Azure SQL Database Security Posture Assessment and Hardening

Azure SQL Database stores some of the most sensitive data in any organization - customer records, financial transactions, and personally identifiable information. Protecting this data requires a multi-layered security approach that goes beyond authentication and authorization. Microsoft provides an integrated suite of security tools within Azure SQL that address vulnerability management, data classification, threat detection, network isolation, audit logging, and transport encryption. Together, these capabilities form a defense-in-depth strategy aligned with frameworks like the Microsoft cloud security benchmark and the AZ-500 certification objectives.

In this lab, you will start with an intentionally weakened Azure SQL Database - one configured with public network access, no auditing, no threat detection, and TLS 1.0. You will run a Vulnerability Assessment scan, classify sensitive columns using Data Discovery and Classification, enable Microsoft Defender for SQL, configure a private endpoint, enable auditing to Log Analytics, and enforce TLS 1.2.

Objectives

Upon completion of this advanced level lab, you will be able to:

• Run a SQL Vulnerability Assessment scan and review findings to identify security gaps
• Classify sensitive database columns using Data Discovery and Classification
• Enable Microsoft Defender for SQL and configure Advanced Threat Protection
• Configure a private endpoint for the SQL Server and disable public network access
• Enable SQL auditing with a Log Analytics workspace as the destination
• Enforce TLS 1.2 as the minimum Transport Layer Security version

Who is this lab for?

This lab is designed for cloud security engineers and database administrators preparing for AZ-500 or implementing Azure SQL security controls. Familiarity with the Azure portal and basic SQL Database concepts is recommended.