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5.2.8 [LEGACY] Ensure 'Infrastructure double encryption' for PostgreSQL single server is 'Enabled'

Information

Azure Database for PostgreSQL servers should be created with 'infrastructure double encryption' enabled.

NOTE: This recommendation currently only applies to Single Server, not Flexible Server. See additional information below for details about the planned retirement of Azure PostgreSQL Single Server.

Rationale:

If Double Encryption is enabled, another layer of encryption is implemented at the hardware level before the storage or network level. Information will be encrypted before it is even accessed, preventing both interception of data in motion if the network layer encryption is broken and data at rest in system resources such as memory or processor cache. Encryption will also be in place for any backups taken of the database, so the key will secure access the data in all forms. For the most secure implementation of key based encryption, it is recommended to use a Customer Managed asymmetric RSA 2048 Key in Azure Key Vault.

Impact:

The read and write speeds to the database will be impacted if both default encryption and Infrastructure Encryption are checked, as a secondary form of encryption requires more resource overhead for the cryptography of information. This cost is justified for information security. Customer managed keys are recommended for the most secure implementation, leading to overhead of key management. The key will also need to be backed up in a secure location, as loss of the key will mean loss of the information in the database.

Solution

It is not possible to enable 'infrastructure double encryption' on an existing Azure Database for PostgreSQL server.
The remediation steps detail the creation of a new Azure Database for PostgreSQL server with 'infrastructure double encryption' enabled.
Remediate from Azure Portal

Go through the normal process of database creation.

On step 2 titled Additional settings ensure that Infrastructure double encryption enabled is checked.

Acknowledge that you understand this will impact database performance.

Finish database creation as normal.

Remediate from Azure CLI

az postgres server create --resource-group <resourcegroup> --name <servername> --location <location> --admin-user <adminusername> --admin-password <server_admin_password> --sku-name GP_Gen4_2 --version 11 --infrastructure-encryption Enabled

Default Value:

By Default, Double Encryption is disabled.

See Also

https://workbench.cisecurity.org/benchmarks/16820

Item Details

Category: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION, SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

References: 800-53|IA-5(1), 800-53|SC-28, 800-53|SC-28(1), CSCv7|14.8

Plugin: microsoft_azure

Control ID: e59db3e2ebae248fbe6d425baefe1a4e881e7589491972d862eecf00600c3403