Azure security baseline for Azure SQL

This security baseline applies guidance from the Microsoft cloud security benchmark version 1.0 to Azure SQL. The Microsoft cloud security benchmark provides recommendations on how you can secure your cloud solutions on Azure. The content is grouped by the security controls defined by the Microsoft cloud security benchmark and the related guidance applicable to Azure SQL.

You can monitor this security baseline and its recommendations using Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Azure Policy definitions will be listed in the Regulatory Compliance section of the Microsoft Defender for Cloud portal page.

When a feature has relevant Azure Policy Definitions, they are listed in this baseline to help you measure compliance with the Microsoft cloud security benchmark controls and recommendations. Some recommendations may require a paid Microsoft Defender plan to enable certain security scenarios.

Note

Features not applicable to Azure SQL have been excluded. To see how Azure SQL completely maps to the Microsoft cloud security benchmark, see the full Azure SQL security baseline mapping file.

Security profile

The security profile summarizes high-impact behaviors of Azure SQL, which may result in increased security considerations.

Service Behavior Attribute	Value
Product Category	Databases
Customer can access HOST / OS	No Access
Service can be deployed into customer's virtual network	True
Stores customer content at rest	True

Network security

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Network security.

NS-1: Establish network segmentation boundaries

Features

Virtual Network Integration

Description: Service supports deployment into customer's private Virtual Network (VNet). Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Deploy the service into a virtual network. Assign private IPs to the resource (where applicable) unless there is a strong reason to assign public IPs directly to the resource.

Reference: Use virtual network service endpoints and rules for servers in Azure SQL Database

Network Security Group Support

Description: Service network traffic respects Network Security Groups rule assignment on its subnets. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Virtual Network Service Tags to define network access controls on network security groups or Azure Firewall configured for your Azure SQL resources. You can use service tags in place of specific IP addresses when creating security rules. By specifying the service tag name in the appropriate source or destination field of a rule, you can allow or deny the traffic for the corresponding service. Microsoft manages the address prefixes encompassed by the service tag and automatically updates the service tag as addresses change. When using service endpoints for Azure SQL Database, outbound to Azure SQL Database Public IP addresses is required: Network Security Groups (NSGs) must be opened to Azure SQL Database IPs to allow connectivity. You can do this by using NSG service tags for Azure SQL Database.

Reference: Use virtual network service endpoints and rules for servers in Azure SQL Database

NS-2: Secure cloud services with network controls

Features

Azure Private Link

Description: Service native IP filtering capability for filtering network traffic (not to be confused with NSG or Azure Firewall). Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Deploy private endpoints for all Azure resources that support the Private Link feature, to establish a private access point for the resources.

Reference: Azure Private Link for Azure SQL Database and Azure Synapse Analytics

Disable Public Network Access

Description: Service supports disabling public network access either through using service-level IP ACL filtering rule (not NSG or Azure Firewall) or using a 'Disable Public Network Access' toggle switch. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Azure SQL connectivity settings

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

Name (Azure portal)	Description	Effect(s)	Version (GitHub)
Azure SQL Managed Instances should disable public network access	Disabling public network access (public endpoint) on Azure SQL Managed Instances improves security by ensuring that they can only be accessed from inside their virtual networks or via Private Endpoints. To learn more about public network access, visit https://aka.ms/mi-public-endpoint.	Audit, Deny, Disabled	1.0.0

Identity management

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Identity management.

IM-1: Use centralized identity and authentication system

Features

Azure AD Authentication Required for Data Plane Access

Description: Service supports using Azure AD authentication for data plane access. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Shared

Feature notes: Azure SQL Database supports multiple data-plane authentication mechanisms, one of which is AAD.

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as the default authentication method to control your data plane access.

Reference: Use Azure Active Directory authentication

Local Authentication Methods for Data Plane Access

Description: Local authentications methods supported for data plane access, such as a local username and password. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Feature notes: Avoid the usage of local authentication methods or accounts, these should be disabled wherever possible. Instead use Azure AD to authenticate where possible.

Configuration Guidance: Restrict the use of local authentication methods for data plane access. Instead, use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as the default authentication method to control your data plane access.

Reference: Azure SQL Database Access

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

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

IM-3: Manage application identities securely and automatically

Features

Managed Identities

Description: Data plane actions support authentication using managed identities. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure managed identities instead of service principals when possible, which can authenticate to Azure services and resources that support Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication. Managed identity credentials are fully managed, rotated, and protected by the platform, avoiding hard-coded credentials in source code or configuration files.

Reference: Managed identities for transparent data encryption with BYOK

Service Principals

Description: Data plane supports authentication using service principals. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Feature notes: Azure SQL DB provides multiple ways to authenticate at the data plane, one of which is Azure AD and includes managed identities and service principals.

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Azure Active Directory service principal with Azure SQL

IM-7: Restrict resource access based on conditions

Features

Conditional Access for Data Plane

Description: Data plane access can be controlled using Azure AD Conditional Access Policies. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Define the applicable conditions and criteria for Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) conditional access in the workload. Consider common use cases such as blocking or granting access from specific locations, blocking risky sign-in behavior, or requiring organization-managed devices for specific applications.

Reference: Conditional Access with Azure SQL Database

IM-8: Restrict the exposure of credential and secrets

Features

Service Credential and Secrets Support Integration and Storage in Azure Key Vault

Description: Data plane supports native use of Azure Key Vault for credential and secrets store. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
False	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Feature notes: Cryptographic keys ONLY can be stored in AKV, not secrets nor user credentials. For example, Transparent Data Encryption protector keys.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Privileged access

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Privileged access.

PA-1: Separate and limit highly privileged/administrative users

Features

Local Admin Accounts

Description: Service has the concept of a local administrative account. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
False	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Feature notes: There is no 'local admin' for Azure SQL DB, there is no sa account either. The account that sets up the instance is an admin, however.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

PA-7: Follow just enough administration (least privilege) principle

Features

Azure RBAC for Data Plane

Description: Azure Role-Based Access Control (Azure RBAC) can be used to managed access to service's data plane actions. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
False	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Feature notes: Azure SQL Database provides a rich, database-specific data-plane authorization model.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

PA-8: Determine access process for cloud provider support

Features

Customer Lockbox

Description: Customer Lockbox can be used for Microsoft support access. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: In support scenarios where Microsoft needs to access your data, use Customer Lockbox to review, then approve or reject each of Microsoft's data access requests.

Data protection

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Data protection.

DP-1: Discover, classify, and label sensitive data

Features

Sensitive Data Discovery and Classification

Description: Tools (such as Azure Purview or Azure Information Protection) can be used for data discovery and classification in the service. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Data Discovery & Classification

DP-2: Monitor anomalies and threats targeting sensitive data

Features

Data Leakage/Loss Prevention

Description: Service supports DLP solution to monitor sensitive data movement (in customer's content). Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
False	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Feature notes: There are tools that can be used with SQL Server for DLP, but there is no built-in support.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

Name (Azure portal)	Description	Effect(s)	Version (GitHub)
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

DP-3: Encrypt sensitive data in transit

Features

Data in Transit Encryption

Description: Service supports data in-transit encryption for data plane. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Minimal TLS version

DP-4: Enable data at rest encryption by default

Features

Data at Rest Encryption Using Platform Keys

Description: Data at-rest encryption using platform keys is supported, any customer content at rest is encrypted with these Microsoft managed keys. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Transparent data encryption for SQL Database, SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

Name (Azure portal)	Description	Effect(s)	Version (GitHub)
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

DP-5: Use customer-managed key option in data at rest encryption when required

Features

Data at Rest Encryption Using CMK

Description: Data at-rest encryption using customer-managed keys is supported for customer content stored by the service. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: If required for regulatory compliance, define the use case and service scope where encryption using customer-managed keys are needed. Enable and implement data at rest encryption using customer-managed key for those services.

Reference: Transparent data encryption for SQL Database, SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

Name (Azure portal)	Description	Effect(s)	Version (GitHub)
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

DP-6: Use a secure key management process

Features

Key Management in Azure Key Vault

Description: The service supports Azure Key Vault integration for any customer keys, secrets, or certificates. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Shared

Feature notes: Certain features can use AKV for keys, for example, when using Always Encrypted.

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Key Vault to create and control the life cycle of your encryption keys (TDE and Always Encrypted), including key generation, distribution, and storage. Rotate and revoke your keys in Azure Key Vault and your service based on a defined schedule or when there is a key retirement or compromise. When there is a need to use customer-managed key (CMK) in the workload, service, or application level, ensure you follow the best practices for key management. If you need to bring your own key (BYOK) to the service (such as importing HSM-protected keys from your on-premises HSMs into Azure Key Vault), follow recommended guidelines to perform initial key generation and key transfer.

Reference: Configure Always Encrypted by using Azure Key Vault

Asset management

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Asset management.

AM-2: Use only approved services

Features

Azure Policy Support

Description: Service configurations can be monitored and enforced via Azure Policy. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Use Microsoft Defender for Cloud to configure Azure Policy to audit and enforce configurations of your Azure resources. Use Azure Monitor to create alerts when there is a configuration deviation detected on the resources. Use Azure Policy [deny] and [deploy if not exists] effects to enforce secure configuration across Azure resources.

Reference: Azure Policy built-in definitions for Azure SQL Database & SQL Managed Instance

Logging and threat detection

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Logging and threat detection.

LT-1: Enable threat detection capabilities

Features

Microsoft Defender for Service / Product Offering

Description: Service has an offering-specific Microsoft Defender solution to monitor and alert on security issues. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Microsoft Defender for Azure SQL helps you discover and mitigate potential database vulnerabilities and alerts you to anomalous activities that may be an indication of a threat to your databases.

Reference: Overview of Microsoft Defender for Azure SQL

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

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

LT-3: Enable logging for security investigation

Other guidance for LT-3

Enable logging at the server level as this will filter down to databases, too.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud monitoring

Azure Policy built-in definitions - Microsoft.Sql:

Name (Azure portal)	Description	Effect(s)	Version (GitHub)
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

LT-4: Enable logging for security investigation

Features

Azure Resource Logs

Description: Service produces resource logs that can provide enhanced service-specific metrics and logging. The customer can configure these resource logs and send them to their own data sink like a storage account or log analytics workspace. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	False	Customer

Configuration Guidance: Enable resource logs for the service. For example, Key Vault supports additional resource logs for actions that get a secret from a key vault or and Azure SQL has resource logs that track requests to a database. The content of resource logs varies by the Azure service and resource type.

Reference: Monitoring Azure SQL Database data reference

Backup and recovery

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Backup and recovery.

BR-1: Ensure regular automated backups

Features

Azure Backup

Description: The service can be backed up by the Azure Backup service. Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
False	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Service Native Backup Capability

Description: Service supports its own native backup capability (if not using Azure Backup). Learn more.

Supported	Enabled By Default	Configuration Responsibility
True	True	Microsoft

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Automated backups - Azure SQL Database

Next steps

• See the Microsoft cloud security benchmark overview
• Learn more about Azure security baselines