Other Articles
- SQL Database – Enable Database Encryption
- SQL Server – Enable SQL Defender
- SQL Database – Monitor CPU Utilization
- SQL Database – Monitor IO Utilization
- SQL Database – Monitor Memory Utilization
- SQL Database – Protect From Direct Internet Traffic
- Storage Account – Enable Storage Encryption
- Storage Account – Disable Blob Public Access
- Storage Account – Disable Cross-Tenant Replication
- Storage Account – Disable Public Network Access
- Storage Account – Enable Microsoft Defender
- Storage Account – Enable Secure Transfer
- Storage Account – Enforce Minimum TLS Version
- Storage Account – Enforce Network Access Rule
- Storage Account – Enforce Private Endpoint Access
- User – Enable Azure MFA
- App Service – Disable Remote Debugging
- App Service – Enable Defender
- App Service – Enable Entra ID Registration
- App Service – Enable HTTP2
- App Service – Enforce Latest TLS Version
- App Service – Enforce Secure FTPS State
- App Service – Monitor Server Errors
- App Service – Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
- Cosmos DB – Enable Backup
- Cosmos DB – Enable Microsoft Defender
- Cosmos DB – Monitor Latency
- Cosmos DB – Ensure Private Connectivity
- Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL – Monitor CPU Utilization
- Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL – Monitor IO Utilization
- Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL – Monitor Memory Utilization
- Cosmos DB for PostgreSQL – Protect From Direct Internet Traffic
- Cosmos DB – Protect From Direct Internet Traffic
- Cosmos DB – Restrict Firewall Network Access
- Virtual Machine – Protect From Direct Internet Traffic
- Key Vault – Enable Defender
- Key Vault – Ensure Vault Recoverable
- Key Vault – Require Private Endpoint Access
- MySQL Flexible Server – Enable Audit Log Events Connection
- MySQL Flexible Server – Enable Audit Logs
- MySQL Flexible Server – Enforce Minimum TLS Version
- PostgreSQL Flexible Server – Configure Log File Retention
- PostgreSQL Flexible Server – Enable Connection Logging
- PostgreSQL Flexible Server – Enable Connection Throttling
- PostgreSQL Flexible Server – Enable Disconnection Logging
- PostgreSQL Flexible Server – Enable Log Checkpoints
- Network Security Group – Ensure Flow Logs Captured
- General – Enable Auto Provisioning Log Analytics
- General – Enable Security Notifications
- General – Set Additional Email Address
Virtual Machine – Enable Defender
This check ensures that Microsoft Defender is enabled for Azure Virtual Machines to provide continuous threat protection, vulnerability assessment, and security monitoring.
Check Details
- Resource: Azure Virtual Machine
- Check: Ensure Microsoft Defender Is Enabled
- Risk: If Microsoft Defender is not enabled, Virtual Machines may lack advanced threat detection, vulnerability scanning, and security monitoring, increasing the risk of undetected attacks, malware infections, and configuration weaknesses.
Remediation via Azure Portal
-
Log in to the Azure Portal.
-
Navigate to Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
-
Select Environment settings.
- Choose the appropriate Subscription.
-
Under Defender plans, locate Virtual Machines.
-
Ensure the Defender plan for Servers is set to On.
- Click Save to apply the configuration.
Remediation via Azure CLI
-
Open Azure Cloud Shell or a local terminal with Azure CLI installed.
-
Enable Microsoft Defender plan for Virtual Machines:
az security pricing create \ --name VirtualMachines \ --tier standard
-
Verify Defender plan status:
az security pricing show \ --name VirtualMachines \ --query pricingTier
The output should return "Standard", which confirms that Microsoft Defender for Virtual Machines is
enabled.