Design and Implement Data Security

Key Concepts

• Data Encryption
• Access Control
• Data Masking

Data Encryption

Data encryption is the process of converting data into a secure format that cannot be easily understood by unauthorized users. This ensures that even if data is intercepted, it remains confidential and secure. Azure provides various encryption options, including Azure Storage Service Encryption (SSE) for data at rest and Azure TLS/SSL for data in transit.

Think of data encryption as placing your sensitive documents in a locked safe. Only those with the key (or decryption key) can access the contents, ensuring that the information remains secure from unauthorized access.

Access Control

Access control involves managing who can access specific data and what actions they can perform. This includes defining roles and permissions to ensure that users only have access to the data they need. Azure Active Directory (AAD) and Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) are key tools for implementing access control in Azure.

Consider access control as setting up a gated community. Only residents with the appropriate credentials (like a keycard or passcode) can enter, ensuring that the community remains secure and that only authorized individuals can access specific areas.

Data Masking

Data masking is the process of obscuring specific data fields to prevent unauthorized access while still allowing the data to be used for testing, development, or other non-production purposes. Azure SQL Database provides dynamic data masking to help protect sensitive information.

Think of data masking as blurring sensitive information on a document before sharing it with others. This ensures that the critical details remain hidden, while the overall context and non-sensitive information are still accessible.