Understanding Security Types for Azure Virtual Machines

Introduction

When creating a virtual machine (VM) in Azure, one of the key decisions we'll make is choosing the security type. This determines the level of security features applied to our VM, tailored to our workload and compliance needs. Let's explore the options in simple terms.

1. Standard Security

This is the default configuration for Azure VMs and is perfect for general-purpose workloads. It provides baseline security features and is straightforward to set up. If our workload doesn't demand advanced protections, this is a reliable and cost-effective choice.

2. Trusted Launch

Trusted Launch enhances security for Generation 2 VMs by protecting against advanced threats like rootkits and bootkits. It includes features such as:

• Secure Boot: Ensures that only trusted operating system components load during boot.

• Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM): Protects sensitive information, like cryptographic keys.

• Boot Integrity Monitoring: Alerts us if anything untrusted tries to run during startup.

Best for: Businesses needing advanced threat protection or compliance with security regulations.

Limitations: Trusted Launch does not support features such as Azure Backup, Managed Images (use Azure Compute Gallery instead), or Ephemeral OS Disks.

3. Confidential Virtual Machines (Confidential VMs)

Confidential VMs take security to the next level by isolating our application from the underlying virtualization stack. This is done using specialized hardware with features like:

• Confidential OS Disk Encryption: Encrypts our VM's operating system disk for maximum security.

• Confidential Temp Disk Encryption: Protects temporary storage used by our VM, ensuring sensitive data remains secure.

• vTPM Integration: Safeguards keys and secrets while allowing attestation of the platform’s integrity.

Best for: Highly sensitive workloads requiring strong data protection, like financial transactions or healthcare applications.

Limitations: Confidential VMs don’t support features such as Azure Backup, Site Recovery, live migration, or shared disks.

Choosing the Right Security Type

Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

• Standard Security: For general workloads with minimal security requirements.

• Trusted Launch: For workloads needing enhanced security and compliance.

• Confidential VMs: For workloads handling sensitive or confidential data.

Key Takeaways

• Security is critical: Azure offers flexible options to match our workload needs.

• Understand the trade-offs: Advanced security features might limit certain capabilities.

• Plan ahead: Choose the security type that aligns with our workload and compliance goals.

Conclusion

By understanding these security types, we can ensure our Azure VMs are not only optimized for performance but also protected against modern cyber threats. Choose wisely and let our infrastructure work for us!