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Azure AD-only authentication#

Security · SQL Database · 2023_03

Ensure Azure AD-only authentication is enabled with Azure SQL Database.

Description#

Azure SQL Database supports authentication with SQL logins and Azure AD authentication. By default, authentication with SQL logins is enabled. SQL logins are unable to provide sufficient protection for identities.

Azure AD authentication provides:

  • Strong protection controls including conditional access, identity governance, and privileged identity management.
  • Centralized identity management with Azure AD.

Additionally you can disable SQL authentication entirely, by enabling Azure AD-only authentication.

Some features may have limitations when using Azure AD-only authentication is enabled, including:

  • Elastic jobs
  • SQL Data Sync
  • Change Data Capture (CDC)
  • Transactional replication
  • SQL insights

Continue reading Limitations for Azure AD-only authentication in SQL Database.

Recommendation#

Consider using Azure AD-only authentication. Also consider using Azure Policy for Azure AD-only authentication with SQL Database.

Examples#

Azure AD-only authentication can be enabled in two different ways.

Configure with Azure template#

To deploy SQL Logical Servers that pass this rule:

  • Set the properties.administrators.azureADOnlyAuthentication property to true.

For example:

Azure Template snippet
{
  "type": "Microsoft.Sql/servers",
  "apiVersion": "2022-05-01-preview",
  "name": "[parameters('name')]",
  "location": "[parameters('location')]",
  "identity": {
    "type": "SystemAssigned",
    "userAssignedIdentities": {}
  },
  "properties": {
    "administratorLogin": "[parameters('administratorLogin')]",
    "administratorLoginPassword": "[parameters('administratorLoginPassword')]",
    "administrators": {
      "administratorType": "ActiveDirectory",
      "azureADOnlyAuthentication": true,
      "login": "[parameters('login')]",
      "principalType": "[parameters('principalType')]",
      "sid": "[parameters('sid')]",
      "tenantId": "[parameters('tenantId')]"
    }
  }
}

Alternatively, you can configure the Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications sub-resource. To deploy Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications sub-resources that pass this rule:

  • Set the properties.azureADOnlyAuthentication property to true.

For example:

Azure Template snippet
{
  "type": "Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications",
  "apiVersion": "2022-05-01-preview",
  "name": "[format('{0}/{1}', parameters('name'), 'Default')]",
  "properties": {
    "azureADOnlyAuthentication": true
  },
  "dependsOn": [
    "[resourceId('Microsoft.Sql/servers', parameters('name'))]"
  ]
}

Configure with Bicep#

To deploy SQL Logical Servers that pass this rule:

  • Set the properties.administrators.azureADOnlyAuthentication property to true.

For example:

Azure Bicep snippet
resource logicalServer 'Microsoft.Sql/servers@2022-05-01-preview' = {
  name: name
  location: location
  identity: {
    type: 'SystemAssigned'
    userAssignedIdentities: {}
  }
  properties: {
    administratorLogin: administratorLogin
    administratorLoginPassword: administratorLoginPassword
    administrators: {
      administratorType: 'ActiveDirectory'
      azureADOnlyAuthentication: true
      login: login
      principalType: principalType
      sid: sid
      tenantId: tenantId
    }
  }
}

Alternatively, you can configure the Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications sub-resource. To deploy Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications sub-resources that pass this rule:

  • Set the properties.azureADOnlyAuthentication property to true.

For example:

Azure Bicep snippet
resource aadOnly 'Microsoft.Sql/servers/azureADOnlyAuthentications@2022-05-01-preview' = {
  name: 'Default'
  parent: logicalServer
  properties: {
    azureADOnlyAuthentication: true
  }
}

Notes#

The Azure AD admin must be set before enabling Azure AD-only authentication. A managed identity is required if an Azure AD service principal (Azure AD application) oversees creating and managing Azure AD users, groups, or applications in the logical server.

Last update: 2023-07-26

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