Azure security baseline for Event Hubs
This security baseline applies guidance from the Microsoft cloud security benchmark version 1.0 to Event Hubs. 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 Event Hubs.
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 Event Hubs have been excluded. To see how Event Hubs completely maps to the Microsoft cloud security benchmark, see the full Event Hubs security baseline mapping file.
Security profile
The security profile summarizes high-impact behaviors of Event Hubs, which may result in increased security considerations.
Service Behavior Attribute | Value |
---|---|
Product Category | Analytics |
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: Binding an Event Hubs namespace to a virtual network is a two-step process. You first need to create a virtual Network service endpoint on a virtual network's subnet and enable it for Microsoft.EventHub as explained in the service endpoint overview article. Once you've added the service endpoint, you bind the Event Hubs namespace to it with a virtual network rule.
Reference: Allow access to Azure Event Hubs namespaces from specific virtual networks
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 |
Feature notes: Event Hubs supports use of Service Tags, which can be used to define network access controls on network security groups or Azure Firewall.
Configuration Guidance: Use service tags in place of specific IP addresses when you create security rules. By specifying the service tag name (for example, EventHub) in the appropriate source or destination field of a rule, you can allow or deny the traffic for the corresponding service.
Reference: Service Tags
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: Allow access to Azure Event Hubs namespaces via private endpoints
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: Allow access to Azure Event Hubs namespaces from specific IP addresses or ranges
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 | Customer |
Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) as the default authentication method to control your data plane access.
Reference: Authenticate a managed identity with Azure Active Directory to access Event Hubs Resources
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 | True | Microsoft |
Feature notes: A shared access signature (SAS) provides delegated access to Event Hubs resources based on authorization rules. An authorization rule has a name, is associated with specific rights, and carries a pair of cryptographic keys. You use the rule’s name and key via the Event Hubs clients or in your own code to generate SAS tokens. A client can then pass the token to Event Hubs to prove authorization for the requested operation. 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: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.
Reference: Authenticate access to Event Hubs resources using shared access signatures (SAS)
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: Authenticate a managed identity with Azure Active Directory to access Event Hubs Resources
Service Principals
Description: Data plane supports authentication using service principals. Learn more.
Supported | Enabled By Default | Configuration Responsibility |
---|---|---|
True | False | Customer |
Configuration Guidance: There is no current Microsoft guidance for this feature configuration. Please review and determine if your organization wants to configure this security feature.
Reference: Authenticate an application with Azure Active Directory to access Event Hubs resources
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.
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 |
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 |
---|---|---|
True | True | Microsoft |
Feature notes: When you create an Event Hubs namespace, a policy rule named RootManageSharedAccessKey is automatically created for the namespace. This policy has manage permissions for the entire namespace. It’s recommended that you treat this rule like an administrative root account and don’t use it in your application. You can create additional policy rules in the Configure tab for the namespace in the portal, via PowerShell or Azure CLI. 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: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.
Reference: Authorizing access to Event Hubs resources using Shared Access Signatures
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 |
---|---|---|
True | False | Customer |
Configuration Guidance: Use Azure role-based access control (Azure RBAC) to manage Azure resource access through built-in role assignments. Azure RBAC roles can be assigned to users, groups, service principals, and managed identities.
Reference: Authorize access to Event Hubs resources using Azure Active Directory
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 |
---|---|---|
False | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
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 |
---|---|---|
False | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
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 |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
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: Configure the minimum TLS version for an Event Hubs namespace
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: Configure customer-managed keys for encrypting Azure Event Hubs data at rest
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: Configure customer-managed keys for encrypting Azure Event Hubs data at rest
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 | Customer |
Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Key Vault to create and control the life cycle of your encryption keys, 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: Use a key hierarchy to generate a separate data encryption key (DEK) with your key encryption key (KEK) in your key vault. Ensure keys are registered with Azure Key Vault and referenced via key IDs from the service or application. 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 customer-managed keys for encrypting Azure Event Hubs data at rest
DP-7: Use a secure certificate management process
Features
Certificate Management in Azure Key Vault
Description: The service supports Azure Key Vault integration for any customer certificates. Learn more.
Supported | Enabled By Default | Configuration Responsibility |
---|---|---|
False | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
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 Regulatory Compliance controls for Azure Event Hubs
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 |
---|---|---|
False | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
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 data from Azure Event Hubs
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 |
---|---|---|
False | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.
Next steps
- See the Microsoft cloud security benchmark overview
- Learn more about Azure security baselines