How Azure Key Vault protects secrets

Azure Key Vault keeps your secrets safe with many strong security layers. You can save disk encryption keys and application secrets like database passwords. You can also store certificates for safe web traffic. Azure Key Vault helps you protect important things like passwords, cryptographic keys, and certificates from people who should not see them. > Knowing about these features helps you handle secrets well and keep your cloud safe.

Key Takeaways

• Azure Key Vault keeps secrets safe with strong controls. It uses Role-Based Access Control and access policies. These controls limit who can see or change secrets.

• It protects secrets with strong encryption methods. Hardware security modules and envelope encryption help keep keys safe. Keys never leave secure hardware.

• You can manage secrets with easy features. Versioning, automatic rotation, and automation tools help reduce mistakes. These tools keep secrets up to date.

• Monitoring tools like logging and alerts help you watch secret access. They warn you about strange activity. This helps stop threats fast.

• Best practices include giving only needed permissions. Review access often. Use secure app integration. Turn on recovery features like soft delete and purge protection.

Azure Key Vault Access Control

Azure Key Vault uses strong rules to keep secrets safe. You can choose who can see or change secrets, keys, and certificates. This helps stop people from getting access they should not have. Many cloud security problems happen because of bad access rules. You need to set up rules carefully to avoid these risks.

Role-Based Access

You can use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) with Azure Key Vault. It helps you manage who can do things. Azure AD lets you make accounts for users, apps, or workflows. You can give roles to these accounts. Each role lets people do different things.

Here are some common roles you can use:

You give these roles using Azure RBAC. This system lets you manage access in one place. You can give roles to users, groups, or apps. This makes it easier to control and check who has access.

Tip: Only give people the roles they need. Too many permissions can cause security problems.

Access Policies

Access policies are another way to control access in Azure Key Vault. You can set permissions on the vault for each user or app. This method gives you fine control, but it can get hard if you have many users.

Microsoft says you should use Azure RBAC most of the time. RBAC gives you better control, easier management, and better security. Access policies can help for special needs, but use them carefully.

Authentication

Authentication checks if a user or app is really who they say. Azure Key Vault uses Azure AD for this. When you want to get a secret, you must sign in with your Azure AD account or app registration. Azure AD gives you a token if you have the right info. Azure Key Vault checks this token before letting you in.

Here is how it works:

• You register an app in Azure AD.

• You collect values like client ID, secret, and tenant ID.

• You use these values to set up your app or workflow.

• Azure AD gives your app a token when it signs in.

• Azure Key Vault checks the token and the role.

• If the role allows it, your app can get or set secrets.

You can also check who gets into secrets. Azure Key Vault lets you turn on logging. These logs show who got into the vault, what they did, and when. You can store logs in Azure Storage or send them to Log Analytics. You can set up alerts for strange activity. This helps you find and stop unwanted access.

Note: Bad access rules cause many cloud security problems. Make sure you check and update your access rules often.

Encryption and Storage

Azure Key Vault keeps your secrets safe with strong encryption. It uses secure storage to protect your data. There are many layers of defense. These layers stop both digital and physical threats. This part shows how these protections work.

Hardware Security Modules

You put your cryptographic keys in special hardware devices called Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). HSMs are hard to break into. They follow strict security rules like FIPS 140-2 Level 2 and Level 3. When you make or bring in a key, the HSM keeps it inside. The key never leaves the HSM in clear text. Not even Microsoft can see your keys. This keeps hackers and malware away from your secrets. HSMs use role-based authentication and tamper evidence. Only trusted users can use the keys. You can also notice if someone tries to break in.

HSMs give you better security than software key storage. They help you follow rules for healthcare and finance.

Encryption at Rest

When you save a secret in Azure Key Vault, it uses envelope encryption. This means two types of keys protect your secrets:

• Key Encryption Keys (KEKs): These keys protect other keys. They use strong algorithms like RSA-OAEP-256.

• Data Encryption Keys (DEKs): These keys encrypt your secrets. They use symmetric algorithms like AES-256.

Here is how it works. The DEK encrypts your secret. Then the KEK encrypts the DEK. The KEK always stays inside the HSM. This keeps your secrets safe, even if someone tries to break in.

Some cryptographic algorithms used are:

• RSA-OAEP-256 (best for strong security)

• RSA-OAEP (older, less strong)

• RSA1_5 (for older systems)

• AES-KW (AES Key Wrap)

• AES-GCM (Galois Counter Mode)

• AES-CBC (Cipher Block Chaining Mode)

Using 256-bit keys with these algorithms gives you strong protection. This helps even against future quantum computers. Microsoft says to use RSA-OAEP-256 or stronger for best security.

Envelope encryption keeps secrets safe. Only allowed users can unlock them. The KEK never leaves the vault, so attackers cannot get your most sensitive keys.

Encryption in Transit

Your secrets are safe when stored and when moving across networks. Azure Key Vault uses secure ways to send your data.

• Data moves over Transport Layer Security (TLS). TLS gives privacy and message safety.

• For traffic between Azure datacenters, Azure uses MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE). This stops physical interception.

• TLS connections have features like Perfect Forward Secrecy (PFS), RSA 2048-bit keys, ECC 256-bit keys, SHA-384, and AES-256 encryption.

• All storage actions need HTTPS. Your secrets never travel in plain text.

• If you use Azure Virtual Networks, you can turn on SMB 3.0 encryption for extra safety.

You can also use network isolation. You can limit access to your Key Vault. Only trusted networks can reach it. This lowers the chance of someone stealing your secrets.

Always use HTTPS and watch your Key Vault access. These steps help keep your secrets safe from spying and tampering.

Secret Management

Creation and Versioning

You can make secrets, keys, and certificates in different ways. You can use the Azure Portal, CLI, or SDKs to do this. When you add a new value with the same name, it makes a new version. The newest version is the one that works, but old versions stay in the vault. This helps you go back if you need an older value. Certificates have their own keys and secrets. When you make a certificate, its details and tags match its key and secret. A certificate policy tells how the certificate is made and managed. This policy has things like key type, length, and what to do when it needs to be renewed or expires. Versioning helps you see changes and keep your data safe.

Tip: Versioning lets you fix mistakes or go back to a safe version if something goes wrong.

Rotation

Secret rotation means you change secrets, keys, or certificates often. You do not have to follow a set time, but you should rotate secrets a lot. Changing secrets often makes it harder for attackers to use stolen secrets. It also helps when people leave or jobs change. Many companies use automatic rotation to keep secrets new and lower risk. You can use rotation policies to set rules for when and how secrets change. This helps you follow rules and keeps your data safe.

• Changing secrets often makes it harder to use old or stolen secrets.

• Automatic rotation keeps secrets new with less work.

• Rotation helps you follow security rules in some jobs.

Automation

Automation tools help you manage secrets without doing everything yourself. You can use Azure Logic Apps to make, change, or send alerts about secrets. These tools let you set up workflows to handle secret changes and warn you before secrets expire. Some platforms, like AppViewX AVX ONE, can renew certificates and rotate keys by themselves. Automation lowers mistakes and keeps secrets safe. It also helps you act fast if a secret is in danger. Using automation makes secret management easier and safer.

Note: Automated secret management lowers the chance of leaks and helps your systems work well.

Monitoring

Logging

You need to watch what happens in your key vault. Logging lets you see who got into secrets and when. It also shows what they tried to do. Activity logs help you track changes or access to keys, secrets, and certificates. These logs work with Microsoft Defender for Cloud. This tool uses smart computer programs to find strange or risky actions. For example, it can spot someone trying to get in without permission or from a new place. You can send logs to Azure Monitor Logs. There, you can use Log Analytics and Kusto Query Language (KQL) to search for details. This helps you find problems early and see patterns.

Tip: Always turn on logging. It helps you know if someone tries to break in or steal secrets.

Alerts

Alerts tell you when something odd happens. You get alerts if someone changes, deletes, backs up, or restores secrets and keys. You also get alerts if someone changes access rules or tries to delete the whole vault. These alerts come from activity logs and Microsoft Entra events. Some alerts look for changes to the vault or its settings, deletion or backup of secrets and keys, many failed tries to read secrets in a short time, or use of tools that try to steal secrets or raise permissions. Each alert has a level, like medium or high. The system checks who did it, what device they used, and where they were. This helps stop false alarms. You can use alerts to act fast and keep secrets safe.

Compliance

You have to follow rules to keep data safe. Monitoring helps you meet many standards. These include logging, deletion protection, and making sure you can get back deleted secrets. The table below shows some standards you can meet:

Note: Following these standards helps you show your system is safe and ready for checks.

Recovery Features

Soft Delete

Soft delete works like a recycle bin for your secrets. When you delete something, it does not go away right away. The system keeps it safe for up to 90 days. You can get it back if you made a mistake or changed your mind. This helps you not lose important data by accident. You cannot use the same name for a deleted item until you recover or remove it. Once you turn on soft delete, you cannot turn it off. This feature protects you from losing secrets by mistake or on purpose.

• Deleted items can be brought back for 90 days.

• You can restore secrets, keys, or certificates easily.

• You can set the time between 7 and 90 days.

• Soft delete is always turned on for new vaults.

Tip: Soft delete helps you follow security rules and keeps your data safe from mistakes.

Purge Protection

Purge protection adds more safety for your secrets. When you turn it on, no one can remove items forever during the safe time. Even people with high-level access cannot change this. Purge protection makes sure deleted secrets stay safe until the time is up. This stops bad actions from inside or outside. Only trusted users can remove items forever after the safe time. You cannot turn off purge protection or get around it, not even Microsoft.

• Purge protection stops permanent removal during the safe time.

• Only special users can remove items after the safe time.

• You cannot change the safe time once it is set.

• Purge protection and soft delete work together to keep secrets safe.

Note: Purge protection is like a locked recycle bin. No one can empty it too soon.

Backup

Backup lets you save copies of your secrets for emergencies. You can use PowerShell to back up and restore items. Store your backups in a safe place. You can put them back in the same vault or a new one. Backups help you recover fast if something goes wrong. Test your recovery plan often to make sure it works. Only trusted people should handle backups. Always encrypt your backups to keep them safe.

1. Use PowerShell to back up and restore items.

2. Keep backups in a safe place.

3. Test your recovery plan often.

4. Only let trusted people handle backups.

5. Encrypt backups for extra safety.

Tip: Automate backup and recovery to make fewer mistakes and save time.

Best Practices

Least Privilege

You should always use least privilege. This means you only give people or apps the permissions they need. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to set permissions for each app or service at the vault. Here are some ways to use least privilege:

• Only give permissions to people who need them for work.

• Use just-in-time access for admins with Privileged Identity Management (PIM). This adds extra steps like approvals and multi-factor checks.

• Limit network access with Private Link, firewalls, or virtual networks.

• Do not use old access policies. They have security problems and do not work with PIM.

• Make a different Key Vault for each app and environment. This keeps secrets apart.

• Use managed identities for apps and services. You do not need to share passwords.

• Check and review access policies often to find and fix issues.

Tip: Giving fewer permissions lowers the chance of mistakes or attacks.

Regular Review

You need to check who can get to your secrets often. This makes sure only the right people and services have access. Follow these steps to keep your vault safe:

1. Make a schedule to review access. You can check every month, three months, or year.

2. Choose reviewers who know your system well.

3. Look at all access rights and see if each one is still needed.

4. Remove access for anyone who does not need it anymore.

5. Use automation to take away access when it is not needed.

Regular reviews help you find problems early and keep secrets safe.

Secure Integration

You should connect your apps to your vault in a safe way. Here are some things to do:

1. Use a different vault for each environment, like development or production.

2. Let your apps use managed identities to sign in. This means you do not need passwords.

3. Change secrets often to keep them safe and lower risk.

4. Give each app or service only the permissions it needs.

5. Never put vault URLs or secrets in your code or logs.

When you use managed identities, your apps can get secrets without saving passwords. This keeps secrets safe behind firewalls and away from attackers.

Secure integration keeps your secrets safe and makes your system stronger.

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Azure Key Vault keeps your secrets safe in many ways. It uses strong access control, encryption, and monitoring. It also has tools to help you recover secrets if needed. You get automatic versioning and audit logging. It is easy to use with other Azure services.

• You should check your security settings often. This helps you find mistakes and make sure only trusted people have access.

• If you automate secret rotation and use private networks, your secrets are even safer.

Always follow best practices and check your settings often. This gives you the best protection for your important data.

FAQ

What is Azure Key Vault used for?

You use Azure Key Vault to store secrets, keys, and certificates. It helps you keep passwords, connection strings, and encryption keys safe. You can control who gets access and track all actions.

What happens if you delete a secret by mistake?

Azure Key Vault uses soft delete. When you delete a secret, you can recover it for up to 90 days. You cannot lose it right away. This feature protects you from mistakes.

What types of secrets can you store in Azure Key Vault?

You can store many types of secrets. These include passwords, API keys, database connection strings, and certificates. You can also keep cryptographic keys for data encryption.

What is the difference between access policies and RBAC in Key Vault?

You use RBAC for easier and broader control.

What should you do if you see suspicious activity in your Key Vault?

You should check the logs right away. Look for who accessed the secrets and what they did. Set up alerts to warn you about strange actions. If you find a problem, change your access rules and rotate secrets.