Encrypt in Mysql Flexible server

Question

I’m currently working on setting up Azure Flexible Server for MySQL for a production environment and need to ensure that both data-at-rest and data-in-transit are properly encrypted, in line with industry compliance requirements. I need help in the following

1. Enable encryption at rest using Azure's built-in capabilities, and if additional configurations or tools are needed to meet regulatory standards.
2. Configure encryption for data-in-transit for MySQL connections between client applications and the server, ensuring that communication remains secure while minimizing any potential performance overhead.
3. What are the best practices for auditing access to encrypted data, ensuring that there is minimal impact on performance while maintaining robust monitoring and logging mechanisms?

Any help is appreciated

Answer 1

@Rubens Max
Thank you for the question and for using Microsoft Q&A platform.

Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server supports encryption at rest using Azure's built-in capabilities.
Here’s how you can enable it:

1. Azure Managed Keys: By default, Azure encrypts data at rest using Microsoft-managed keys.
2. Customer Managed Keys (CMK): For additional control, you can use your own encryption keys stored in Azure Key Vault. This is known as Bring Your Own Key (BYOK).

To secure data-in-transit between client applications and the MySQL server, you should use SSL/TLS encryption:

1. Enable SSL/TLS: Ensure that SSL is enabled on your MySQL server. This can be done in the Azure portal under the "Connection security" settings.
2. Client Configuration: Configure your MySQL clients to use SSL/TLS. This typically involves downloading the server's SSL certificate and specifying it in the client's connection setting.

Best Practices:

Auditing access to encrypted data is crucial for compliance and security. Here are some best practices:

1. Enable Auditing: Use Azure's built-in auditing features to track access and modifications to your MySQL database.
2. Centralized Logging: Use Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics to collect and analyze logs. This helps in maintaining a centralized log repository.
3. Regular Reviews: Conduct regular reviews of audit logs to identify any unusual or unauthorized access patterns.
4. Minimal Performance Impact: Ensure that auditing configurations are optimized to minimize performance overhead. This can include setting appropriate log retention policies and filtering out non-essential logs.

For more information, please refer to the links:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/mysql/flexible-server/how-to-data-encryption-portal
https://gbhackers.com/guide-to-mysql-security/

Hope this helps. Do let us know if you have any further queries.

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