Tutorial / Cram Notes

Azure Key Vault is a centralized service that allows users to manage their encryption keys, secrets, and certificates. To enable key rotation for keys stored in Azure Key Vault:

  • Create a Key Vault if not already present:
    • Use the Azure portal, Azure PowerShell, or the Azure CLI to create a new Key Vault.
    • Define access policies for the Key Vault to determine which identities can manage keys.
  • Generate or Import a Key:
    • In the Key Vault, create a new key or import an existing one.
    • Choose the key type and set the activation and expiration dates if needed.
  • Versioning:
    • Azure Key Vault supports key versioning; every time you create a new version of a key, the previous versions can still be accessed if needed.
  • Automate Rotation:
    • There is no built-in feature that automatically rotates keys in Azure Key Vault as of the knowledge cutoff date.
    • Implement a rotation policy using Azure Functions or Logic Apps to create a new key version at defined intervals.
    • Use Azure Event Grid to trigger the function or app based on a schedule or a specific event.
  • Update Key Identifiers:
    • After rotation, update applications and services to reference the new key version.
    • Leverage the Key Vault references in App Service and Azure Functions for automatic key retrieval without code changes.
  • Logging and Monitoring:
    • Monitor the Key Vault with Azure Monitor and enable logging to keep track of key operations and access.

Azure Storage Account

For Azure Storage Accounts, rotating keys involves periodically changing the storage account keys:

  • Access Keys:
    • Azure Storage Accounts are equipped with two keys, key1, and key2, to facilitate rotation without downtime.
    • Access the Azure portal to manually rotate these keys, or use Azure CLI or PowerShell.
  • Regenerating Keys:
    • To rotate a key, regenerate either key1 or key2 in the Azure portal or through Azure CLI or PowerShell.
    • Update all connection strings and configurations to use the new key.
  • Automating Rotation:
    • Similar to Azure Key Vault, create automation scripts using Azure Automation, Logic Apps, or Functions to rotate keys at specified intervals.

Other Azure Services

Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and many other services that use encryption also support key rotation. The general principles for key rotation with these services are similar:

  • Rotate keys regularly to minimize the risk of key compromise.
  • Make sure that service connections use the latest key version.
  • Enable auditing and monitoring to capture key rotation events.

Conclusion

When planning for key rotation, consider the following best practices:

  • Establish a clear rotation timeline based on compliance requirements and best practices.
  • Confirm no downtime will occur by testing the rotation process in a non-production environment.
  • Implement an alerting mechanism to notify administrators before manual rotation deadlines.
  • Document all procedures for key rotation and ensure the disaster recovery plan includes steps to handle a potential key compromise.

Remember that while Azure provides tools and features to support key rotation, following these practices will enhance your overall security posture and will demonstrate a thorough understanding of configuring key rotation, which is essential for candidates preparing for the AZ-500 Microsoft Azure Security Technologies exam.

Practice Test with Explanation

True or False: In Azure, you can enable automatic key rotation for all types of cryptographic keys.

  • Answer: False

Automatic key rotation is not supported for all types of cryptographic keys in Azure. Azure Key Vault allows you to manually rotate keys by creating a new version of the key, but the process is not automatic for all key types.

Azure Key Vault supports manual key rotation by adding a new key version.

  • Answer: True

Azure Key Vault supports manual key rotation. Users can create a new version of a key to effectively rotate it, thus changing the material of the key while keeping the same key identifier.

Select all the scenarios where key rotation is recommended. (Choose all that apply)

  • A. After a key compromise is suspected or detected
  • B. At regular intervals as part of organizational policy
  • C. Immediately after an employee with key access leaves the company
  • D. When transitioning from test to production environment

Answer: A, B, C

Key rotation is recommended after a key compromise, as part of regular security hygiene/practices in line with organizational policy, and after an employee who had access to the key leaves the company. While transitioning from test to production might involve many security practices, key rotation isn’t specifically a requirement unless the keys from the test environment were compromised or shouldn’t be used in production for security reasons.

True or False: Azure automatically rotates storage account keys by default.

  • Answer: False

Azure does not automatically rotate storage account keys by default. Users can manually rotate these keys or automate the rotation themselves using Azure Automation, Azure Functions, or other automation solutions.

When configuring key rotation, which of the following should be considered in an Azure environment? (Choose all that apply)

  • A. Key type and usage
  • B. Regulatory compliance requirements
  • C. Coordinates of where the key is physically stored
  • D. Lifecycle management policy

Answer: A, B, D

Key type and usage, regulatory compliance requirements, and lifecycle management policy should all be considered when configuring key rotation. The physical storage location of the key (coordinates) is not directly relevant to the rotation process itself.

True or False: You can use Azure Policy to enforce key rotation within a certain duration.

  • Answer: True

Azure Policy can be used to enforce certain governance conditions, including the rotation of keys within a set period, by applying specific policy definitions that audit or enforce these practices.

Which Azure service can you use to automate the rotation of keys and secrets?

  • A. Azure Automation
  • B. Azure Active Directory
  • C. Azure Cognitive Services
  • D. Azure Machine Learning

Answer: A

Azure Automation is a service that can be used to automate repetitive and complex tasks, such as the rotation of keys and secrets within Azure Key Vault.

True or False: Key rotation in Azure requires downtime or service interruption.

  • Answer: False

Key rotation in Azure does not require downtime or service interruption. Key Vault enables you to create new versions of a key, and applications can be designed to use the latest version without interruption.

Which of the following is an Azure tool that can help with managing the lifecycle of keys and secrets, including rotation?

  • A. Azure Security Center
  • B. Azure Logic Apps
  • C. Azure Key Vault
  • D. Azure Advisor

Answer: C

Azure Key Vault is the tool that helps with managing the lifecycle of keys, secrets, and certificates, including their rotation.

True or False: It is a best practice to have the same access policies in place for all key versions in Azure Key Vault.

  • Answer: True

It is a best practice to have uniform access policies for all versions of a key in Azure Key Vault so that applications using the key do not encounter unexpected access issues when a new key version is introduced.

Key rotation in Azure can be monitored using:

  • A. Azure Monitor
  • B. Azure Service Health
  • C. Azure Cost Management
  • D. Azure Sentinel

Answer: A

Azure Monitor can be used to track and monitor operations, including key rotation events within the Azure Key Vault.

True or False: Azure Key Vault allows you to rotate keys without creating a new key identifier for each new key version.

  • Answer: True

Azure Key Vault allows for the rotation of keys by creating new key versions without changing the key identifier. This helps simplify key management for applications that reference these keys for encryption and decryption operations.

Interview Questions

What are keys in Azure Key Vault?

Keys in Azure Key Vault are cryptographic keys used to encrypt and decrypt data, as well as to digitally sign and verify data.

How often should keys be rotated?

Keys should be rotated periodically according to your organization’s security policies, typically every 6-12 months.

What is key rotation?

Key rotation is the process of replacing existing keys with new ones to enhance the security of your data.

How can you enable key rotation for keys in Azure Key Vault?

You can enable key rotation for keys in Azure Key Vault by setting the “EnableSoftDelete” and “EnablePurgeProtection” properties to true.

What is secrets rotation?

Secrets rotation is the process of periodically changing the values of secrets stored in Azure Key Vault to enhance their security.

How can you rotate a secret in Azure Key Vault?

You can rotate a secret in Azure Key Vault by creating a new version of the secret with the updated value, and then updating the application to use the new version.

What is certificate rotation?

Certificate rotation is the process of periodically renewing or replacing digital certificates to ensure the continued security of your applications.

How can you enable certificate rotation in Azure Key Vault?

You can enable certificate rotation in Azure Key Vault by configuring a certificate policy that specifies the desired settings for certificate expiration, renewal, and replacement.

What is the purpose of key-rotation log monitoring in Azure Key Vault?

Key-rotation log monitoring in Azure Key Vault provides visibility into key rotation events, including the creation, rotation, and deletion of keys, and can help identify and troubleshoot issues related to key rotation.

What is the purpose of secrets rotation in Azure Key Vault?

Secrets rotation in Azure Key Vault helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data by periodically changing the values of secrets used by your applications.

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Svitomir Belonenko
1 year ago

Configuring key rotation in Azure Key Vault is crucial for security. Does anyone know if there’s a specific interval recommended for rotating keys?

Umang Saniel
2 years ago

Can someone explain how to create a key rotation policy using PowerShell?

Colette Philippe
1 year ago

Is using a predefined policy better than creating a custom one for key rotation?

Natividad Pulido
1 year ago

Great post, very informative!

Denis Menge
8 months ago

Can automated key rotation affect application performance?

Apolónio Freitas
2 years ago

Does Azure Key Vault support notifications for upcoming key rotations?

Alexander Petersen
1 year ago

Could you discuss the benefits of manual key rotation over automated key rotation?

Ann Evans
1 year ago

This blog saved me a lot of time, thanks!

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