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Enabling Encryption in Azure SQL

Part of what defines a modern cloud engineer’s role is privacy concerns. Between the GDPR and the various US states' attempts to govern PII, it has become more and more important that we understand how to secure data. In this hands-on lab, students will employ one of the most important and common data at rest protection mechanisms — Always Encrypted SQL data. We will build a SQL server and populate a database with sample data. Then, we'll connect and encrypt a targeted portion of that data.

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Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Advanced
Duration
Clock icon 1h 15m
Published
Clock icon Nov 06, 2020

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Use RDP to Connect to the Virtual Machine and Install SQL Server Management Studio

    Use the Remote Desktop client (available from Microsoft for Windows clients natively and Mac clients here).

    1. Connect to the server via RDP, logging in with the provided lab credentials.
    2. Browse to this link and download SSMS.

  2. Challenge

    Connect to the SQL Server

    1. In the Azure portal, click the provisioned SQL server to open it.
    2. In Overview, copy the server name to the clipboard.
    3. Connect to the SQL server using the following values, replacing <SERVER_NAME> with your unique name copied from Azure:
      • Server type: Database Engine
      • Server name: <SERVER_NAME> (example: 5x4a345oyk6ya.database.windows.net)
      • Authentication: SQL Server Authentication
      • Login: acguser
      • Password: <SERVER_NAME>! (example: 5x4a345oyk6ya!)

  3. Challenge

    Create an Azure Key Vault

    In the Azure portal, create an Azure vault using the following values:

    • Resource group: Existing resource group
    • Key vault name: samplevault491512
    • Region: Region where the resource group is located
    1. Leave the rest as their defaults and click Next: Access policy.
    2. In Key Permissions, ensure the following operations are not selected for the logged-in lab user: Purge, Release, Rotate, Get Rotation Policy, and Set Rotation Policy
    3. Click Review + create > Create.

  4. Challenge

    Encrypt Some Data

    1. Return to the Remote Desktop client.
    2. In Object Explorer to the left, click Databases > SampleDB > Tables > SalesLT.Customer.
    3. Right-click on SalesLT.Customer and click Encrypt Columns.
    4. Click Next.
    5. In Column Selection, select FirstName, MiddleName, and LastName.
    6. In Encryption Type, select Deterministic for all three columns.
    7. Click Next.
    8. In Master Key Configuration, select Azure Key Vault and click Sign In.
    9. Sign in using the provided lab credentials.
    10. Click Next > Next > Finish.
    11. Sign in to the Azure account again.
Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
Author
Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
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