Azure Security Do’s and Don’ts: A Developer’s Checklist for Secure Azure Applications

In this episode of Azure on Air, Lex is joined by Andrew Wilson from Black Marble to discuss the importance of security in Azure solutions. They delve into the topic of having a “security first” mindset and how it should be a priority in every stage of the development process.

The Three A’s: Access, Authentication, and Authorization

Andrew emphasizes the significance of the three A’s: Access, Authentication, and Authorization. By keeping these concepts in mind from the requirements stage to the point of delivery, developers can ensure that their solutions are secure and free from vulnerabilities.

The Blast Radius: Minimizing the Impact of Security Breaches

Another critical aspect of security in Azure solutions is minimizing the blast radius, or the potential impact of a security breach. By granting services and identities only the permissions they need and no more, developers can limit the damage that can be done if a security breach occurs.

Managed Identities: Removing Manual Management

Managed identities are powerful for removing manual management and reducing the risk of security breaches. By using managed identities, developers can specify roles and access based on the identity of a service, rather than using keys that may need to be rolled over or may be visible and vulnerable to attackers.

Observability: Tracking Integrations End-to-End

Observability is key to ensuring that Azure solutions are working as intended and within acceptable bounds. By using tools like App Insights and Log Analytics, developers can track integrations end-to-end and gain insights into performance, usage, and other important metrics.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, security should be a top priority for developers building Azure solutions. By keeping the three A’s in mind, minimizing the blast radius, using managed identities, and ensuring observability, developers can build secure and reliable solutions that meet the needs of their customers.