Cryptographic keys should have a defined expiration date and not be permanent. Keys that are valid forever provide a potential attacker with more time to compromise the key. It is a recommended security practice to set expiration dates on cryptographic keys.
Mode
Microsoft.KeyVault.Data
Type
BuiltIn
Preview
False
Deprecated
False
Effect
Default Audit Allowed Audit, Deny, Disabled
RBAC role(s)
none
Rule aliases
none
Rule resource types
none
Compliance
The following 18 compliance controls are associated with this Policy definition 'Key Vault keys should have an expiration date' (152b15f7-8e1f-4c1f-ab71-8c010ba5dbc0)
**Security Principle:**
Document and implement an enterprise cryptographic key management standard, processes, and procedures to control your key lifecycle. When there is a need to use customer-managed key in the services, use a secured key vault service for key generation, distribution, and storage. Rotate and revoke your keys based on the defined schedule and when there is a key retirement or compromise.
**Azure Guidance:**
Use Azure Key Vault to create and control your encryption keys life cycle, including key generation, distribution, and storage. Rotate and revoke your keys in Azure Key Vault and your service based on the defined schedule and when there is a key retirement or compromise.
When there is a need to use customer-managed key (CMK) in the workload services or applications, ensure you follow the best practices:
- Use a key hierarchy to generate a separate data encryption key (DEK) with your key encryption key (KEK) in your key vault.
- Ensure keys are registered with Azure Key Vault and implement via key IDs in each service or application.
If you need to bring your own key (BYOK) to the services (i.e., importing HSM-protected keys from your on-premises HSMs into Azure Key Vault), follow the recommended guideline to perform the key generation and key transfer.
Note: Refer to the below for the FIPS 140-2 level for Azure Key Vault types and FIPS compliance level.
- Software-protected keys in vaults (Premium & Standard SKUs): FIPS 140-2 Level 1
- HSM-protected keys in vaults (Premium SKU): FIPS 140-2 Level 2
- HSM-protected keys in Managed HSM: FIPS 140-2 Level 3
**Implementation and additional context:**
Azure Key Vault overview:
https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/key-vault/general/overview
Azure data encryption at rest--Key Hierarchy:
https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/security/fundamentals/encryption-atrest#key-hierarchy
BYOK(Bring Your Own Key) specification:
https://docs.microsoft.com/azure/key-vault/keys/byok-specification
CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark recommendation 8.1
8
Ensure that the Expiration Date is set for all Keys in RBAC Key Vaults
Shared
Keys cannot be used beyond their assigned expiration dates respectively. Keys need to be rotated periodically wherever they are used.
Ensure that all Keys in Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Azure Key Vaults have an expiration date set.
Azure Key Vault enables users to store and use cryptographic keys within the Microsoft Azure environment. The `exp` (expiration date) attribute identifies the expiration date on or after which the key MUST NOT be used for encryption of new data, wrapping of new keys, and signing. By default, keys never expire. It is thus recommended that keys be rotated in the key vault and set an explicit expiration date for all keys to help enforce the key rotation. This ensures that the keys cannot be used beyond their assigned lifetimes.
CIS Microsoft Azure Foundations Benchmark recommendation 8.2
8
Ensure that the Expiration Date is set for all Keys in Non-RBAC Key Vaults.
Shared
Keys cannot be used beyond their assigned expiration dates respectively. Keys need to be rotated periodically wherever they are used.
Ensure that all Keys in Non Role Based Access Control (RBAC) Azure Key Vaults have an expiration date set.
Azure Key Vault enables users to store and use cryptographic keys within the Microsoft Azure environment. The `exp` (expiration date) attribute identifies the expiration date on or after which the key MUST NOT be used for a cryptographic operation. By default, keys never expire. It is thus recommended that keys be rotated in the key vault and set an explicit expiration date for all keys. This ensures that the keys cannot be used beyond their assigned lifetimes.
Establish and manage cryptographic keys for cryptography employed in organizational systems.
Shared
Microsoft and the customer share responsibilities for implementing this requirement.
Cryptographic key management and establishment can be performed using manual procedures or mechanisms supported by manual procedures. Organizations define key management requirements in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, policies, directives, regulations, and standards specifying appropriate options, levels, and parameters.
The organization manages information system authenticators by:
a. Verifying, as part of the initial authenticator distribution, the identity of the individual, group, role, or device receiving the authenticator;
b. Establishing initial authenticator content for authenticators defined by the organization;
c. Ensuring that authenticators have sufficient strength of mechanism for their intended use;
d. Establishing and implementing administrative procedures for initial authenticator distribution, for lost/compromised or damaged authenticators, and for revoking authenticators;
e. Changing default content of authenticators prior to information system installation;
f. Establishing minimum and maximum lifetime restrictions and reuse conditions for authenticators;
g. Changing/refreshing authenticators [Assignment: organization-defined time period by authenticator type];
h. Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification;
i. Requiring individuals to take, and having devices implement, specific security safeguards to protect authenticators; and
j. Changing authenticators for group/role accounts when membership to those accounts changes.
Supplemental Guidance: Individual authenticators include, for example, passwords, tokens, biometrics, PKI certificates, and key cards. Initial authenticator content is the actual content (e.g., the initial password) as opposed to requirements about authenticator content (e.g., minimum password length). In many cases, developers ship information system components with factory default authentication credentials to allow for initial installation and configuration. Default authentication credentials are often well known, easily discoverable, and present a significant security risk. The requirement to protect individual authenticators may be implemented via control PL-4 or PS-6 for authenticators in the possession of individuals and by controls AC-3, AC-6, and SC-28 for authenticators stored within organizational information systems (e.g., passwords stored in hashed or encrypted formats, files containing encrypted or hashed passwords accessible with administrator privileges). Information systems support individual authenticator management by organization-defined settings and restrictions for various authenticator characteristics including, for example, minimum password length, password composition, validation time window for time synchronous one-time tokens, and number of allowed rejections during the verification stage of biometric authentication. Specific actions that can be taken to safeguard authenticators include, for example, maintaining possession of individual authenticators, not loaning or sharing individual authenticators with others, and reporting lost, stolen, or compromised authenticators immediately. Authenticator management includes issuing and revoking, when no longer needed, authenticators for temporary access such as that required for remote maintenance. Device authenticators include, for example, certificates and passwords. Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, CM-6, IA-2, IA-4, IA-8, PL-4, PS-5, PS-6, SC-12, SC-13, SC-17, SC-28.
References: OMB Memoranda 04-04, 11-11; FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-63, 800-76, 800-78; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance
The organization manages information system authenticators by:
a. Verifying, as part of the initial authenticator distribution, the identity of the individual, group, role, or device receiving the authenticator;
b. Establishing initial authenticator content for authenticators defined by the organization;
c. Ensuring that authenticators have sufficient strength of mechanism for their intended use;
d. Establishing and implementing administrative procedures for initial authenticator distribution, for lost/compromised or damaged authenticators, and for revoking authenticators;
e. Changing default content of authenticators prior to information system installation;
f. Establishing minimum and maximum lifetime restrictions and reuse conditions for authenticators;
g. Changing/refreshing authenticators [Assignment: organization-defined time period by authenticator type];
h. Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification;
i. Requiring individuals to take, and having devices implement, specific security safeguards to protect authenticators; and
j. Changing authenticators for group/role accounts when membership to those accounts changes.
Supplemental Guidance: Individual authenticators include, for example, passwords, tokens, biometrics, PKI certificates, and key cards. Initial authenticator content is the actual content (e.g., the initial password) as opposed to requirements about authenticator content (e.g., minimum password length). In many cases, developers ship information system components with factory default authentication credentials to allow for initial installation and configuration. Default authentication credentials are often well known, easily discoverable, and present a significant security risk. The requirement to protect individual authenticators may be implemented via control PL-4 or PS-6 for authenticators in the possession of individuals and by controls AC-3, AC-6, and SC-28 for authenticators stored within organizational information systems (e.g., passwords stored in hashed or encrypted formats, files containing encrypted or hashed passwords accessible with administrator privileges). Information systems support individual authenticator management by organization-defined settings and restrictions for various authenticator characteristics including, for example, minimum password length, password composition, validation time window for time synchronous one-time tokens, and number of allowed rejections during the verification stage of biometric authentication. Specific actions that can be taken to safeguard authenticators include, for example, maintaining possession of individual authenticators, not loaning or sharing individual authenticators with others, and reporting lost, stolen, or compromised authenticators immediately. Authenticator management includes issuing and revoking, when no longer needed, authenticators for temporary access such as that required for remote maintenance. Device authenticators include, for example, certificates and passwords. Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, CM-6, IA-2, IA-4, IA-8, PL-4, PS-5, PS-6, SC-12, SC-13, SC-17, SC-28.
References: OMB Memoranda 04-04, 11-11; FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-63, 800-76, 800-78; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance
Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational systems.
Shared
Microsoft and the customer share responsibilities for implementing this requirement.
Individual authenticators include the following: passwords, key cards, cryptographic devices, and one-time password devices. Initial authenticator content is the actual content of the authenticator, for example, the initial password. In contrast, the requirements about authenticator content include the minimum password length. Developers ship system components with factory default authentication credentials to allow for initial installation and configuration. Default authentication credentials are often well known, easily discoverable, and present a significant security risk. Systems support authenticator management by organization-defined settings and restrictions for various authenticator characteristics including minimum password length, validation time window for time synchronous one-time tokens, and number of allowed rejections during the verification stage of biometric authentication. Authenticator management includes issuing and revoking, when no longer needed, authenticators for temporary access such as that required for remote maintenance. Device authenticators include certificates and passwords. [SP 800-63-3] provides guidance on digital identities.
The organization manages information system authenticators by:
a. Verifying, as part of the initial authenticator distribution, the identity of the individual, group, role, or device receiving the authenticator;
b. Establishing initial authenticator content for authenticators defined by the organization;
c. Ensuring that authenticators have sufficient strength of mechanism for their intended use;
d. Establishing and implementing administrative procedures for initial authenticator distribution, for lost/compromised or damaged authenticators, and for revoking authenticators;
e. Changing default content of authenticators prior to information system installation;
f. Establishing minimum and maximum lifetime restrictions and reuse conditions for authenticators;
g. Changing/refreshing authenticators [Assignment: organization-defined time period by authenticator type];
h. Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification;
i. Requiring individuals to take, and having devices implement, specific security safeguards to protect authenticators; and
j. Changing authenticators for group/role accounts when membership to those accounts changes.
Supplemental Guidance: Individual authenticators include, for example, passwords, tokens, biometrics, PKI certificates, and key cards. Initial authenticator content is the actual content (e.g., the initial password) as opposed to requirements about authenticator content (e.g., minimum password length). In many cases, developers ship information system components with factory default authentication credentials to allow for initial installation and configuration. Default authentication credentials are often well known, easily discoverable, and present a significant security risk. The requirement to protect individual authenticators may be implemented via control PL-4 or PS-6 for authenticators in the possession of individuals and by controls AC-3, AC-6, and SC-28 for authenticators stored within organizational information systems (e.g., passwords stored in hashed or encrypted formats, files containing encrypted or hashed passwords accessible with administrator privileges). Information systems support individual authenticator management by organization-defined settings and restrictions for various authenticator characteristics including, for example, minimum password length, password composition, validation time window for time synchronous one-time tokens, and number of allowed rejections during the verification stage of biometric authentication. Specific actions that can be taken to safeguard authenticators include, for example, maintaining possession of individual authenticators, not loaning or sharing individual authenticators with others, and reporting lost, stolen, or compromised authenticators immediately. Authenticator management includes issuing and revoking, when no longer needed, authenticators for temporary access such as that required for remote maintenance. Device authenticators include, for example, certificates and passwords. Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, CM-6, IA-2, IA-4, IA-8, PL-4, PS-5, PS-6, SC-12, SC-13, SC-17, SC-28.
References: OMB Memoranda 04-04, 11-11; FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-63, 800-76, 800-78; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance
Manage system authenticators by:
a. Verifying, as part of the initial authenticator distribution, the identity of the individual, group, role, service, or device receiving the authenticator;
b. Establishing initial authenticator content for any authenticators issued by the organization;
c. Ensuring that authenticators have sufficient strength of mechanism for their intended use;
d. Establishing and implementing administrative procedures for initial authenticator distribution, for lost or compromised or damaged authenticators, and for revoking authenticators;
e. Changing default authenticators prior to first use;
f. Changing or refreshing authenticators [Assignment: organization-defined time period by authenticator type] or when [Assignment: organization-defined events] occur;
g. Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification;
h. Requiring individuals to take, and having devices implement, specific controls to protect authenticators; and
i. Changing authenticators for group or role accounts when membership to those accounts changes.
When agencies implement the recommended contents for Key Management Plans (KMPs) they will have a good starting point for the protection of cryptographic systems and their material within their agencies.
The IS Policy must provide for a IS framework with the following basic tenets:
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) - NBFCs may increase the usage of PKI to ensure confidentiality of data, access control, data integrity, authentication and nonrepudiation.
Logical access security software, infrastructure, and architectures
Shared
The customer is responsible for implementing this recommendation.
The following points of focus, specifically related to all engagements using the trust services criteria, highlight important characteristics relating to this criterion:
• Identifies and Manages the Inventory of Information Assets — The entity identifies,
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TRUST SERVICES CRITERIA AND POINTS OF FOCUS
inventories, classifies, and manages information assets.
• Restricts Logical Access — Logical access to information assets, including hardware, data (at-rest, during processing, or in transmission), software, administrative
authorities, mobile devices, output, and offline system components is restricted
through the use of access control software and rule sets.
• Identifies and Authenticates Users — Persons, infrastructure, and software are
identified and authenticated prior to accessing information assets, whether locally
or remotely.
• Considers Network Segmentation — Network segmentation permits unrelated portions of the entity's information system to be isolated from each other.
• Manages Points of Access — Points of access by outside entities and the types of
data that flow through the points of access are identified, inventoried, and managed. The types of individuals and systems using each point of access are identified,
documented, and managed.
• Restricts Access to Information Assets — Combinations of data classification, separate data structures, port restrictions, access protocol restrictions, user identification, and digital certificates are used to establish access-control rules for information assets.
• Manages Identification and Authentication — Identification and authentication requirements are established, documented, and managed for individuals and systems
accessing entity information, infrastructure, and software.
• Manages Credentials for Infrastructure and Software — New internal and external
infrastructure and software are registered, authorized, and documented prior to being granted access credentials and implemented on the network or access point.
Credentials are removed and access is disabled when access is no longer required
or the infrastructure and software are no longer in use.
• Uses Encryption to Protect Data — The entity uses encryption to supplement other
measures used to protect data at rest, when such protections are deemed appropriate based on assessed risk.
• Protects Encryption Keys — Processes are in place to protect encryption keys during generation, storage, use, and destruction