Security Overview
Azure File Storage provides robust security capabilities to protect your data at rest and in transit. This guide covers authentication, authorization, encryption, and monitoring strategies to help you secure your file shares.
Authentication
Access to Azure File shares can be authenticated using:
- Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) Domain Services
- Storage account keys
- Shared Access Signatures (SAS)
For detailed steps, see the Authentication page.
Authorization
Control who can read, write, or manage file shares with role-based access control (RBAC) and Azure AD permissions.
Refer to the Authorization documentation for role assignments and custom roles.
Encryption at Rest
All data stored in Azure File shares is encrypted using Microsoft-managed keys by default. You can also use customer-managed keys (CMK) for additional control.
Learn how to configure CMK in the Encryption section.
Encryption in Transit
Data transferred to and from Azure File shares is protected with SMB 3.0 encryption or HTTPS for REST APIs. Ensure your client supports SMB 3.0 or use the azcopy tool with HTTPS.
Monitoring & Auditing
Enable Azure Monitor and Azure Storage analytics to track access patterns, detect anomalies, and retain audit logs for compliance.
Details are available on the Monitoring page.
Best Practices
- Use Azure AD authentication wherever possible.
- Leverage RBAC and least-privilege principles.
- Enable encryption with customer-managed keys for regulated workloads.
- Monitor access logs and set up alerts for unusual activity.
Full checklist can be found in Best Practices.