Azure Audit Logs Exposure Remediation

Learn how to fix exposure of audit logs in Azure environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for SOC 2 compliance and secure log management.

data exposure

SOC 2

azure

Why It Matters

The core goal is to remediate and secure audit logs that have been inadvertently exposed in your Azure environment, ensuring sensitive operational data remains protected from unauthorized access. Fixing audit log exposures is critical for organizations subject to SOC 2 compliance, as these logs often contain privileged access patterns, authentication events, and security-sensitive operational details that could facilitate lateral movement if compromised.

Primary Risk: Data exposure of sensitive audit information

Relevant Regulation: SOC 2 Security and Availability Criteria

Swift remediation prevents unauthorized access to operational intelligence while maintaining audit trail integrity for compliance purposes.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • Azure Security Administrator or Global Administrator
  • Log Analytics Contributor permissions
  • Azure Monitor permissions for diagnostic settings

External Tools

  • Azure CLI or PowerShell
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • Azure Resource Manager templates

Prior Setup

  • Azure subscription with Log Analytics workspace
  • Azure Monitor configured
  • Resource groups identified
  • Backup retention policies defined

Introducing Cyera

Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. Using advanced AI and Natural Language Processing (NER), Cyera automatically identifies exposed audit logs in Azure environments, analyzes their sensitivity levels, and provides automated remediation workflows to secure these critical operational records while maintaining SOC 2 compliance requirements.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify exposed audit log locations

Use Cyera's discovery engine to scan your Azure environment and identify all locations where audit logs are exposed. Review the findings dashboard to prioritize high-risk exposures based on sensitivity scoring.

az monitor diagnostic-settings list --resource-group myResourceGroup

2
Secure diagnostic settings and storage

Reconfigure diagnostic settings to route audit logs to secure destinations only. Update storage account access policies, enable encryption at rest, and restrict network access to authorized endpoints.

3
Implement access controls and RBAC

Apply principle of least privilege to audit log access. Configure Azure RBAC policies, update security groups, and enable conditional access policies for log analytics workspaces.

4
Enable monitoring and alerting

Set up continuous monitoring through Cyera to detect future exposures. Configure Azure Monitor alerts for unauthorized access attempts and establish automated response playbooks for immediate containment.

Architecture & Workflow

Azure Monitor

Source of diagnostic settings and log routing

Cyera Scanner

Discovers exposed logs and assesses risk levels

Remediation Engine

Applies security policies and access controls

Compliance Dashboard

Tracks remediation status and SOC 2 alignment

Remediation Flow Summary

Scan Environment → Identify Exposures → Apply Security → Monitor Compliance

Best Practices & Tips

Security Hardening

  • Enable storage account firewalls
  • Use managed identities for service authentication
  • Implement log forwarding to SIEM systems

Compliance Maintenance

  • Document all remediation actions
  • Maintain audit trails of configuration changes
  • Regular review of access permissions

Common Pitfalls

  • Forgetting to secure legacy Log Analytics workspaces
  • Overlooking Event Hub namespace permissions
  • Missing storage account container-level security

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🛡️ Prevent: Set up proactive audit log protection 🔍 Detect: Monitor for future audit log exposures