Table of Contents
Azure Storage accounts can be configured to allow access from specific virtual networks (VNets). This service endpoint can be enabled for a given VNet/subnet, ensuring that only traffic originating from that network can access the storage account.
Apart from VNets, you can also configure firewall rules to allow access from certain public IP addresses or IP ranges.
Private endpoints provide a private IP address within a VNet for the storage account, offering secure connectivity over Microsoft’s private network rather than going over the public internet.
Azure uses service tags to define network access controls on networking appliances for several Azure resources. You might configure network security groups (NSGs) with specific tags to limit access to your storage account.
Priority: 100
Name: Allow-Storage
Port: Any
Protocol: Any
Source: VirtualNetwork
Destination: ServiceTag
Destination Service Tag: Storage.[Region]
Action: Allow
Enable advanced threat protection (ATP) for your storage accounts to detect unusual and potentially harmful attempts to access or exploit storage accounts.
Azure provides monitoring and logging capabilities, such as Azure Monitor and Azure Storage Analytics, to track access requests and generate alerts for unusual activities.
By combining these configurations, administrators can create a robust network access policy tailored to their organization’s needs while also preparing for scenarios likely to be covered in the AZ-104 exam.
A comparison of access controls:
Access Method | Description | Use Case |
---|---|---|
VNet Integration | Limit access to storage accounts from specific VNets | Secure communication within Azure |
IP Rules | Whitelist certain IP addresses/ranges | Allow external workloads with known IPs |
Private Endpoints | Provide a private address for the account within a VNet | Securely connect from customer-owned VNets |
Service Tags | Use predefined tags for Azure resources in NSGs | Simplify setup for network access controls by region |
ATP | Protection against threats targeting the storage account | Enhance security posture against cyber threats |
Logging | Detailed information on requests to storage account services | Auditing and troubleshooting storage access activities |
Each access method offers unique advantages, depending on the specific security and architecture requirements of the Azure infrastructure. An Azure Administrator should be knowledgeable about when and how to implement each for maximum security and compliance.
Explanation: Azure Storage accounts can be configured with virtual network service endpoints to restrict access to selected VNets.
Explanation: Shared access signatures provide secure delegated access without exposing account keys. They can be created independently of access keys.
Answer: D) Virtual Network Service Endpoints and IP network rules
Explanation: Virtual Network Service Endpoints and IP network rules are used to define network access to Azure Storage accounts according to IP address range or VNet.
Explanation: When a service endpoint is configured for a storage account, traffic from the VNet is restricted to the specified storage account unless rules are defined to allow access to other accounts.
Answer: A) Azure Firewall
Explanation: Azure Firewall offers a highly available and scalable service that creates a barrier between Azure virtual networks and the internet to provide an additional layer of network security.
Explanation: CORS is a feature that allows or denies requests to Azure Storage services based on the origin of the request, which can be a different domain, scheme, or port.
Answer: A) Account-level SAS
Explanation: An account-level SAS allows you to grant access to resources in one or more of the storage services within multiple storage accounts.
Explanation: Azure Private Link enables you to access Azure Storage accounts through a private endpoint within your virtual network, providing secure connectivity without exposure to the public internet.
Answer: B) To secure stored data at rest
Explanation: Azure Storage Service Encryption is used to encrypt data at rest to ensure that the data is secure and meets compliance requirements for encryption.
Answer: B) Regenerating storage account access keys
Explanation: Regenerating access keys invalidates all previously issued SAS tokens that are based on those keys and requires new SAS to be created for continued access.
Storage account network security enables you to control access to your storage account over a network.
A storage account can be accessed by the internet, Azure virtual networks, or a combination of both.
You can secure a storage account by configuring network security rules, using Azure Private Link, or by creating a virtual network service endpoint.
A network security rule is a rule that controls inbound and outbound network traffic for a storage account.
You can create a network security rule by specifying the source IP address range, destination IP address range, protocol, and action (allow or deny).
Azure Private Link is a networking feature that allows you to access a service over a private endpoint in your virtual network.
With Azure Private Link, you can create a private endpoint for your storage account, which allows you to access your storage account securely over your virtual network.
A virtual network service endpoint is a connection to a specific Azure service over the virtual network.
You can create a virtual network service endpoint for a storage account by specifying the virtual network and subnet, and the storage account.
The benefits of using network security for storage accounts include increased security, improved performance, and reduced costs.
You can monitor network access to a storage account by reviewing the logs in Azure Monitor or by using Azure Storage Analytics.
Public endpoints allow you to access a storage account over the internet, while private endpoints allow you to access a storage account over a virtual network.
Yes, you can configure network security rules for a specific container within a storage account by using a shared access signature (SAS).
You can test your network security configuration for a storage account by using the Azure Storage Explorer to attempt to connect to your storage account.
The recommended approach for securing a storage account over a virtual network is to use Azure Private Link.
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