Strengthening Azure File Sync security with Managed Identities
Hello Folks, As IT pros, we’re always looking for ways to reduce complexity and improve security in our infrastructure. One area that’s often overlooked is how our services authenticate with each other. Especially when it comes to Azure File Sync. In this post, I’ll walk you through how Managed Identities can simplify and secure your Azure File Sync deployments, based on my recent conversation with Grace Kim, Program Manager on the Azure Files and File Sync team. Why Managed Identities Matter Traditionally, Azure File Sync servers authenticate to the Storage Sync service using server certificates or shared access keys. While functional, these methods introduce operational overhead and potential security risks. Certificates expire, keys get misplaced, and rotating credentials can be a pain. Managed Identities solve this by allowing your server to authenticate securely without storing or managing credentials. Once enabled, the server uses its identity to access Azure resources, and permissions are managed through Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC). Using Azure File Sync with Managed Identities provides significant security enhancements and simpler credential management for enterprises. Instead of relying on storage account keys or SAS tokens, Azure File Sync authenticates using a system-assigned Managed Identity from Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD). This keyless approach greatly improves security by removing long-lived secrets and reducing the attack surface. Access can be controlled via fine-grained Azure role-based access control (RBAC) rather than a broadly privileged key, enforcing least-privileged permissions on file shares. I believe that Azure AD RBAC is far more secure than managing storage account keys or SAS credentials. The result is a secure-by-default setup that minimizes the risk of credential leaks while streamlining authentication management. Managed Identities also improve integration with other Azure services and support enterprise-scale deployments. Because authentication is unified under Azure AD, Azure File Sync’s components (the Storage Sync Service and each registered server) seamlessly obtain tokens to access Azure Files and the sync service without any embedded secrets. This design fits into common Azure security frameworks and encourages consistent identity and access policies across services. In practice, the File Sync managed identity can be granted appropriate Azure roles to interact with related services (for example, allowing Azure Backup or Azure Monitor to access file share data) without sharing separate credentials. At scale, organizations benefit from easier administration. New servers can be onboarded by simply enabling a managed identity (on an Azure VM or an Azure Arc–connected server) and assigning the proper role, avoiding complex key management for each endpoint. Azure’s logging and monitoring tools also recognize these identities, so actions taken by Azure File Sync are transparently auditable in Azure AD activity logs and storage access logs. Given these advantages, new Azure File Sync deployments now enable Managed Identity by default, underscoring a shift toward identity-based security as the standard practice for enterprise file synchronization. This approach ensures that large, distributed file sync environments remain secure, manageable, and well-integrated with the rest of the Azure ecosystem. How It Works When you enable Managed Identity on your Azure VM or Arc-enabled server, Azure automatically provisions an identity for that server. This identity is then used by the Storage Sync service to authenticate and communicate securely. Here’s what happens under the hood: The server receives a system-assigned Managed Identity. Azure File Sync uses this identity to access the storage account. No certificates or access keys are required. Permissions are controlled via RBAC, allowing fine-grained access control. Enabling Managed Identity: Two Scenarios Azure VM If your server is an Azure VM: Go to the VM settings in the Azure portal. Enable System Assigned Managed Identity. Install Azure File Sync. Register the server with the Storage Sync service. Enable Managed Identity in the Storage Sync blade. Once enabled, Azure handles the identity provisioning and permissions setup in the background. Non-Azure VM (Arc-enabled) If your server is on-prem or in another cloud: First, make the server Arc-enabled. Enable System Assigned Managed Identity via Azure Arc. Follow the same steps as above to install and register Azure File Sync. This approach brings parity to hybrid environments, allowing you to use Managed Identities even outside Azure. Next Steps If you’re managing Azure File Sync in your environment, I highly recommend transitioning to Managed Identities. It’s a cleaner, more secure approach that aligns with modern identity practices. ✅ Resources 📚 https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/storage/files/storage-sync-files-planning 🔐 https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/active-directory/managed-identities-azure-resources/overview ⚙️ https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/azure-arc/servers/overview 🎯 https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/role-based-access-control/overview 🛠️ Action Items Audit your current Azure File Sync deployments. Identify servers using certificates or access keys. Enable Managed Identity on eligible servers. Use RBAC to assign appropriate permissions. Let me know how your transition to Managed Identities goes. If you run into any snags or have questions, drop a comment. Cheers! PierreUnlocking Private IP for Azure Application Gateway: Security, Compliance, and Practical Deployment
If you’re responsible for securing, scaling, and optimizing cloud infrastructure, this update is for you. Based on my recent conversation with Vyshnavi Namani, Product Manager on the Azure Networking team, I’ll break down what private IP means for your environment, why it matters, and how to get started. Why Private IP for Application Gateway? Application Gateway has long been the go-to Layer 7 load balancer for web traffic in Azure. It manages, routes, and secures requests to your backend resources, offering SSL offloading and integrated Web Application Firewall (WAF) capabilities. But until now, public IPs were the norm, meaning exposure to the internet and the need for extra security layers. With Private IP, your Application Gateway can be deployed entirely within your virtual network (VNet), isolated from public internet access. This is a huge win for organizations with strict security, compliance, or policy requirements. Now, your traffic stays internal, protected by Azure’s security layers, and only accessible to authorized entities within your ecosystem. Key Benefits for ITPRO 🔒 No Public Exposure With a private-only Application Gateway, no public IP is assigned. The gateway is accessible only via internal networks, eliminating any direct exposure to the public internet. This removes a major attack vector by keeping traffic entirely within your trusted network boundaries. 📌 Granular Network Control Private IP mode grants full control over network policies. Strict NSG rules can be applied (no special exceptions needed for Azure management traffic) and custom route tables can be used (including a 0.0.0.0/0 route to force outbound traffic through on-premises or appliance-based security checkpoints). ☑️ Compliance Alignment Internal-only gateways help meet enterprise compliance and data governance requirements. Sensitive applications remain isolated within private networks, aiding data residency and preventing unintended data exfiltration. Organizations with “no internet exposure” policies can now include Application Gateway without exception. Architectural Considerations and Deployment Prerequisites To deploy Azure Application Gateway with Private IP, you should plan for the following: SKU & Feature Enablement: Use the v2 SKU (Standard_v2 or WAF_v2). The Private IP feature is GA but may require opt-in via the EnableApplicationGatewayNetworkIsolation flag in Azure Portal, CLI, or PowerShell. Dedicated Subnet: Deploy the gateway in a dedicated subnet (no other resources allowed). Recommended size: /24 for v2. This enables clean NSG and route table configurations. NSG Configuration: Inbound: Allow AzureLoadBalancer for health probes and internal client IPs on required ports. Outbound: Allow only necessary internal destinations; apply a DenyAll rule to block internet egress. User-Defined Routes (UDRs): Optional but recommended for forced tunneling. Set 0.0.0.0/0 to route traffic through an NVA, Azure Firewall, or ExpressRoute gateway. Client Connectivity: Ensure internal clients (VMs, App Services, on-prem users via VPN/ExpressRoute) can reach the gateway’s private IP. Use Private DNS or custom DNS zones for name resolution. Outbound Dependencies: For services like Key Vault or telemetry, use Private Link or NAT Gateway if internet access is required. Plan NSG and UDRs accordingly. Management Access: Admins must be on the VNet or connected network to test or manage the gateway. Azure handles control-plane traffic internally via a management NIC. Migration Notes: Existing gateways may require redeployment to switch to private-only mode. Feature registration must be active before provisioning. Practical Scenarios Here are several practical scenarios where deploying Azure Application Gateway with Private IP is especially beneficial: 🔐 Internal-Only Web Applications Organizations hosting intranet portals, HR systems, or internal dashboards can use Private IP to ensure these apps are only accessible from within the corporate network—via VPN, ExpressRoute, or peered VNets. 🏥 Regulated Industries (Healthcare, Finance, Government) Workloads that handle sensitive data (e.g., patient records, financial transactions) often require strict network isolation. Private IP ensures traffic never touches the public internet, supporting compliance with HIPAA, PCI-DSS, or government data residency mandates. 🧪 Dev/Test Environments Development teams can deploy isolated environments for testing without exposing them externally. This reduces risk and avoids accidental data leaks during early-stage development. 🌐 Hybrid Network Architectures In hybrid setups where on-prem systems interact with Azure-hosted services, Private IP gateways can route traffic securely through ExpressRoute or VPN, maintaining internal-only access and enabling centralized inspection via NVAs. 🛡️ Zero Trust Architectures Private IP supports zero trust principles by enforcing least-privilege access, denying internet egress, and requiring explicit NSG rules for all traffic—ideal for organizations implementing segmented, policy-driven networks. Resources https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/application-gateway/ https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/application-gateway/configuration-overview https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-network/network-security-groups-overview https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/virtual-network/virtual-network-peering-overview Next Steps Evaluate Your Workloads: Identify apps and services that require internal-only access. Plan Migration: Map out your VNets, subnets, and NSGs for a smooth transition. Enable Private IP Feature: Register and deploy in your Azure subscription. Test Security: Validate that only intended traffic flows through your gateway. Final Thoughts Private IP for Azure Application Gateway is an improvement for secure, compliant, and efficient cloud networking. If you’re an ITPRO managing infrastructure, now’s the time check out this feature and level up your Azure architecture. Have questions or want to share your experience? Drop a comment below. Cheers! PierreAzUpdate S04E08: Azure Data Explorer, Azure Disk Storage, Azure Front Door & Azure Site Recovery
Hello Folks, Today, please look around and ensure that none of your teammates play some tricks on you. That being said, I’m trusting my teammate Amy Colyer (@wyrdgirl) to behave. (Well, I may be the one she needs to worry about…. LOL) In any case, what’s not a trick is the news coming out of the Redmond mothership this week. We’ll dive into Azure Data Explorer supports Conditional Access, Cross-region snapshot copy for Azure Disk Storage, Azure Front Door & On-demand capacity reservation with Azure Site Recovery So here we go… Join us online on YouTube? (Live at 10 am eastern time zone) or catch the replay below.
