Encrypting Azure VMs using Azure Disk Encryption and Azure Key Vault — Joe's Tech Space (2024)

FAQs

What type of encryption does Azure Disk Encryption provide for Azure Virtual Machines? ›

Azure Disk Encryption for Windows VMs uses the BitLocker feature of Windows to provide full disk encryption of the OS disk and data disks. Additionally, it provides encryption of the temporary disk when the VolumeType parameter is All.

It uses the BitLocker feature of Windows to provide volume encryption for the OS and data disks of Azure virtual machines (VMs), and is integrated with Azure Key Vault to help you control and manage the disk encryption keys and secrets.

Azure Disk Encryption for Linux virtual machines (VMs) uses the DM-Crypt feature of Linux to provide full disk encryption of the OS disk and data disks.

Which Azure resource must you create first? Azure Disk Encryption requires an Azure Key Vault to control and manage disk encryption keys and secrets.

Encrypt the virtual machine

Under Encryption settings > Disks to encrypt, select OS and data disks. Under Encryption settings, choose Select a key vault and key for encryption. On the Select key from Azure Key Vault screen, select Create New.

Server-side encryption

Azure managed disks automatically encrypt your data by default when persisting it to the cloud. Server-side encryption protects your data and helps you meet your organizational security and compliance commitments.

Azure Storage encryption automatically encrypts your data stored on Azure managed disks (OS and data disks) at rest by default when persisting it to the cloud. Disks with encryption at host enabled, however, aren't encrypted through Azure Storage.

Azure Disk Encryption helps protect and safeguard your data to meet your organizational security and compliance commitments. ADE encrypts the OS and data disks of Azure virtual machines (VMs) inside your VMs by using the DM-Crypt feature of Linux or the BitLocker feature of Windows.

The keys used for Azure Data Encryption-at-Rest, for instance, are PMKs by default. Customer-managed keys (CMK), on the other hand, are keys read, created, deleted, updated, and/or administered by one or more customers. Keys stored in a customer-owned key vault or hardware security module (HSM) are CMKs.

What is VM Disk Encryption? ›

Encrypting the OS disk ensures that data remains inaccessible without the encryption key, deterring unauthorized access even if the disk is stolen. It adds an additional layer of security by preventing unauthorized access to data even if someone gains access to the VM through RDP.

There are two main computer encryption types: full disk encryption and file-level encryption. Full Disk Encryption (FDE) or whole disk encryption protects the entire volume and all files on the drive against unauthorized access.

Azure Disk Encryption uses BitLocker to provide full disk encryption on Azure virtual machines running Windows. This solution is integrated with Azure Key Vault to manage disk encryption keys and secrets in your key vault subscription.

Help protect your virtual machines from viruses and malware

Use antimalware software from major security vendors such as Microsoft, Symantec, Trend Micro, McAfee, and Kaspersky to help protect your virtual machines from malicious files, adware, and other threats.

A bastion host provides secure and seamless Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) connectivity to your VMs directly in the Azure portal over SSL. When you connect via a bastion host, your VMs don't need a public IP address, and you don't need to use network security groups to expose access to RDP on TCP port 3389.

Azure Disk Encryption for Linux VMs uses the dm-crypt feature of Linux to provide full disk encryption of the OS disk* and data disks. Additionally, it provides encryption of the temporary disk when using the EncryptFormatAll feature.

All data stored in Azure Files is encrypted at rest using Azure storage service encryption (SSE).

Azure Disk Encryption uses BitLocker to provide full disk encryption on Azure virtual machines running Windows. This solution is integrated with Azure Key Vault to manage disk encryption keys and secrets in your key vault subscription.