Microsoft Azure is the cloud platform of choice for organizations invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. With deep integration with Active Directory, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and the full Microsoft stack, Azure provides a natural path to the cloud for enterprises that rely on Microsoft technologies. However, the power and flexibility of Azure also create significant security complexity. Azure's shared responsibility model means that while Microsoft secures the underlying cloud infrastructure, you are responsible for securing your data, identities, applications, and configurations within the platform. The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report consistently identifies misconfigured cloud environments as a leading cause of data breaches.

Petronella Technology Group provides comprehensive Microsoft Azure security services to help Research Triangle businesses build, manage, and protect their Azure environments. Our team combines deep Azure expertise with more than two decades of cybersecurity experience, delivering security solutions that are both technically sound and aligned with your business and compliance requirements.

The Azure Shared Responsibility Model

In Azure, security responsibilities are shared between Microsoft and the customer. Microsoft is responsible for the physical security of data centers, the network infrastructure, and the host operating systems. Customers are responsible for data, endpoints, accounts, access management, and, depending on the service model, varying degrees of application and network security. Understanding where Microsoft's responsibility ends and yours begins is critical for building a secure Azure environment.

For IaaS services like Virtual Machines, you are responsible for the operating system, applications, data, and network configuration. For PaaS services like Azure SQL Database or App Service, Microsoft manages more of the stack, but you remain responsible for data, access controls, and application security. Even with SaaS services like Microsoft 365, you are responsible for data, devices, accounts, and access management.

Our Azure Security Services

Azure Security Assessment

Our Azure security assessment evaluates your entire Azure environment against CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark, Microsoft Cloud Security Benchmark, and your industry's compliance requirements. We review:

• Identity and Access Management: Azure AD/Entra ID configuration, Conditional Access policies, MFA enforcement, Privileged Identity Management, and role-based access control
• Network Security: Virtual network configurations, Network Security Groups, Azure Firewall rules, Application Gateway/WAF, and internet-facing resource exposure
• Data Protection: Storage account access policies, database security, encryption with Azure Key Vault, and Azure Information Protection configuration
• Logging and Monitoring: Azure Monitor configuration, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Sentinel deployment, and diagnostic logging
• Compute Security: Virtual Machine configurations, AKS security, App Service security, and patch management
• Microsoft 365 Security: Exchange Online protection, SharePoint security, Teams governance, and data loss prevention policies

Azure Architecture and Hardening

We design and harden Azure environments following the Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework and Azure Well-Architected Framework. Our architecture services include:

• Azure Landing Zone design for enterprise-scale deployments
• Management group and subscription hierarchy design
• Virtual network architecture with hub-and-spoke topology
• Azure AD/Entra ID security configuration with Conditional Access
• Privileged Identity Management deployment
• Azure Key Vault implementation for secrets and encryption key management
• Backup and disaster recovery with Azure Site Recovery
• Azure Policy implementation for governance and compliance

Azure Security Monitoring

Our managed Azure security services deploy and manage Microsoft's security tools alongside our own monitoring infrastructure:

• Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Unified security management and advanced threat protection across your Azure workloads
• Microsoft Sentinel: Cloud-native SIEM and SOAR for intelligent security analytics
• Azure Monitor: Comprehensive monitoring and alerting for Azure resources
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Endpoint detection and response for Azure VMs and connected devices
• Azure AD Identity Protection: Risk-based identity protection for user accounts

Our AI agent Eve integrates with Microsoft's security stack to provide unified monitoring alongside your other cloud and on-premises systems, giving you comprehensive visibility across your entire environment.

Microsoft 365 Security

Microsoft 365 is a critical business tool for most organizations, and it is also a prime target for attackers. We provide comprehensive Microsoft 365 security services including:

• Exchange Online protection and anti-phishing configuration
• SharePoint and OneDrive security and access controls
• Teams governance and compliance configuration
• Data loss prevention policy development and deployment
• Sensitivity labels and information protection
• Conditional Access policy design and implementation
• Audit logging and compliance monitoring

Azure Compliance

Azure offers more than 100 compliance certifications, making it suitable for organizations in highly regulated industries. We help organizations leverage Azure's compliance capabilities while implementing the customer-side controls needed for full regulatory compliance. Our compliance services cover HIPAA, PCI DSS, SOC 2, NIST 800-171, CMMC, SOX, FedRAMP, and other frameworks.

Azure for Microsoft-Centric Organizations

Organizations that rely on Active Directory, Microsoft 365, and other Microsoft technologies benefit most from Azure because of the deep integration between these services. Azure AD/Entra ID provides a unified identity platform that simplifies access management across cloud and on-premises resources. Conditional Access policies enable zero-trust security models without disrupting user productivity. Integration with Microsoft Defender products provides comprehensive threat protection across endpoints, email, identity, and cloud workloads.

However, this integration also means that a security compromise in one area can cascade across the entire Microsoft ecosystem. A compromised Azure AD account can provide access to Azure resources, Microsoft 365 data, and connected SaaS applications simultaneously. Proper security architecture, including MFA, Conditional Access, Privileged Identity Management, and continuous monitoring, is essential to prevent and contain such compromises.