The Shared Responsibility Model in Azure

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Shared Responsibility Model is a framework that defines who is responsible for security, management, and operations in the cloud.
In Microsoft Azure, responsibility is shared between Microsoft (Azure) and the customer (organization using Azure).
Azure takes care of cloud infrastructure security, while customers are responsible for managing their applications, data, and user access.
Understanding this model is important for organizations to ensure compliance, security, and operational efficiency.

What is the Shared Responsibility Model?

✔ The Shared Responsibility Model divides responsibilities between Microsoft Azure and customers.
✔ Azure provides a secure cloud platform, but customers must manage their workloads and data.
✔ This model ensures:

Clear responsibility allocation between Azure and customers.
Better security through cooperation.
Reduced risks by defining ownership of tasks.

Who is Responsible for What?

1. Microsoft’s Responsibilities (Cloud Provider)

✔ Microsoft Azure is responsible for managing the cloud infrastructure.
✔ Azure’s main responsibilities:

Physical Security – Protecting data centers from physical threats.
Network Security – Managing firewalls, DDoS protection, and encryption.
Hypervisor and OS Security – Securing the Azure platform, hypervisor, and built-in OS components.
Compliance and Certifications – Meeting GDPR, ISO, HIPAA, SOC, and other regulations.
Software and Hardware Maintenance – Updating Azure infrastructure to fix vulnerabilities.

2. Customer’s Responsibilities (Cloud User)

✔ Organizations using Azure are responsible for their workloads, applications, and data.
✔ Customers must manage:

User Access Control – Implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
Data Security – Encrypting stored and transmitted data.
Application Security – Ensuring secure application coding and patching vulnerabilities.
Network Configuration – Managing firewalls, virtual networks (VNets), and security groups.
Compliance Management – Configuring policies to meet industry regulations.

Shared Responsibility Based on Cloud Service Models

✔ The division of responsibility depends on the type of cloud service used:

Responsibility	IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)	PaaS (Platform as a Service)	SaaS (Software as a Service)
Physical Security	Azure	Azure	Azure
Network Security	Azure	Azure	Azure
OS and Patching	Customer	Azure	Azure
Application Management	Customer	Customer	Azure
Data Protection	Customer	Customer	Customer
User Access Management	Customer	Customer	Customer

✔ IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) – Customers manage most things, while Azure provides the infrastructure.
✔ PaaS (Platform as a Service) – Azure manages more components like OS, while customers focus on apps and data.
✔ SaaS (Software as a Service) – Azure handles almost everything; customers only manage user access and data security.

How to Ensure Security in the Shared Responsibility Model?

✔ 1. Use Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Assign permissions based on roles (Admin, Developer, Viewer).
Prevent unauthorized access to resources.

✔ 2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Adds an extra security layer to user logins.
Protects against password theft and phishing attacks.

✔ 3. Encrypt Sensitive Data

Use Azure Disk Encryption and Azure Key Vault.
Encrypt data at rest and in transit.

✔ 4. Monitor and Log Activities

Use Azure Monitor and Log Analytics to track security events.
Set up Azure Security Center to detect threats.

✔ 5. Implement Network Security Measures

Use Azure Virtual Networks (VNets) and Network Security Groups (NSGs).
Enable Azure Firewall and DDoS protection.

✔ 6. Regularly Update and Patch Applications

Keep OS, software, and dependencies updated.
Use automated patching in Azure.

✔ 7. Comply with Industry Regulations

Use Azure Policy to enforce compliance with standards like GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC.
Conduct regular security audits.

Comparison: Microsoft vs. Customer Responsibilities

Responsibility	Microsoft (Azure)	Customer (User)
Data Center Security	✅	❌
Hypervisor and OS Security	✅	❌
Compliance and Certifications	✅	❌
User Access Control (RBAC, MFA)	❌	✅
Application and Data Security	❌	✅
Network Configuration (VNets, NSGs, Firewalls)	❌	✅

Use Cases for the Shared Responsibility Model

✔ Enterprise IT Security – Ensures compliance with security standards.
✔ Cloud Application Development – Helps developers secure web applications and APIs.
✔ Data Privacy and Compliance – Helps organizations meet GDPR, HIPAA, and ISO requirements.
✔ Hybrid Cloud Deployments – Allows businesses to secure both on-premises and cloud workloads.

Quiz

What is the main goal of the shared responsibility model in Azure?
A) To eliminate the need for security measures
B) To define security and management responsibilities between Azure and customers
C) To ensure customers have no control over their data
D) To allow Microsoft to access customer applications
E) To automatically fix all security vulnerabilities
Who is responsible for managing user access and permissions in Azure?
A) Microsoft
B) Customer (Cloud User)
C) Azure Virtual Machines
D) Azure Firewall
E) Azure Kubernetes Service
Which cloud service model gives customers the most responsibility?
A) SaaS (Software as a Service)
B) PaaS (Platform as a Service)
C) IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
D) DaaS (Database as a Service)
E) Microsoft 365
How can a customer enhance security in Azure?
A) By ignoring security updates
B) By relying only on Microsoft for security
C) By enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
D) By disabling firewalls
E) By avoiding encryption
What is a customer’s responsibility in a SaaS model?
A) Managing the application and operating system
B) Configuring user access and protecting data
C) Securing the cloud infrastructure
D) Patching Azure data centers
E) Managing Azure’s physical security

Answers

B – To define security and management responsibilities between Azure and customers
- Why others are incorrect?
  - A, C, D, E – The model does not eliminate security risks but defines responsibilities.
B – Customer (Cloud User)
- Why others are incorrect?
  - A, C, D, E – Microsoft provides security tools, but customers must manage access permissions.
C – IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service)
- Why others are incorrect?
  - A, B, D, E – IaaS requires customers to manage OS, apps, data, and security.
C – By enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
- Why others are incorrect?
  - A, B, D, E – Security requires active measures like MFA, RBAC, and encryption.
B – Configuring user access and protecting data
- Why others are incorrect?
  - A, C, D, E – SaaS providers manage the platform; customers handle data security and user access.

Post Views: 82

On February 11, 2025 By Luxmi Narayan

AZ-900 Study Guide