended to designate more than one subscription owner in order to have administrator access redundancy. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.5.10 Authentication
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-13 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Linux machines that allow remote connections from accounts without passwords | Requires that prerequisites are deployed to the policy assignment scope. For details, visit https://aka.ms/gcpol. Machines are non-compliant if Linux machines that allow remote connections from accounts without passwords | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
16.6.9 Events to be logged
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark AC-17 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Service apps should have resource logs enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs on the app. This enables you to recreate activity trails for investigation purposes if a security incident occurs or your network is compromised. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Audit usage of custom RBAC rules | Audit built-in roles such as 'Owner, Contributer, Reader' instead of custom RBAC roles, which are error prone. Using custom roles is treated as an exception and requires a rigorous review and threat modeling | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Auditing on SQL server should be enabled | Auditing on your SQL Server should be enabled to track database activities across all databases on the server and save them in an audit log. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Log Analytics extension should be enabled in virtual machine scale sets for listed virtual machine images | Reports virtual machine scale sets as non-compliant if the virtual machine image is not in the list defined and the extension is not installed. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Resource logs in Azure Data Lake Store should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Azure Stream Analytics should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Batch accounts should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Data Lake Analytics should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Event Hub should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in IoT Hub should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.1 |
| Resource logs in Key Vault should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Logic Apps should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Search services should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Service Bus should be enabled | Audit enabling of resource logs. This enables you to recreate activity trails to use for investigation purposes; when a security incident occurs or when your network is compromised | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 5.0.0 |
| Resource logs in Virtual Machine Scale Sets should be enabled | It is recommended to enable Logs so that activity trail can be recreated when investigations are required in the event of an incident or a compromise. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.1.0 |
Cryptography
17.1.45 Data Recovery
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark CR-2 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key vaults should have purge protection enabled | Malicious deletion of a key vault can lead to permanent data loss. A malicious insider in your organization can potentially delete and purge key vaults. Purge protection protects you from insider attacks by enforcing a mandatory retention period for soft deleted key vaults. No one inside your organization or Microsoft will be able to purge your key vaults during the soft delete retention period. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Key vaults should have soft delete enabled | Deleting a key vault without soft delete enabled permanently deletes all secrets, keys, and certificates stored in the key vault. Accidental deletion of a key vault can lead to permanent data loss. Soft delete allows you to recover an accidentally deleted key vault for a configurable retention period. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
17.1.46 Reducing storage and physical transfer requirements
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark CR-3 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Cosmos DB accounts should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Use customer-managed keys to manage the encryption at rest of your Azure Cosmos DB. By default, the data is encrypted at rest with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. Learn more at https://aka.ms/cosmosdb-cmk. | audit, Audit, deny, Deny, disabled, Disabled | 1.1.0 |
| Azure Machine Learning workspaces should be encrypted with a customer-managed key | Manage encryption at rest of Azure Machine Learning workspace data with customer-managed keys. By default, customer data is encrypted with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. Learn more at https://aka.ms/azureml-workspaces-cmk. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Cognitive Services accounts should enable data encryption with a customer-managed key | Customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data stored in Cognitive Services to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. Learn more about customer-managed keys at https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2121321. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Container registries should be encrypted with a customer-managed key | Use customer-managed keys to manage the encryption at rest of the contents of your registries. By default, the data is encrypted at rest with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. Learn more at https://aka.ms/acr/CMK. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.1.2 |
| MySQL servers should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Use customer-managed keys to manage the encryption at rest of your MySQL servers. By default, the data is encrypted at rest with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.4 |
| PostgreSQL servers should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Use customer-managed keys to manage the encryption at rest of your PostgreSQL servers. By default, the data is encrypted at rest with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.4 |
| SQL managed instances should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Implementing Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with your own key provides you with increased transparency and control over the TDE Protector, increased security with an HSM-backed external service, and promotion of separation of duties. This recommendation applies to organizations with a related compliance requirement. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| SQL servers should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Implementing Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) with your own key provides increased transparency and control over the TDE Protector, increased security with an HSM-backed external service, and promotion of separation of duties. This recommendation applies to organizations with a related compliance requirement. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Storage accounts should use customer-managed key for encryption | Secure your blob and file storage account with greater flexibility using customer-managed keys. When you specify a customer-managed key, that key is used to protect and control access to the key that encrypts your data. Using customer-managed keys provides additional capabilities to control rotation of the key encryption key or cryptographically erase data. | Audit, Disabled | 1.0.3 |
| Transparent Data Encryption on SQL databases should be enabled | Transparent data encryption should be enabled to protect data-at-rest and meet compliance requirements | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Virtual machines should encrypt temp disks, caches, and data flows between Compute and Storage resources | By default, a virtual machine's OS and data disks are encrypted-at-rest using platform-managed keys. Temp disks, data caches and data flowing between compute and storage aren't encrypted. Disregard this recommendation if: 1. using encryption-at-host, or 2. server-side encryption on Managed Disks meets your security requirements. Learn more in: Server-side encryption of Azure Disk Storage: https://aka.ms/disksse, Different disk encryption offerings: https://aka.ms/diskencryptioncomparison | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.3 |
17.4.16 Using TLS
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark CR-7 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Service apps should require FTPS only | Enable FTPS enforcement for enhanced security. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| App Service apps should use the latest TLS version | Periodically, newer versions are released for TLS either due to security flaws, include additional functionality, and enhance speed. Upgrade to the latest TLS version for App Service apps to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Function apps should require FTPS only | Enable FTPS enforcement for enhanced security. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Function apps should use the latest TLS version | Periodically, newer versions are released for TLS either due to security flaws, include additional functionality, and enhance speed. Upgrade to the latest TLS version for Function apps to take advantage of security fixes, if any, and/or new functionalities of the latest version. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Windows web servers should be configured to use secure communication protocols | To protect the privacy of information communicated over the Internet, your web servers should use the latest version of the industry-standard cryptographic protocol, Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS secures communications over a network by using security certificates to encrypt a connection between machines. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 4.0.0 |
17.5.7 Authentication mechanisms
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark CR-9 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authentication to Linux machines should require SSH keys | Although SSH itself provides an encrypted connection, using passwords with SSH still leaves the VM vulnerable to brute-force attacks. The most secure option for authenticating to an Azure Linux virtual machine over SSH is with a public-private key pair, also known as SSH keys. Learn more: https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-machines/linux/create-ssh-keys-detailed. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
17.9.25 Contents of KMPs
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark CR-14 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| IP Forwarding on your virtual machine should be disabled | Enabling IP forwarding on a virtual machine's NIC allows the machine to receive traffic addressed to other destinations. IP forwarding is rarely required (e.g., when using the VM as a network virtual appliance), and therefore, this should be reviewed by the network security team. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| PostgreSQL servers should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest | Use customer-managed keys to manage the encryption at rest of your PostgreSQL servers. By default, the data is encrypted at rest with service-managed keys, but customer-managed keys are commonly required to meet regulatory compliance standards. Customer-managed keys enable the data to be encrypted with an Azure Key Vault key created and owned by you. You have full control and responsibility for the key lifecycle, including rotation and management. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.4 |
Network security
18.3.19 Content of a Denial of Service (DoS) response plan
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark NS-5 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure DDoS Protection Standard should be enabled | DDoS protection standard should be enabled for all virtual networks with a subnet that is part of an application gateway with a public IP. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
18.4.8 IDS/IPSs on gateways
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark NS-7 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) should be enabled for Application Gateway | Deploy Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) in front of public facing web applications for additional inspection of incoming traffic. Web Application Firewall (WAF) provides centralized protection of your web applications from common exploits and vulnerabilities such as SQL injections, Cross-Site Scripting, local and remote file executions. You can also restrict access to your web applications by countries, IP address ranges, and other http(s) parameters via custom rules. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) should use the specified mode for Application Gateway | Mandates the use of 'Detection' or 'Prevention' mode to be active on all Web Application Firewall policies for Application Gateway. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Web Application Firewall (WAF) should use the specified mode for Azure Front Door Service | Mandates the use of 'Detection' or 'Prevention' mode to be active on all Web Application Firewall policies for Azure Front Door Service. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
Gateway security
19.1.11 Using Gateways
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark GS-2 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All authorization rules except RootManageSharedAccessKey should be removed from Service Bus namespace | Service Bus clients should not use a namespace level access policy that provides access to all queues and topics in a namespace. To align with the least privilege security model, you should create access policies at the entity level for queues and topics to provide access to only the specific entity | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.1 |
| Azure Key Vault Managed HSM should have purge protection enabled | Malicious deletion of an Azure Key Vault Managed HSM can lead to permanent data loss. A malicious insider in your organization can potentially delete and purge Azure Key Vault Managed HSM. Purge protection protects you from insider attacks by enforcing a mandatory retention period for soft deleted Azure Key Vault Managed HSM. No one inside your organization or Microsoft will be able to purge your Azure Key Vault Managed HSM during the soft delete retention period. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.0.0 |
| Cognitive Services accounts should disable public network access | To improve the security of Cognitive Services accounts, ensure that it isn't exposed to the public internet and can only be accessed from a private endpoint. Disable the public network access property as described in https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2129800. This option disables access from any public address space outside the Azure IP range, and denies all logins that match IP or virtual network-based firewall rules. This reduces data leakage risks. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 3.0.1 |
| Internet-facing virtual machines should be protected with network security groups | Protect your virtual machines from potential threats by restricting access to them with network security groups (NSG). Learn more about controlling traffic with NSGs at https://aka.ms/nsg-doc | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Public network access on Azure SQL Database should be disabled | Disabling the public network access property improves security by ensuring your Azure SQL Database can only be accessed from a private endpoint. This configuration denies all logins that match IP or virtual network based firewall rules. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.1.0 |
| Public network access should be disabled for MariaDB servers | Disable the public network access property to improve security and ensure your Azure Database for MariaDB can only be accessed from a private endpoint. This configuration strictly disables access from any public address space outside of Azure IP range, and denies all logins that match IP or virtual network-based firewall rules. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Public network access should be disabled for MySQL servers | Disable the public network access property to improve security and ensure your Azure Database for MySQL can only be accessed from a private endpoint. This configuration strictly disables access from any public address space outside of Azure IP range, and denies all logins that match IP or virtual network-based firewall rules. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Public network access should be disabled for PostgreSQL servers | Disable the public network access property to improve security and ensure your Azure Database for PostgreSQL can only be accessed from a private endpoint. This configuration disables access from any public address space outside of Azure IP range, and denies all logins that match IP or virtual network-based firewall rules. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Storage account keys should not be expired | Ensure the user storage account keys are not expired when key expiration policy is set, for improving security of account keys by taking action when the keys are expired. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
19.1.12 Configuration of Gateways
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark GS-3 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All network ports should be restricted on network security groups associated to your virtual machine | Azure Security Center has identified some of your network security groups' inbound rules to be too permissive. Inbound rules should not allow access from 'Any' or 'Internet' ranges. This can potentially enable attackers to target your resources. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Azure Cosmos DB accounts should have firewall rules | Firewall rules should be defined on your Azure Cosmos DB accounts to prevent traffic from unauthorized sources. Accounts that have at least one IP rule defined with the virtual network filter enabled are deemed compliant. Accounts disabling public access are also deemed compliant. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Cognitive Services accounts should restrict network access | Network access to Cognitive Services accounts should be restricted. Configure network rules so only applications from allowed networks can access the Cognitive Services account. To allow connections from specific internet or on-premises clients, access can be granted to traffic from specific Azure virtual networks or to public internet IP address ranges. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
| Container registries should not allow unrestricted network access | Azure container registries by default accept connections over the internet from hosts on any network. To protect your registries from potential threats, allow access from only specific private endpoints, public IP addresses or address ranges. If your registry doesn't have network rules configured, it will appear in the unhealthy resources. Learn more about Container Registry network rules here: https://aka.ms/acr/privatelink, https://aka.ms/acr/portal/public-network and https://aka.ms/acr/vnet. | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 2.0.0 |
| Storage accounts should restrict network access | Network access to storage accounts should be restricted. Configure network rules so only applications from allowed networks can access the storage account. To allow connections from specific internet or on-premises clients, access can be granted to traffic from specific Azure virtual networks or to public internet IP address ranges | Audit, Deny, Disabled | 1.1.1 |
| Subnets should be associated with a Network Security Group | Protect your subnet from potential threats by restricting access to it with a Network Security Group (NSG). NSGs contain a list of Access Control List (ACL) rules that allow or deny network traffic to your subnet. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
19.1.23 Testing of Gateways
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark GS-5 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adaptive network hardening recommendations should be applied on internet facing virtual machines | Azure Security Center analyzes the traffic patterns of Internet facing virtual machines and provides Network Security Group rule recommendations that reduce the potential attack surface | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 3.0.0 |
Data management
20.4.4 Database files
ID: NZISM Security Benchmark DM-6 Ownership: Customer
| Name (Azure portal) |
Description | Effect(s) | Version (GitHub) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Defender for SQL should be enabled for unprotected Azure SQL servers | Audit SQL servers without Advanced Data Security | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 2.0.1 |
| Azure Defender for SQL should be enabled for unprotected SQL Managed Instances | Audit each SQL Managed Instance without advanced data security. | AuditIfNotExists, Disabled | 1.0.2 |
Next steps
Additional articles about Azure Policy:
- Regulatory Compliance overview.
- See the initiative definition structure.
- Review other examples at Azure Policy samples.
- Review Understanding policy effects.
- Learn how to remediate non-compliant resources.
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