AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals Exam

Applying the Shared Responsibility Model in Real-World Scenarios

The shared responsibility model is a key idea in cloud computing, especially in Azure. It explains how security and management tasks are split between the cloud provider (Microsoft) and the customer. Knowing this model is vital for a secure and compliant cloud setup. Microsoft handles the security of the cloud, while the customer handles security in the cloud.

Microsoft's duties include the physical security of data centers, the basic infrastructure, and the main services Azure offers. This covers the hardware, software, and network parts of the Azure platform. Microsoft makes sure these services are available and reliable, and that the physical locations are secure. They also take care of patching and updating the basic systems.

The customer's duties change based on the type of cloud service used. With Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), the customer manages the operating systems, apps, data, and user identities. This means patching the operating system, securing virtual machines, and controlling access. With Platform as a Service (PaaS), the customer manages the apps and data, while Microsoft handles the basic infrastructure. With Software as a Service (SaaS), the customer mainly manages the data and user access, while Microsoft manages the app itself.

In practice, the shared responsibility model means customers must actively manage their security settings in Azure. This includes using strong access controls, encrypting data, and watching for security threats. For example, if a customer uses an Azure Virtual Machine (IaaS), they must secure the operating system, install security software, and manage user access. If they use Azure SQL Database (PaaS), they manage database access and data security, while Microsoft manages the database infrastructure.

To ensure security and compliance, customers must know their responsibilities under the shared responsibility model. This means using the right security measures, checking configurations regularly, and staying updated on best practices. By clearly managing these duties, organizations can use cloud computing while keeping a secure and compliant environment. It's important to remember that specific duties can change based on the services used and the organization's needs.

Identify Provider Responsibilities

Azure, as a cloud provider, has important duties to ensure its services are reliable and secure. One key duty is the physical security of the datacenters. This means protecting the physical infrastructure from unauthorized access and environmental dangers. Azure also handles the maintenance of the basic infrastructure, like servers, network equipment, and storage devices. This ensures the hardware works correctly and is up-to-date.

Another key duty of Azure is the security of the cloud itself. This involves using security measures to protect the cloud platform from cyber threats and weaknesses. Azure also ensures the resiliency of the Azure Resource Manager, which manages Azure resources. This service is designed to be highly available and fault-tolerant, with instances spread across multiple regions and availability zones. This ensures that if one region or zone fails, the service can switch to another to keep providing control plane capabilities.

Azure also manages the resolution of concurrent operations. When multiple operations try to update the same resource at the same time, Azure Resource Manager detects the conflict and allows only one operation to complete successfully. This prevents data problems and ensures updates are reliable. In addition, Azure provides availability zone support, which means services are spread across multiple physically separate datacenters within a region. This redundancy helps protect against local zone failures.

Furthermore, Azure ensures that customer data stays within the region where it is deployed. This is known as data residency. Azure does not copy data across regions, which helps comply with data privacy rules. Azure also provides built-in roles for various services, like Azure Maps, which allows for detailed access control to resources. These roles define the permissions users have, ensuring only authorized users can access and manage resources.

Finally, Azure is responsible for the security of the network and the load balancing of traffic. Standard load balancers are secure by default and are part of the virtual network, which is a private and isolated network. Azure also provides health probes to monitor load-balanced resources and ensures traffic is distributed efficiently across backend servers. These measures help ensure applications are highly available and perform well.

Identify Customer Responsibilities

In the shared responsibility model, Microsoft manages the basic infrastructure and platform services in Azure. However, customers must set up their own disaster recovery (DR) plans for their specific workloads. This means that while Microsoft ensures the basic services are running, it's up to the customer to make sure their data and applications can recover if something goes wrong. This is a key part of using cloud services.

Many Azure services do not automatically copy data to another region for backup. For these services, customers must create a DR plan that fits their needs. Most Azure platform as a service (PaaS) offerings provide tools and advice to help with DR. Customers can use these service-specific features to create a plan for quick recovery. This ensures that if a region fails, the customer can restore their services.

For example, Azure Backup allows customers to copy backups to a secondary Azure region using geo-redundant storage (GRS). This protects backups from regional outages. When GRS is enabled, the backups in the secondary region are only accessible if Microsoft declares an outage in the primary region. However, with Cross Region Restore, customers can access and restore from the secondary region even without a primary region outage. This allows for testing and drills to assess regional resilience.

In summary, while Microsoft provides the infrastructure, customers are responsible for:

• Creating and implementing their own disaster recovery plans.
• Using service-specific features to support fast recovery.
• Setting up geo-redundant storage for backups when needed.
• Testing their DR plans to ensure they work as expected. Understanding these responsibilities is crucial for maintaining business continuity in the cloud.

Evaluate Security and Compliance Implications

The shared responsibility model is a key concept in cloud computing, especially in Azure. It defines the security and compliance duties between the cloud provider (Microsoft) and the customer. Knowing this model is vital for keeping a secure and compliant cloud environment. Microsoft is responsible for the security of the basic cloud infrastructure, while customers are responsible for securing what they put in the cloud.

Microsoft's duties include the physical security of data centers, the basic hardware, and the core software that powers Azure. This means they handle the security of the physical network, servers, and virtualization technologies. They also ensure the platform is available and reliable. However, Microsoft does not have access to customer data or applications, and therefore cannot be responsible for their security.

The customer's duties change based on the type of cloud service used. With Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), customers manage the operating systems, apps, data, and user identities. This includes patching systems, setting up firewalls, and managing access controls. With Platform as a Service (PaaS), the customer's duties are less, as Microsoft manages the basic infrastructure, but the customer is still responsible for the security of their apps and data. With Software as a Service (SaaS), the customer has the least responsibility, mainly focusing on data security and user access.

Compliance is also a shared duty. Microsoft ensures that Azure meets various industry and regulatory compliance standards. However, customers are responsible for ensuring that their apps and data comply with the specific rules that apply to their business. This includes using the right security controls and policies.

In summary, the shared responsibility model requires a clear understanding of who is responsible for what. Customers must actively secure their cloud resources and ensure compliance with relevant rules. This involves using the right security measures, managing access controls, and regularly monitoring their cloud environment.

Understanding the Shared Responsibility Model

The shared responsibility model is a key concept in cloud computing, especially in Azure. It clarifies how security and operational duties are divided between the cloud provider, Microsoft, and the customer. This model is vital for ensuring cloud deployments are secure and compliant. It's important to know that not all security tasks are handled by Azure; customers also have important duties.

Azure is responsible for the security of the cloud. This includes the physical security of the data centers, the basic infrastructure, and the software that powers the cloud services. Microsoft ensures the hardware, software, and network parts are secure and reliable. This means they handle things like physical access control, power, and cooling, as well as the security of the hypervisors and operating systems that run the cloud.

The customer, on the other hand, is responsible for the security in the cloud. This includes protecting their data, apps, operating systems, and user identities. The specific duties change based on the type of cloud service used. For example, with Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), customers have more control and therefore more responsibility, including managing the operating system and apps. With Platform as a Service (PaaS), Azure manages more of the basic infrastructure, reducing the customer's burden.

In the case of Software as a Service (SaaS), the customer's duty is mainly focused on data and user access. It's essential for customers to know their specific duties based on the services they use. This includes tasks like setting up access controls, managing user identities, and ensuring data is encrypted. Customers must also use the right security measures to protect their data from unauthorized access or breaches.

In summary, the shared responsibility model is a partnership between Azure and the customer. Azure provides a secure foundation, while the customer is responsible for securing what they put on top of that foundation. Knowing this division of duties is critical for keeping a secure and compliant cloud environment. By clearly defining these roles, both Azure and its customers can work together to ensure the overall security of the cloud.

Conclusion

In summary, the shared responsibility model is a critical concept for understanding cloud security in Azure. It clearly defines the roles and responsibilities of both the cloud provider (Microsoft) and the customer. Microsoft is primarily responsible for the security of the cloud, including the physical infrastructure, network, and core services. Customers, on the other hand, are responsible for the security in the cloud, which includes their data, applications, and user access. The specific responsibilities of the customer vary depending on the type of cloud service being used, with IaaS requiring the most customer management and SaaS requiring the least. Understanding this division of responsibilities is essential for maintaining a secure and compliant cloud environment. Customers must actively manage their security settings, implement strong access controls, and ensure their data is protected. By working together, both Azure and its customers can ensure the overall security and reliability of the cloud.