Azure SQL Managed Instance must generate audit records when attempts to access categorized information (e.g., classification levels/security levels) occur.

Changes in categorized information must be tracked. Without an audit trail, unauthorized access to protected data could go undetected.

For detailed information on categorizing information, refer to FIPS Publication 199, Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems, and FIPS Publication 200, Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems.

To aid in diagnosis, it is necessary to keep track of failed attempts in addition to the successful attempts.

Satisfies: SRG-APP-000494-DB-000345, SRG-APP-000494-DB-000344

Determine if an audit is configured and started by executing the following query.

SELECT name AS 'Audit Name', status_desc AS 'Audit Status', audit_file_path AS 'Current Audit File' FROM sys.dm_server_audit_status WHERE name NOT IN ('admin_audit','SqlDbThreatDetection_ServerAudit')

If no records are returned, this is a finding.

If the auditing the retrieval of privilege/permission/role membership information is required, execute the following query to verify the 'SCHEMA_OBJECT_ACCESS_GROUP' is included in the server audit specification.

SELECT a.name AS 'AuditName', s.name AS 'SpecName', d.audit_action_name AS 'ActionName', d.audited_result AS 'Result' FROM sys.server_audit_specifications s JOIN sys.server_audits a ON s.audit_guid = a.audit_guid JOIN sys.server_audit_specification_details d ON s.server_specification_id = d.server_specification_id WHERE a.is_state_enabled = 1 AND d.audit_action_name = 'SCHEMA_OBJECT_ACCESS_GROUP'

If the 'SCHEMA_OBJECT_ACCESS_GROUP' is not returned in an active audit, this is a finding.

Deploy an audit to review when data classifications are both successfully and unsuccessfully retrieved.

Refer to the supplemental file "AzureSQLMIAudit.sql" script.

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/managed-instance/auditing-configure?view=azuresql