In a traditional on-premises SQL Server, users can connect using either Windows or SQL authentication. However, when implementing Azure SQL Database, it creates a SQL user by default for administrative tasks. In this article, we will explore how to authenticate using Azure Active Directory for a SQL Database.
Centralized User Management with Azure Active Directory
If you manage multiple Azure SQL databases for your organization, using the default SQL authentication can become complex and difficult to manage. Azure Active Directory (AD) provides centralized management for all users, eliminating the need to manage user credentials and store them in a secure location.
Azure Active Directory offers the following authentication options in SQL Server Management Studio:
- Azure Active Directory – Universal with MFA
- Azure Active Directory – Password
- Azure Active Directory – Integrated
The multi-factor authentication (MFA) option provides additional security using strong authentication methods such as text messages, phone call smart cards with a pin, or mobile app notifications.
Azure AD Administrator and Azure SQL Database Administrator
In Azure AD authentication, we have two administrator accounts:
- Azure SQL database administrator account: This is the default user that uses SQL authentication.
- Azure AD administrator: This is the AD user that has administrator permissions for the SQL database.
For database-level authentication, we use a contained database user in Azure AD authentication. While you can add users and groups in your SQL database, only the Azure AD administrator account can create the first Azure AD container database user.
Configuring Azure AD Authentication for Azure SQL Database
To configure Azure AD authentication for Azure SQL Database, follow these steps:
- Create an Azure Active Directory user in the Azure portal.
- Set the Active Directory admin for your Azure SQL Server.
- Connect to the Azure SQL Database using Azure AD authentication in SQL Server Management Studio.
Once connected, you may encounter an error message stating that the password has expired. In this case, you need to change the password for the user in the Azure portal.
Managing Users with Azure AD Groups
To simplify user management, it is recommended to create Azure AD groups and add users to these groups. This allows you to manage permissions for multiple users easily. For example, you can provide permissions to a group instead of individual users.
To create an Azure AD group:
- Search for “groups” in the Azure portal.
- Create a new security group and specify the group name, description, owner, and members.
Once the group is created, you can add the group to the Azure SQL database using the appropriate script.
Using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security for Azure AD authentication in Azure SQL databases. It requires users to provide additional identification, such as a code received via text message, email, MFA device, or fingerprint scan.
To enable MFA for users:
- Go to the user’s dashboard in the Azure portal.
- Select the users and enable multi-factor authentication.
- Follow the prompts to complete the MFA setup.
Once MFA is enabled, users need to use the Azure Active Directory – Universal with MFA option in SQL Server Management Studio to connect to the Azure SQL database.
By understanding and implementing Azure Active Directory authentication for Azure SQL databases, you can enhance security and simplify user management. This authentication method supports both individual users and groups, and it requires .Net framework 4.6 or higher for SQL Server.
Article Last Updated: 2021-03-01