Tech Trends and Insights

  Introduction Microsoft has recently updated the default security settings for Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) . As of now, when you create a new host pool , several device redirection features—such as clipboard sharing, drive access, USB devices, and printer redirection—are disabled by default . This change is designed to reduce the risk of data exfiltration and malware injection , making AVD more secure out of the box. However, if your organization requires these features for productivity or workflow reasons, you can easily enable them manually. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to re-enable device redirection using the Azure portal. 🛠️ Step-by-Step: Enable Device Redirection in Azure Portal Log in to Azure Portal Go to portal.azure.com and sign in with your administrator account. Navigate to Your Host Pool In the left-hand menu, search for "Azure Virtual Desktop" and select "Host pools" . Click on the host pool you want to configure. Open RDP Prop...

🛡️ Azure IAM: Report Explicit Role Assignments This PowerShell script collects all explicit role assignments across your Azure environment – including Management Groups, Subscriptions, Resource Groups, and Resources – and generates an easy-to-read HTML report . ✅ What It Does: Skips inherited permissions – only shows direct (explicit) role assignments Lists user/group/service principal roles by scope Exports a local HTML report you can archive or review Explicit IAM Report – PowerShell Connect-AzAccount function Get-ExplicitRoleAssignments { param ([string]$Scope) Write-Host "Fetching role assignments for scope: $Scope" try { $roleAssignments = Get-AzRoleAssignment -Scope $Scope -ErrorAction Stop $explicitAssignments = $roleAssignments | Where-Object { $_.Scope -eq $Scope } return $explicitAssignments } catch { Write-Host "Error fetching assignments...

🔧 Expand Virtual Hard Disks on Azure Windows VMs 🚀 This guide helps you quickly understand how to expand virtual disks for Windows VMs on Azure. ✅ Applies to: Windows VMs Flexible Scale Sets 📌 Key Points: Default OS disk: 127 GiB Max OS disk: 4,095 GiB (limited to 2 TiB if MBR) Use GPT if you need more than 2 TiB on OS disk Cannot shrink existing disks 🕒 Expand Without Downtime (Data Disks Only): Works if disk is already > 4 TiB (Standard or Premium) Use Azure CLI, PowerShell, Portal, or ARM templates Not supported for OS disks or shared disks 📍 Resize via Azure Portal: Go to the VM and click Stop to deallocate (if required) Under Settings , click Disks Select the disk you want to resize Click Size + performance Select a new (larger) size and click Resize 🔄 After Resizing: Extend volume in Windows Disk Management If size is not visible: re...

 Want to protect your Azure virtual machines with a robust, agentless backup solution? This guide walks you through configuring agentless crash-consistent backup for a new Azure virtual machine (VM) with multiple disks and how to switch an existing VM from application/filesystem-consistent to crash-consistent backup. All steps are performed easily via the Azure portal using the Enhanced Policy. What is Agentless Crash-Consistent Backup? Azure Backup supports agentless backups for VMs by creating crash-consistent snapshots across multiple disks. This eliminates the need to install an agent on the VM, simplifying the process. Crash-consistent backups are ideal when application-consistent snapshots fail or when you prefer a streamlined approach. Note that this feature requires the Enhanced Policy , as application/filesystem-consistent backup is the default setting. Note : Check pricing details and supported scenarios before starting, as there may be limitations for certain VM config...

Unlock the Power of Azure Disk Management with PowerShell! 🚀 Want to master your Azure disks? This PowerShell script lets you seamlessly connect to Azure, retrieve details for a specific disk, and list all disks in a resource group – including their LastOwnershipUpdateTime ! 🛠️ 🔑 What does the script do? Connects to Azure using secure device authentication. Fetches details for a specific disk, including ownership update time. Uses the Azure REST API to dig deeper into disk properties. Lists all disks in a resource group in a clean table format. 💻 Try it now! Copy the code below and take control of your Azure resources. Just replace $resourceGroupName and $diskName with your own values. Got questions? Drop a comment! 👇 PowerShell Script # Ensure you're connected to Azure Connect-AzAccount -UseDeviceAuthentication # Set resource group $resourceGroupName = "YourResourceGroupName" $disk...

As IT professionals, we’ve all hit that frustrating moment: you’re trying to log in to Azure using PowerShell to manage resources, only to be stopped by a cryptic error message. 😤 Whether it’s a permissions issue, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), or a complex tenant setup, PowerShell’s login methods can be tricky to navigate. In this blog post, I’ll break down the three most common PowerShell login commands for Azure— Connect-AzAccount , Connect-AzAccount -TenantId , and Connect-AzAccount -UseDeviceAuthentication —and explain why one of them often saves the day. The Problem: Why Doesn’t Connect-AzAccount Always Work? If you’ve ever run Connect-AzAccount expecting a seamless login only to see an error like: Due to a configuration change made by your administrator, you must use multi-factor authentication. …you’re not alone. Modern cloud environments, especially in organizations with strict security policies, often use MFA, Conditional Access, or guest user (B2B) setups, which can ...

Why It Matters Activating screen capture protection in Intune is essential to prevent data breaches from unauthorized screenshots, ensuring compliance with standards like GDPR or HIPAA. With rising cyber risks, protecting your remote desktop environment is critical. Step-by-Step Guide Access the Configuration Log in to the Microsoft Intune admin center. Go to Devices > Windows > Configuration profiles > Create profile . Select Settings Under Configuration settings , expand Administrative Templates and then Experience . Locate  Windows Components > Remote Desktop Services > Remote Desktop Session Host > Azure Virtual Desktop And select Allow Screen Capture . Configure the Setting Set Enable screen capture protection to Enabled . Under Screen Capture Protection Options , choose Block screen capture on client and server to prevent screenshots on both ends. You can choose between two levels: Option: Block on client and server - Protects both the user's computer ...

  Protect your virtual networks from DNS-based threats with Azure's DNS Security Policy! This powerful tool lets you filter, log, and manage DNS traffic to safeguard your environment. Whether you're blocking malicious domains or monitoring traffic, this guide will walk you through the essentials of setting up a DNS Security Policy in Azure. Pair this with your screenshots to configure it like a pro! What is a DNS Security Policy? A DNS Security Policy in Azure allows you to control and secure DNS queries within a Virtual Network (VNet). It helps you: Filter DNS queries : Allow, block, or alert on specific domains. Log traffic : Store DNS query details for analysis. Protect against attacks : Block access to known malicious domains. Scale across networks : Apply a single policy to multiple VNets in the same Azure region. This feature is a game-changer for securing DNS traffic, introduced to simplify and centralize DNS management compared to older methods like custom firewalls. Ke...

Why Should You Do This? Managing user consent to applications in Azure AD (Entra ID) is crucial to enhance security and protect your organization’s sensitive data. Unaware users may inadvertently approve malicious apps that request access to resources like OneDrive files or SharePoint sites, even offline. This can lead to data theft through phishing or compromised accounts, bypassing multifactor authentication (MFA) as certain protocols (e.g., SMTP, POP3, IMAP) are not covered post-authentication. Default Settings and Risks Default Azure AD settings allow users to approve third-party apps without administrator oversight, increasing the risk of data breaches. Users are often the weakest link in security, making stricter settings essential. How to Configure User Consent You need a user account with a Global Administrator role to manage these settings. The following options are available: Do Not Allow User or Group Owner Consent Blocks all users from approving apps. Steps: Lo...

Worried about data breaches? Let’s make your app’s storage Fort Knox-level secure in under 30 minutes! This guide shows you how to set up secure cloud storage using managed identities , a key vault , and immutable storage on Azure. Perfect for developers building apps or anyone curious about cloud security . Ready to protect your data like a pro? Let’s dive in! Why This Matters Hackers love unsecured data. By using Azure’s role-based access control (RBAC) and encryption tools, you’ll: Keep data safe with managed identities (no hardcoded credentials!). Protect test environments with immutable storage . Stay compliant with customer-managed keys . Quick-Start Guide: 5 Steps to Secure Storage Step 1: Set Up Your Storage Account Create a home for your app’s data with built-in encryption. In the Azure portal, search Storage Accounts and click + Create . Pick or create a resource group (e.g., MyAppGroup ). Name your account (unique, lowercase, 3-24 characters). On the Encryption tab, c...