Top 10 Riskiest Azure Misconfigurations and Vulnerabilities

Microsoft Azure contains some default settings that can make your cloud vulnerable. Here are 10 Azure misconfigurations that you need to resolve to ensure the security of your users and cloud resources. 

Currently, most companies are shifting their in-house infrastructure to the cloud. However, Azure misconfigurations are the biggest threat to cloud environments as organisations continue to accelerate their digital transformation. While creating remote workplaces, you need to mitigate the underlying risks before hackers begin exploiting them. 

An Azure cloud environment comes with pre-configured basic features like minimum security settings, which are not enough to keep your cloud safe. You need to make an extra effort to secure your remote workplaces and make them less prone to cyberattacks from external parties. 

Top 10 Azure Misconfigurations and Vulnerabilities

The security of any cloud infrastructure depends on its configurations. Here are ten common Azure misconfigurations and vulnerabilities to your remote workplaces that you should watch out for:

Keeping DDoS protection on basic

By default, Azure follows a basic DDoS protection service that is not secure enough. Without the Standard DDoS protection, you will not have: 

• Real-time telemetry and traffic monitoring 
• Attack alerts and notifications 
• Adaptive tuning and traffic profiling 
• Detailed attack analysis

Without these essential features, you will be unable to defend your cloud structure from network-based DDoS attacks. Therefore, you should enable the Standard DDoS protection for all VNets of your organisation. 

Using Azure without email notifications

Most production environments run without email notifications, a common Azure misconfiguration. Therefore, you should configure an active email address through the Azure Security Center to receive notifications regarding any device compromises. It’s essential to have the cloud send you emails to avoid pipeline mishaps or interruptions. 

Missing log alerts

Azure lets you monitor and set custom alerts according to your deployed services. Without proper configuration, you will not see the issues in your cloud environment and will rely on the basic Azure security features. Here are some critical logs you will miss out on: 

• Metric values 
• Log search
• Activity log 
• Azure platform health 

Letting users log in without Multi-Factor Authentication

Ideally, you should have a second layer of authentication to keep your cloud secure, but multi-factor authentication (MFA) is not enabled by default. Your cloud will be vulnerable if you allow users to log in to your remote workplace without resolving this Azure misconfiguration. MFA ensures no malicious devices can log in to the directory through the login credentials of a compromised employee. 

Relying on Basic SKU for IPs

The main concern with Basic SKU is openness; the public IP address assigned will have complete exposure to the internet. Therefore, unwanted exposure is undesirable if your Azure cloud focuses on production environments. Here are the advantages you will miss if you don’t configure Standard SKU: 

• Static IP addresses 
• IPs closed to inbound traffic
• Zoning 
• Scalability 

Keeping static IPs for services that are exposed to the public

Static IP is among the major Azure misconfigurations for your public-facing systems, as anyone can identify and target them from the internet. Without dynamic IPs, you will not be able to able to discard the following identifiable information after a reboot or DHCP lease renewal:

• DNS records
• Logs
• System integrations

Adding numerous guest users to your Azure AD 

You can add vendors or contractors as guest users to your Active Directory (AD). However, they are outsiders, and you should keep the number of guests minimum. Most organisations leave their guests unchecked and forget to revoke their access when they’re no longer required. Unwanted guests can facilitate data breaches that can compromise your cloud security. 

Forgetting to turn on Identity Protection

Azure Identity Protection is an extra security layer that protects your AD users and mitigates login risks. However, this feature is turned off by default, and you need to enforce the policy from the “Admin Control Panel.” Without Identity Protection, you will not be able to detect: 

• Atypical user behaviour 
• Malware attachments
• Credential leaks 
• Password retries 

Keeping Azure Network Watcher disabled 

Organisations need Azure Network Watcher to understand and troubleshoot network issues within their network. However, the Network Watcher is disabled by default, even when it’s a vital diagnostic and visualisation tool. You will not be able to get a network flow analysis if any Azure misconfigurations run in the background. 

Allowing unrestricted access to the Azure AD administration portal

The Active Directory admin portal contains sensitive information; any user from your directory can access it. Any user can access secure files or invite unauthorised people to the cloud. Therefore, allowing unrestricted access is a significant security hazard for your Azure cloud. 

Conclusion

Some Azure misconfigurations are by-default, and you need to resolve them to keep your cloud secure. You will be vulnerable to cyberattacks without taking measures to resolve these misconfigurations, as basic security features are not enough to keep your cloud secure. 

Want to keep your cloud secure? Get in touch with our Azure hybrid cloud experts to resolve all misconfigurations.

Reuben Campbell

I am a passionate System's Engineer & part-time lecturer from New Zealand, who loves going the extra mile, as seeing your work come to fruition is one of life's greatest gifts, whether with engineering projects or seeing students succeed in their studies. Although I am from New Zealand I have close friends from all over the globe, what an age we live in!