Description:
Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines is part of Microsoft Defender for Cloud and provides advanced threat protection for SQL Servers deployed on virtual machines (VMs) in Azure, on-premises, or in other cloud environments. It helps secure SQL Servers by detecting and mitigating threats, vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations. When enabled, Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines continuously monitors the SQL Servers running on VMs for suspicious activities, such as unauthorized access attempts, SQL injection attacks, and potential vulnerabilities in the system.
Enabling Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines ensures that your SQL Servers are protected from potential threats and are continuously monitored for any security issues. This setting is crucial for organizations that rely on SQL Server workloads running on VMs, whether in Azure, on-premises, or in other hybrid cloud environments.
Rationale:
Enabling Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines helps:
Detect threats: Identify malicious activities such as SQL injection attempts, unauthorized access, and misconfigurations in SQL Servers running on VMs.
Prevent data breaches: By providing proactive monitoring and alerts, it helps detect and mitigate threats before they lead to data breaches or system compromise.
Enhance compliance: Many regulatory frameworks require organizations to implement continuous monitoring and threat detection for databases, and this feature helps ensure compliance with those standards.
Reduce the attack surface: Proactively identifies vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, helping to prevent exploits and reducing the risk of attackers gaining access to sensitive data.
Impact:
Setting Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines to 'On' will:
Increase security by providing advanced monitoring and protection for SQL Servers running on VMs.
Generate more alerts: It will trigger alerts for suspicious activities or vulnerabilities found in SQL Servers. While this helps improve security, it may require attention to manage and respond to these alerts.
Improve compliance: Helps organizations meet security and regulatory compliance requirements by ensuring SQL Servers are continuously monitored for threats and vulnerabilities.
Default Value:
By default, Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines is not enabled. You need to manually enable this feature to start monitoring and securing SQL Servers running on VMs.
Pre-requisites:
Azure subscription with Microsoft Defender for Cloud enabled.
SQL Server workloads running on virtual machines in Azure, on-premises, or other cloud environments.
Global Administrator or Security Administrator permissions to enable Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines.
Audit:
Sign in to Azure portal as a Global Administrator or Security Administrator.
Navigate to Microsoft Defender for Cloud > Environment settings.
Ensure that Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines is set to 'On' for the relevant SQL Servers.
Implementation Steps (Automated):
Sign in to Azure portal:
Use an account with Global Administrator or Security Administrator permissions.
Navigate to Microsoft Defender for Cloud:
In the Azure portal, go to Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Go to Environment Settings:
Under Microsoft Defender for Cloud, select Environment settings.
Enable Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines:
In the Environment settings pane, locate the option for Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines.
Set this option to 'On' to enable monitoring and protection for SQL Servers running on VMs.
Save the Configuration:
After setting Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines to 'On', click Save to apply the changes.
Verify the Setting:
After saving the configuration, verify that Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines is enabled and actively monitoring your SQL Server instances running on virtual machines.
Check the Microsoft Defender for Cloud dashboard to ensure that security alerts related to your SQL Server instances are being generated.
Monitor Alerts and Security Insights:
Start monitoring Defender for SQL Servers on Machines for security alerts, vulnerability assessments, and threat detection.
Use Azure Monitor or Microsoft Defender for Cloud dashboards to track SQL Server vulnerabilities, threats, and security recommendations.
Test the Configuration:
To test, simulate potential security events (such as unauthorized access attempts or SQL injection) and verify that Microsoft Defender generates relevant alerts and security insights.
Communicate to Relevant Teams:
Notify DevOps, Database Administrators, or Security Operations teams about the new security monitoring and alerts provided by Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines.
Backout Plan (Automated):
Sign in to Azure portal:
Use an account with Global Administrator or Security Administrator permissions.
Navigate to Microsoft Defender for Cloud:
Go to Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
Go to Environment Settings:
Under Environment settings, find Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines.
Disable Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines:
Set the option to 'Off' to disable monitoring and protection for SQL Servers running on VMs.
Save the Configuration:
After disabling the setting, click Save to apply the changes.
Test the Reverted Configuration:
Verify that Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines is no longer monitoring your SQL Server instances by checking the absence of security alerts in the Defender for Cloud dashboard.
Monitor the Reversion:
Ensure that the configuration has been successfully reverted by confirming that no further Defender for SQL Servers on Machines alerts are triggered.