Understanding Azure Key Vault

Introduction

Azure Key Vault is a cloud service designed to securely store and manage sensitive information like encryption keys, secrets, and certificates. It’s a crucial tool for improving the security of our applications and services by providing centralized and secure access to our data.

Why Use Azure Key Vault?

1. Secure Storage: Protect sensitive information such as API keys, passwords, and certificates.

2. Centralized Management: Store and manage all our secrets in one place.

3. Access Control: Use Microsoft Entra ID to control who can access our data.

4. Enhanced Security Features: Enable features like soft-delete and purge protection to prevent accidental or malicious data loss.

Key Features of Azure Key Vault

• Secrets Management: Store and access sensitive information securely.

• Key Management: Create and control cryptographic keys for encryption and decryption.

• Certificate Management: Simplify the handling of SSL/TLS certificates.

• Access Policies: Control access to the vault through role-based access control (RBAC).

• Integration: Works seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure Storage, Virtual Machines, and more.

Understanding Soft-Delete and Purge Protection

Azure Key Vault is a cloud service that securely stores and manages sensitive information like encryption keys, secrets, and certificates. To enhance data protection, Azure Key Vault offers features such as Soft-Delete and Purge Protection.

Soft-Delete

Soft-Delete acts like a recycle bin for our Key Vault objects. When we delete a key, secret, or certificate, it's not immediately removed but instead marked as "deleted" and retained for a configurable retention period (default is 90 days). During this time, we can recover the deleted items if needed. This feature helps prevent accidental loss of critical data.

Purge Protection

Purge Protection adds an extra layer of security by preventing the permanent deletion (purging) of Key Vault objects during the soft-delete retention period. When enabled, even if someone attempts to purge a soft-deleted item, Azure Key Vault will block the operation until the retention period expires. This ensures that deleted items remain recoverable for the entire retention duration, protecting against malicious or accidental purging.

How to Set Up Azure Key Vault

Setting up Azure Key Vault is simple. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Prerequisites

1. An active Azure subscription.

2. A Resource Group to organize our Azure resources.

Step 2: Create a Key Vault

1. Log in to the Azure Portal.

2. Search for Key Vault in the search bar and select it.

3. Click on + Create to start creating a new Key Vault.

4. Fill in the required details:

   • Subscription: Choose our Azure subscription.

   • Resource Group: Select an existing group or create a new one.

   • Key Vault Name: Provide a unique name for our vault.

   • Region: Select a region (e.g., East US).

   • Pricing Tier: Select Standard or Premium.

5. Enable Soft-Delete and Purge Protection for added security.

6. Click Review + Create and then Create.

Step 3: Assign Permissions

1. Navigate to the newly created Key Vault.

2. Click on Access Policies in the left menu.

3. Add ourself as the Key Vault Administrator by assigning the appropriate role.

Step 4: Create a Key

1. Go to the Keys section under the Key Vault.

2. Click on + Generate/Import.

3. Fill in the details:

   • Name: Enter a name for our key (e.g., MyEncryptionKey).

   • Key Type: Choose RSA or EC.

   • Key Size: Select a size (e.g., RSA 2048 or 3072 for better security).

4. Click Create to generate the key.

Your key is now securely stored and can be used for encryption and decryption purposes.

Best Practices

1. Enable Logging: Use Azure Monitor to track activities in our Key Vault.

2. Use Managed Identities: Avoid hardcoding credentials; use managed identities for Azure resources.

3. Rotate Secrets Regularly: Periodically update keys and secrets to enhance security.

4. Restrict Access: Follow the principle of least privilege to minimize risks.

5. Backup Your Vault: Regularly back up our Key Vault to ensure disaster recovery.

Conclusion

Azure Key Vault simplifies the management of sensitive information while ensuring high-level security and accessibility. Whether we’re securing application secrets, managing certificates, or encrypting data, Key Vault is a vital tool in our Azure ecosystem.