penetration testing on azure

With the rise in the usage of cloud-based platforms, security risks have also increased. Microsoft’s Azure is a highly popular cloud computing platform that provides access, management, and the development of applications and services with its extensive global data centers. Since it contains highly sensitive data, Azure penetration testing or pentesting is a must to detect security flaws and rectify them.  According to IBM cloud security statistics, the average cost of a data breach in 2023 was $4.45 million, and over 51% of global organizations are now planning to increase cloud security. Another report suggests that 83% of companies experienced a cloud security breach in the past year, and 58% of developers predict an increase in cloud security risks over the next year. Microsoft Azure has a consistent customer base with top security. However, as a user, you, too, need to test the platform regularly for the security of your data and assets. In this blog, we will discuss Azure penetration testing, its importance, and its policies. Why is Azure Penetration Testing Important? Though Microsoft has robust security features with Azure, regular penetration testing offers added layers of security in multiple ways. Here are the benefits of conducting regular Azure penetration testing:     Microsoft Azure Penetration Testing Process Before we discuss the procedures of penetration testing for cloud applications, let’s check the process of Microsoft Azure penetration testing. There are two teams involved in Azure pentest: the Red Team and the Blue Team. The Red team simulates different types of attacks on Azure services without harming customer data. At the same time, the Blue team counters these attacks and provides recovery. Once the Blue team detects any breach, they do the following tasks: Execute the plan and fix the systems that were affected. After the attack simulations, the Red and Blue teams come together to analyze the attempt and how they responded to it. They discuss the following details: Understanding the Azure Deployment Process The first step in Azure penetration testing is to know how Azure is deployed from your end. How security is managed depends on the type of deployment. There are basically two types of deployment: All cloud services are bundled into a single entity in Resource Management mode. In this mode, you get access to Azure Resource Manager (ARM), which allows you to manage all cloud services and apply security measures consistently. ARM also allows you to implement role-based access control (RBAC) across all virtual resources in the group. In Classic mode, you receive a bundled cloud service that includes a virtual machine, a load balancer, an external IP, and a network interface card. Azure Penetration Testing Policies Microsoft encourages security researchers to test their Azure services and report any issues they find to help fix security gaps. However, they need to follow specific rules and policies while performing the testing to protect their customers’ data and prevent disruptions to the services. The Following Actions are Prohibited by Microsoft: The Following Activities are Accepted by Microsoft: Talk to our Cybersecurity Expert to discuss your specific needs and how we can help your business. Schedule a Call Tools Used for Azure Penetration Testing To conduct successful pentests, you will need Azure penetration testing tools that work automatically or manually. Here are some open-source tools for Azure penetration testing. 1. Azucar Azucar is a multi-thread plugin that automatically audits your Azure environment and collects all relevant details regarding the platform. It then analyses the data collected to detect any security issues that might be present. 2. PowerZure PowerZure is a PowerShell-based script for observing and testing Azure. It offers multiple functionalities for information gathering, credential access, and data extraction. 3. MicroBurst MicroBurst is a collection of scripts designed to thoroughly test Azure deployments. It helps detect weak configurations, discovery services, and other post-exploration objectives. 4. CS-suite (Cloud Security Suite): CS-Suite is a Python-based automation tool that helps you conduct a comprehensive loud test across various services, including Microsoft Azure. 5. Stormspotter Stormspotter is an Azure penetration testing tool that generates an “attack graph”. It enhances visibility into the attack surface, allowing penetration testers and the Red team to easily identify security vulnerabilities. Best Security Practices during Azure Penetration Testing Now that we know the rules and tools for Azure penetration testing let’s discuss the areas in which we can test. There are three major areas in Azure in which we can perform pentest. 1. Accessing Azure Cloud Services Once Azure is deployed, the first focus should be on access management. Start with the Azure web portal and check the Azure access directory to identify users accessing your Azure services. Remove unauthorized or unknown users from the access directory and strengthen the security by implementing multi-factor authentication for logins. For using other Azure access gateways like PowerShell or REST APIs, check whether the connections are encrypted or not. Also, avoid storing credentials across different machines to minimize risks. Using appropriate access controls for different user roles is crucial to keep your application secure from security risks like unauthorized access.  Aure offers three different roles: reader, contributor, and owner. The Owner has the highest privileges, followed by contributor and reader. Make sure the principles of “reader” apply to all users. During Azure penetration testing, always test for privilege escalation vulnerabilities, where users can elevate permissions that do not match with the role. 2. Securing the Database In Azure, organizations usually store their data in MS SQL databases, which are protected by Microsoft’s multiple security tools designed over several layers. These layers of tools include data masking, server and network-level firewalls, etc.  During network-level security, ensure proper functionality of both the server and database-level firewalls. For server-level firewalls, it can control access to a server that may host multiple databases. For database-level firewalls, protecting individual databases and providing precise security protocols is essential. Always Encrypted – a powerful feature of Microsoft Azure, ensures that not even Microsoft administrations can access sensitive data. When you choose to encrypt all data stored in Azure, you generate an encryption key. You can store this key either within