Azure security baseline for Azure VMware Solution

This security baseline applies guidance from the Microsoft cloud security benchmark version 1.0 to Azure VMware Solution. The Microsoft cloud security benchmark provides recommendations on how you can secure your cloud solutions on Azure. The content is grouped by the security controls defined by the Microsoft cloud security benchmark and the related guidance applicable to Azure VMware Solution.

You can monitor this security baseline and its recommendations using Microsoft Defender for Cloud. Azure Policy definitions will be listed in the Regulatory Compliance section of the Microsoft Defender for Cloud portal page.

When a feature has relevant Azure Policy Definitions, they are listed in this baseline to help you measure compliance with the Microsoft cloud security benchmark controls and recommendations. Some recommendations may require a paid Microsoft Defender plan to enable certain security scenarios.

Security profile

The security profile summarizes high-impact behaviors of Azure VMware Solution, which may result in increased security considerations.

Network security

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Network security.

NS-1: Establish network segmentation boundaries

Features

Virtual Network Integration

Description: Service supports deployment into customer's private Virtual Network (VNet). Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: Deploy the service into a virtual network. Assign private IPs to the resource (where applicable) unless there is a strong reason to assign public IPs directly to the resource.

Note: An Azure VMware Solution private cloud requires an Azure Virtual Network. Because Azure VMware Solution doesn't support your on-premises vCenter Server, you'll need to do additional steps to integrate with your on-premises environment. Setting up an ExpressRoute circuit and a virtual network gateway is also required.

Reference: Tutorial: Configure networking for your VMware private cloud in Azure

Network Security Group Support

Description: Service network traffic respects Network Security Groups rule assignment on its subnets. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: Although NSG is supported, consider ingress and egress your network connectivity to ExpressRoute or other secured networks. Avoid exposing your management services like vCenter Server, for example, on the internet.

NS-2: Secure cloud services with network controls

Features

Azure Private Link

Description: Service native IP filtering capability for filtering network traffic (not to be confused with NSG or Azure Firewall). Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Disable Public Network Access

Description: Service supports disabling public network access either through using service-level IP ACL filtering rule (not NSG or Azure Firewall) or using a 'Disable Public Network Access' toggle switch. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Azure VMware Solution networking and interconnectivity concepts

Identity management

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Identity management.

IM-1: Use centralized identity and authentication system

Features

Azure AD Authentication Required for Data Plane Access

Description: Service supports using Azure AD authentication for data plane access. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Local Authentication Methods for Data Plane Access

Description: Local authentications methods supported for data plane access, such as a local username and password. Learn more.

Feature notes: Avoid the usage of local authentication methods or accounts, these should be disabled wherever possible. Instead use Azure AD to authenticate where possible.

Configuration Guidance: For configuration of the identity access management of the Azure VMware Solution, refer to the link below.

Reference: vCenter Server access and identity

IM-3: Manage application identities securely and automatically

Features

Managed Identities

Description: Data plane actions support authentication using managed identities. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Service Principals

Description: Data plane supports authentication using service principals. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

IM-7: Restrict resource access based on conditions

Features

Conditional Access for Data Plane

Description: Data plane access can be controlled using Azure AD Conditional Access Policies. Learn more.

Feature notes: AVS access is controlled by VMware vSphere RBAC

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

IM-8: Restrict the exposure of credential and secrets

Features

Service Credential and Secrets Support Integration and Storage in Azure Key Vault

Description: Data plane supports native use of Azure Key Vault for credential and secrets store. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Privileged access

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Privileged access.

PA-1: Separate and limit highly privileged/administrative users

Features

Local Admin Accounts

Description: Service has the concept of a local administrative account. Learn more.

Feature notes: Avoid the usage of local authentication methods or accounts, these should be disabled wherever possible. Instead use Azure AD to authenticate where possible.

Configuration Guidance: View the privileges granted to the Azure VMware Solution CloudAdmin role on your Azure VMware Solution private cloud vCenter. Refer to the link for details

Reference: vCenter Server access and identity

PA-7: Follow just enough administration (least privilege) principle

Features

Azure RBAC for Data Plane

Description: Azure Role-Based Access Control (Azure RBAC) can be used to managed access to service's data plane actions. Learn more.

Feature notes: Azure RBAC is not supported. Azure VMware solution makes use of vCenter RBAC roles which provides customers with the ability to integrate with Azure AD.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

PA-8: Determine access process for cloud provider support

Features

Customer Lockbox

Description: Customer Lockbox can be used for Microsoft support access. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Data protection

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Data protection.

DP-3: Encrypt sensitive data in transit

Features

Data in Transit Encryption

Description: Service supports data in-transit encryption for data plane. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

DP-4: Enable data at rest encryption by default

Features

Data at Rest Encryption Using Platform Keys

Description: Data at-rest encryption using platform keys is supported, any customer content at rest is encrypted with these Microsoft managed keys. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: No additional configurations are required as this is enabled on a default deployment.

Reference: Data-at-rest encryption

DP-5: Use customer-managed key option in data at rest encryption when required

Features

Data at Rest Encryption Using CMK

Description: Data at-rest encryption using customer-managed keys is supported for customer content stored by the service. Learn more.

Feature notes: This feature is currently being worked on, but we do not have an ETA for private preview.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

DP-6: Use a secure key management process

Features

Key Management in Azure Key Vault

Description: The service supports Azure Key Vault integration for any customer keys, secrets, or certificates. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

DP-7: Use a secure certificate management process

Features

Certificate Management in Azure Key Vault

Description: The service supports Azure Key Vault integration for any customer certificates. Learn more.

Feature notes: We will be adding specific features in the future that support this but for now we do not.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Asset management

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Asset management.

AM-2: Use only approved services

Features

Azure Policy Support

Description: Service configurations can be monitored and enforced via Azure Policy. Learn more.

Feature notes: Azure VMWare Solution currently does support Azure Policy to manage the workload VM resources. If you choose to deploy Azure Arc Server for VMWare Solution, it will come with Azure Policy support.

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Logging and threat detection

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Logging and threat detection.

LT-1: Enable threat detection capabilities

Features

Microsoft Defender for Service / Product Offering

Description: Service has an offering-specific Microsoft Defender solution to monitor and alert on security issues. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Arc-enabled server for your VM on your VMware which allows Microsoft Defender for Cloud to provide the following features:

• File integrity monitoring
• Fileless attack detection
• Operating system patch assessment
• Security misconfigurations assessment
• Endpoint protection assessment

Reference: Integrate Microsoft Defender for Cloud with Azure VMware Solution

LT-4: Enable logging for security investigation

Features

Azure Resource Logs

Description: Service produces resource logs that can provide enhanced service-specific metrics and logging. The customer can configure these resource logs and send them to their own data sink like a storage account or log analytics workspace. Learn more.

Feature notes: For Azure VMware Solution logging. Enable configuration in VMware syslog. Refer to the link for more details: Configure VMware syslogs for Azure VMware Solution

Configuration Guidance: This feature is not supported to secure this service.

Backup and recovery

For more information, see the Microsoft cloud security benchmark: Backup and recovery.

BR-1: Ensure regular automated backups

Features

Azure Backup

Description: The service can be backed up by the Azure Backup service. Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: Use Azure Backup Server (as part of Azure Backup) to perform the VM-level backup. Azure Backup Server can store backup data to: Disk: For short-term storage, Azure Backup Server backs up data to disk pools. Azure cloud: For both short-term and long-term storage off-premises, Azure Backup Server data stored in disk pools can be backed up to the Microsoft Azure cloud by using Azure Backup.

Reference: Set up Azure Backup Server for Azure VMware Solution

Service Native Backup Capability

Description: Service supports its own native backup capability (if not using Azure Backup). Learn more.

Configuration Guidance: There is no current Microsoft guidance for this feature configuration. Please review and determine if your organization wants to configure this security feature.

Reference: Deploy disaster recovery with VMware Site Recovery Manager

Next steps

• See the Microsoft cloud security benchmark overview
• Learn more about Azure security baselines