Azure Key Vault is a critical service for managing secrets, keys, and certificates used by cloud applications and services. To ensure secure and controlled access to the resources stored in Azure Key Vault, Azure provides two primary methods of access control: Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Vault Access Policy. This article explores the differences between these two methods and their use cases and provides step-by-step instructions on how to configure each.
Overview
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): RBAC is a method for managing access to Azure resources based on roles assigned to users, groups, and applications. RBAC allows fine-grained control over access and permissions within the Azure ecosystem.
- Vault Access Policy: Vault Access Policy is a Key Vault-specific access control method that allows you to grant permissions to secrets, keys, and certificates independently. It provides a more granular level of control within the Key Vault.
Key Differences Between RBAC and Vault Access Policy
| Feature/Aspect |
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) |
Vault Access Policy |
| Scope |
Broad can be applied to all Azure resources |
Specific to Azure Key Vault |
| Granularity |
Role-based, can be fine-grained at the resource level |
Object-specific (secrets, keys, certificates) |
| Management |
Managed through Azure portal, CLI, PowerShell |
Managed directly in Key Vault |
| Integration |
Integrated with Azure AD roles and permissions |
Independent of Azure AD roles, specific to Key Vault |
| Flexibility |
High, can apply to multiple resources and services |
Focused, detailed control within the Key Vault |
| Use Case |
Broad access control needs across multiple services |
Detailed, specific access control within the Key Vault |
Use Cases
RBAC
- Broad administrative control: Assign broad access to administrators across multiple resources.
- Role-based access: Assign specific roles to users/groups for access to various Azure resources.
- Integration with Azure AD: Utilize existing Azure AD roles and policies for streamlined access management.
Vault Access Policy
- Fine-grained control: Assign permissions to specific secrets, keys, or certificates.
- Application-specific access: Provide access to particular applications or services without broader permissions.
- Independent management: Manage Key Vault access independently of Azure AD roles.
Switching Between RBAC and Vault Access Policy
Azure Key Vault allows you to use either RBAC or Vault Access Policies, but not both simultaneously. Here’s how to switch between the two:
- Open Azure Portal
- Locate Key Vault
- Go to All Services> Key Vault and select your Key Vault.
- Settings
- Go to Settings > Access Configuration.
- Change Configuration
- Select Azure role-based access control/Access Policy to switch.
- Click Save
![Configuration]()
Conclusion
Both Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and Vault Access Policy offer robust ways to manage access to Azure Key Vault, each with its unique advantages. RBAC provides broad, role-based access control across Azure resources, making it suitable for organizations with diverse resource management needs. Vault Access Policy, on the other hand, offers detailed, object-specific access control within the Key Vault, ideal for applications requiring precise permissions.
Understanding these differences and how to configure each method allows you to implement the most appropriate access control strategy for your Azure Key Vault deployments.