Enhancing Security with Access-Based Enumeration and Azure NetApp Files

Access-Based Enumeration (ABE) is a security feature that allows users to see only the files and folders they have permission to access. This means that when a user browses a shared folder, they will only see the files and folders that they have been granted permission to access, instead of seeing everything that is stored in the shared folder. Azure NetApp Files (ANF) is a Microsoft first-party service that provides enterprise-grade storage and data management solutions for organisations of all sizes. In this blog post, we will explore how you can use Access-Based Enumeration with Azure NetApp Files to enhance your organisation’s security and reduce the risk of unauthorised access. Please note – This feature is currently in Public Preview.

Why use Access-Based Enumeration with Azure NetApp Files?

Azure NetApp Files is a highly available, high-performance file storage service that is designed to meet the most demanding requirements of enterprise-level applications. ANF supports both NFS and SMB protocols and provides seamless integration with other Azure services, making it a perfect choice for organisations that require a scalable, secure, and highly available storage solution.

Access-Based Enumeration is a security feature that helps businesses to control who has access to what data. By enabling ABE with Azure NetApp Files, customers can improve security by limiting access to sensitive data and reducing the risk of data breaches. This is especially important in industries such as healthcare, finance, and government, where data security and privacy are critical.

How to enable Access-Based Enumeration with Azure NetApp Files?

Enabling Access-Based Enumeration with Azure NetApp Files is a straightforward process. Follow the steps below to enable ABE:

Step 1: Create an Azure NetApp Files volume

The first step is to create an Azure NetApp Files volume. You can create a volume using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or PowerShell.

Step 2: Enable Access-Based Enumeration

Once you have created a volume, you can enable Access-Based Enumeration by modifying the SMB share settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Azure NetApp Files volume that you want to enable Access-Based Enumeration for.
2. Click on the “ellipse to right hand side “.
3. Click on the “Edit” button.
4. In the “Settings” section, select the “Enable access-based enumeration” checkbox.
5. Click on the “Save” button to save the changes.

Step 3: Test Access-Based Enumeration

After you have enabled Access-Based Enumeration, you can test it by logging in as a user who has limited access to the shared folder. When the user browses the shared folder, they will only see the files and folders that they have been granted access to.

Summary

Access-Based Enumeration is a powerful security feature that helps organisations to limit access to sensitive data and reduce the risk of data breaches. By enabling ABE with Azure NetApp Files, organisations can improve their data security and privacy, especially in industries such as healthcare, finance, and government. The process of enabling ABE with ANF is straightforward and can be done using the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or PowerShell. If you are using Azure NetApp Files, consider enabling Access-Based Enumeration to enhance your organisation’s security and reduce the risk of unauthorised access.