Azure Key Vault Secret Version Control and Security

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Azure Key Vault Secret Version Control and Security is a crucial aspect of managing sensitive data in the cloud.

Azure Key Vault allows you to store and manage sensitive data such as API keys, passwords, and certificates in a secure way.

Version control is essential to track changes to secrets over time, and Azure Key Vault provides this feature through secret versions.

Each time a secret is updated, a new version is created, allowing you to track changes and roll back to previous versions if needed.

Azure Key Vault Secret Version

Azure Key Vault uses a unique identifier called the object identifier to identify secrets, which consists of a prefix that identifies the key vault, object type, user-provided object name, and an object version.

The object identifier is a case-insensitive string and is a valid URL, but it should always be compared as a case-insensitive string. This means you can use it to link to your secret, but be sure to compare it without worrying about capitalization.

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Object identifiers for secrets have a specific format: https://{vault-name}.vault.azure.net/secrets/{object-name}/{object-version}. This format is the same for all object types, including secrets.

The object-name is a user-provided name for the secret, which must be unique within the key vault. It can be a maximum of 127 characters and can only contain 0-9, a-z, A-Z, and -.

The object-version is a system-generated, 32 character string identifier that is used to address a unique version of the secret. If you don't include the object-version, the identifier is referred to as a "base identifier".

Access Control and Management

Access control in Azure Key Vault is crucial for managing secrets. It's provided at the level of the Key Vault that contains those secrets, and is distinct from the access control policy for keys in the same Key Vault.

To maintain scenario appropriate segmentation and management of secrets, users may create one or more vaults to hold secrets. Access control policies can be created and updated using various methods, including the Azure portal, PowerShell, and CLI.

Here are the key permissions that can be used for secret management operations:

  • Permissions for secret management operations
  • Permissions for privileged operations

These permissions mirror the operations allowed on a secret object, and can be used on a per-principal basis in the secrets access control entry on a vault.

Object Identifiers

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Object identifiers are a crucial part of working with Key Vault, and they're actually quite straightforward once you understand how they work.

Key Vault uses a case-insensitive identifier called the object identifier to uniquely identify objects within the system. This identifier is globally unique, meaning no two objects in the system have the same identifier, regardless of their location.

A Key Vault object identifier has a specific format, which includes a prefix that identifies the key vault, object type, user-provided object name, and an object version.

The format of an object identifier is as follows:

  • For Vaults: https://{vault-name}.vault.azure.net/{object-type}/{object-name}/{object-version}
  • For Managed HSM pools: https://{hsm-name}.managedhsm.azure.net/{object-type}/{object-name}/{object-version}

Here's a breakdown of the elements that make up an object identifier:

It's worth noting that object identifiers are also valid URLs, but should always be compared as case-insensitive strings.

Deletion Recovery Level

Deletion Recovery Level is a critical aspect of Access Control and Management. It determines whether deleted secrets can be recovered or are permanently lost.

If a vault has a Deletion Recovery Level of 'Purgeable', a privileged user can permanently delete a secret. However, if it contains 'Recoverable', the system will permanently delete the secret after 90 days if it's not recovered.

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The Deletion Recovery Level can be customized to suit specific needs. For instance, a 'CustomizedRecoverable' level guarantees the recoverability of deleted entities during a retention interval of 7-90 days.

A 'CustomizedRecoverable+ProtectedSubscription' level ensures that deleted entities are recoverable and the subscription itself cannot be permanently canceled. In contrast, a 'Recoverable+ProtectedSubscription' level allows for deletion recovery but does not permit immediate and permanent deletion.

Here's a summary of the Deletion Recovery Levels:

Secret Access Control

Secret access control is a critical aspect of managing your secrets in Key Vault. You can control access to secrets at the level of the Key Vault that contains them.

To manage access to secrets, you can create one or more vaults to hold them, and maintain scenario-appropriate segmentation and management of secrets.

The access control policy for secrets is distinct from the access control policy for keys in the same Key Vault. You can use permissions like "Get", "List", "Set", and "Delete" to control access to secrets.

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Here are some key permissions for secret management operations:

  • Permissions for secret management operations
  • Permissions for privileged operations

You can find more information on working with secrets in the Key Vault REST API reference, and on establishing permissions in the Vaults - Create or Update and Vaults - Update Access Policy documentation.

To control access in Key Vault, you can use the Azure portal, PowerShell, or the Azure CLI to assign an access policy. You can also use Azure role-based access control to provide access to Key Vault keys, certificates, and secrets.

Thomas Goodwin

Lead Writer

Thomas Goodwin is a seasoned writer with a passion for exploring the intersection of technology and business. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for simplifying complex concepts, he has established himself as a trusted voice in the tech industry. Thomas's writing portfolio spans a range of topics, including Azure Virtual Desktop and Cloud Computing Costs.

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