Windows Admin Center and Deploying Windows Server Insider Build 25099 Core #WindowsAdminCenter #Winserv #WIMVP

Windows Admin Center Version 2110.2 Build 1.3.2204.19002

Windows Admin Center is a customer-deployed, browser-based app for managing servers, clusters, hyper-converged infrastructure, and Windows PCs. It comes at no additional cost beyond Windows and is ready to use in production. Learn more about Windows Admin Center.

Benefits

• Simple and modern management experience
• Hybrid capabilities
• Integrated toolset
• Designed for extensibility

Languages
Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Czech, Dutch (Netherlands), English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Portugal), Russian, Spanish, Swedish (Sweden), Turkish

In the following step-by-step guide I will deploy Windows Server 2022 Insider Build 25099 Core Edition with Windows Admin Center tool together with some great features for managing Windows Servers in a secure hybrid way with Microsoft Azure Cloud services. Like Azure Defender for Cloud, Azure Backup Vault, Azure Monitor, Security and more.
So I have Windows Admin Center 2110.2 installed and I have a Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V Server for my Virtual Machines in my MVPLAB Domain.
Now we will deploy the new Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Build 25099.

In WAC on my Hypervisor in Virtual Machines

When you explore and open your Hyper-V Host and go to Virtual Machines, you can Click on Add and then on New for Creating your Windows Server Insider VM.

Create a New Windows Server Insider VM called StormTrooper01

Here you can configure your new Windows Server 2022 Insider VM with the following :

• What kind of Generation VM (Gen 2 Recommended)
• The path of your Virtual Machine and the path of your virtual disk(s)
• CPU and you can make nested Virtualization too
• Memory and use of Dynamic Memory
• Network select the Virtual Switch
• Network Isolation by VLAN
• Storage, Create the size of the Virtual Disk. Choose an ISO or Select an existing VHD(x)

I Created a New 70GB OS Disk
and I want to Install the New Windows Server Insider OS from ISO.
Click on Browse

Here you Browse Default on your Hyper-V Host and select the ISO.

When the Windows Server ISO is selected you can hit Create

We get the Notification that the virtual machine is successfully created.

Only the Virtual Machine is now made with your specs and visible on the Hyper-V Host.
Select the New Virtual Machine (StormTrooper01) click on Power and hit Start.

After you started the VM, you can double click on it and go to Connect.
Click on Connect to the Virtual Machine.

Now you are on the console via VM Connect.

Click on Install Now

We are installing Windows Server 2022 Insider Core edition, because we have WAC 😉

Installing Windows Server 2022 Insider Core Preview Build 25099 via Windows Admin Center

Create New Administrator Password.

And here we have Sconfig of the Windows Server 2022 Core.
via Virtual Machine Connect.

Now we can add and connect the New Virtual Machine with Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Build in Windows Admin Center via IP-Address.

The Next step is to join the Windows Server 2022 Insider to my Domain MVPLAB.

Click on the Top on Edit Computer ID
Click on Domain and type your domain name.
Click op Next
Add your administrator account for joining the server
Reboot the VM.

Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Core edition is domain joined.

Now we have the New Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Build 25099 running in Windows Admin Center, we can use all the tooling provided by WAC also in a Azure Hybrid way. Think about Azure Defender for Cloud, Azure Monitor. In Microsoft Windows Admin Center we also have a topic Azure Hybrid Center :

Here you see all the Azure Hybrid benefit features for your Windows Server 2022 Insider.

• Microsoft Azure Arc
• Azure Backup
• Azure File Sync
• Azure Site Recovery
• Azure Network Adapter
• Azure Monitor
• Azure Update Management
• and More…

Microsoft Azure and the Windows Admin Center Team made the wizards customer friendly and easy to get those Azure Hybrid services for your Windows Server.
When you have your Server running, you want to make backups and Monitoring your Server for management. And after that you want to be in control of your security of your new Server. In the following steps you see some examples on the same Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Build:

Microsoft Azure Backup via WAC

Click on Azure Backup
Select your Azure Subscription and the Azure Backup Vault.
Select your data and make the schedule.

Enter the Encryption passphrase and Apply.

Here you have Azure Backup Vault working together with WAC.

Azure Defender for Cloud Security

Click op Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Click on Setup
Add the right Azure Subscription and Workspace
Click on Setup.

Configuring Azure Defender for Cloud agent and Subscription.

Azure Defender for Cloud in Windows Admin Center on your Windows Server 2022 Insider Preview Build.

In Windows Admin Center there is also a Security tab for the Windows Server.

Here you can see your Secured-Core status

• Hypervisor Enforced Code Integrity (HVCI)
• Boot DMA Protection
• System Guard
• Secure Boot
• Virtualization-Based Security (VBS)
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM2.0)

Here you can see if your system is supported for this security features 🙂

Enable the supported features and Restart de Virtual Machine.

And here you see my status overview.

Further more you can manage RBAC in Windows Admin Center when you have to work with different kind of users.

You can find RBAC in settings.

Conclusion

Windows Server Insider Core edition and Windows Admin Center are working better together! You have all the tools you need to startup your Windows Server and
manage it with WAC. Windows Admin Center is getting better and better to manage your Hybrid Datacenter and keep you as an Administrator in Control!
So is how I manage my MVPLAB but also for Production workloads I use Windows Admin Center and the Azure Portal together. With Microsoft Azure Arc Services
Azure Hybrid becomes your solution where Windows Admin Center can Support you with making Azure Stack HCI Clusters with Azure Kubernetes for your DevOps environment.

Windows Admin Center Community Group on LinkedIn

Azure Arc Kubernetes and Azure Defender Cloud for Containers with #Azure Policies

Azure Arc for Hybrid Cloud Management.

In my last blogpost I wrote about Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes and Container Insights with Alerting and Actions

In the following steps I will install some containers (Pods) on my Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes so I have some data to work with in my MVP LAB. I did that with Microsoft Visual Studio Code and with Helm predefined templates. Install the VSCode and install the Kubernetes extension, more information here

In the following steps we install DAPR and Redis on the Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes.

When you open your Kubernetes Cluster
Click then on Helm Repos
There you see Dapr repo.
Click on version 1.6.0.

Right click on version 1.6.0
Click on Install.

Dapr is installed by default on the Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes.

Type in Powershell :
dapr status -k
You will see the running pods of Dapr.

Dapr Dashboard is running
Important: This is running in a test environment and is now http.
For production you have to make it save!
Azure Arc Services and Azure Defender for Containers will help you with that.

 

Installing Redis in the same way.

Kubectl get pods

You will see the running Dapr and Redis pods.

Now we have installed two products on the Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster by default, but security is not in place based on best practices. For Dapr you have security best practices to follow and  Security for Redis.

But next to these security best practices from the software vendor, we also have Microsoft Azure Arc Security (Preview) on this kubernetes Cluster active. In the following steps you will see Security rules, Fixes and Azure Policies for Azure Arc Kubernetes to make your environment more secure and compliant.

Click on your Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster
This is my Dockkube.
Click then on Security (preview)

Here you see that I don’t have Azure Policy active to be compliant
on my Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster.
A lot of security issues are managed by policies.
Click on View Additional recommendations in Defender for Cloud

See Related recommendation (17)

Here you see all the dependent policies for your Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster.

Select your Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Cluster (Dockkube)
Click on Fix

Confirm and click on Fix 1 resource.

Remediation in progress.

Remediation Successful.
It can take some minutes to see your resources in the Healthy state.
Just refresh 😉

In Azure Policy you will see how Compliant you are with your
Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes.
Click on the ASC compliance.

Here you see the 10 Policies that are not Compliant.

Select a policy which is not compliant like here
Kubernetes Cluster containers should only use allowed images
Click on Details

Here you see the Component ID’s on my Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster
which are not compliant on this policy 😉
See the Tab bar, you are now on Component Compliance

Click on Policies tab
Dubbel click on the policy.

From here you can Assign the policy to your Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster.

See the TAB bar for deploying this policy.

Set your Managed Identity for deploying your policy.
Here you can read more how Remediation security works

More information on Microsoft Docs :

Enable Microsoft Defender for Containers

Azure Policy built-in definitions for Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes

Understand Azure Policy for Kubernetes clusters

Overview of Microsoft Defender for Containers

Microsoft Azure Defender for Cloud Containers

Defender Plans for Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Clusters (Preview)
I have set these.
(Security Recommendations can take some time)

Security (preview) on your Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster

Here you get the Remediation steps to do and the Information.

There is information link to Mitre ATT&CK site.

And more information via a link to the Kubernetes site:
Resource Management for Pods and Containers

A New example and you can see the Affected Components
on my Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster Dockkube.

 

Conclusion

When you work in a DevOps way with Kubernetes containers and microservices, you want them as secure as possible. With application security and best practices from the software vendors. Security monitoring and compliance are important to keep you in control and to keep your environment safe. With Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes you get Azure Defender for Containers and Azure policy for security compliance to your Kubernetes Cluster.

Important: This is still in preview and should not be used in production environment yet until Microsoft makes it General Available for the world. Now you can test it in your test environment like me in my MVPLAB.

Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Container Insights Alerts and Actions #Azure #Cloud #DevOps

Azure Arc-Enabled Data Services overview

Microsoft Azure Arc allows you to manage the following resource types hosted outside of Azure:

• Servers: Manage Windows and Linux physical servers and virtual machines hosted outside of Azure.
• Kubernetes clusters: Attach and configure Kubernetes clusters running anywhere, with multiple supported distributions.
• Azure data services: Run Azure data services on-premises, at the edge, and in public clouds using Kubernetes and the infrastructure of your choice. SQL Managed Instance and PostgreSQL Hyperscale (preview) services are currently available.
• SQL Server: Extend Azure services to SQL Server instances hosted outside of Azure.

I have a Kubernetes Cluster enabled with Azure Arc Services in my MVP LAB:

It’s Called Dockkube.

The Kubernetes Cluster is running on-premises and is enabled with Microsoft Azure Arc Services. With that said we get Azure Services available for management in the Cloud in a hybrid way. In the following step by step guide we activate Azure Monitor Insights for Containers on the Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes Cluster.

Container Insights Alerts / Actions on Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes

Dockkube Insights

When you open Dockkube Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes, you will see on the left Monitoring Insights.
Then you have the options :

• What’s New
• Cluster
• Nodes
• Controllers
• Containers.

Click on Containers, and you will see all the containers on the Azure Arc enabled kubernetes.
Then you have recommended Alerts (Preview) at the top, when you Click on it you will see all the predefined recommended alerts in preview. I have selected Node CPU % and Enabled the alert. With that you see on the above screenshot there is no action group assigned. That is the next step, click on No Action Group Assigned.

Click on Create a new action group.

Select the Azure Subscription, Resource group and give the
Action Group a name.
Click on Next: Notifications

Here you can select your type of Alert communication.
I have selected the option Email.

Setting the Name : Dock Kube Notify.

The next step you can select an action type :

• Automation Runbook
• Azure Function
• Event Hub
• ITSM
• Logic App
• Secure webhook
• Webhook

In my MVP LAB, I don’t need an action but just a notification by email.

You can set a TAG here

Before you create the Alert rule with the action group, you get the option
to test the action group.
Click on Test Action Group.

Select a sample type.
I did Resource health alert
Click on Test.

The test is running.

I’m getting the Alert email in my box from Microsoft Azure.

Test is successful and click on Done.

Click on Create

Select the Action group for me is that DockKube CPU.
Click on Apply to Rule.

Now this Alert is active on my Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes 😉

When you go to Alert Rules, you will see the new Alert rule.
Here you can modify it if necessary.

For example, I want the severity from 3 Information to 2 Warning.

I made a severity 2 Warning.
Don’t forget to click on Save at the left top.

More Container Insights information on Microsoft docs :

Recommended metric alerts (preview) from Container insights 

Common alert schema

Use Cluster Connect to connect to Azure Arc-enabled Kubernetes clusters

Conclusion

Microsoft Azure Arc enabled kubernetes is Awesome for management in a hybrid way. I just showed you the power of Alert rules with action groups from the Azure Cloud to get Container Insights. Of course there are more Azure features for your Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes like Security (Preview) Kubernetes Resources, Policies, Gitops and more. Making your own dashboard with Container Insight information. Go for hybrid IT Management with Azure Arc enabled Kubernetes!

 

#Microsoft Windows Server and SMB Protocol #Winserv #WindowsServer2022

Server Message Block (SMB)

The Server Message Block (SMB) Protocol is a network file sharing protocol, and as implemented in Microsoft Windows is known as Microsoft SMB Protocol. The set of message packets that defines a particular version of the protocol is called a dialect. The Common Internet File System (CIFS) Protocol is a dialect of SMB. Both SMB and CIFS are also available on VMS, several versions of Unix, and other operating systems.
Here you can see the versions of MS-CIFS and download free white papers

Today SMBv1 is a not save protocol and will be used by hackers for man in the middle attacks to compromise your data and systems. SMBv1 is a weak protocol and should not be used in your environment. There are still a lot of Windows Servers 2012 R2 in the world running in datacenters with SMBv1 by Default enabled. To make your Windows Server more secure, you can disable SMBv1 protocol via a Group Policy Object (GPO).

In the following steps we will disable SMBv1 on Windows Servers via GPO.

Open Group Policy Management in your Domain.

Click on Group Policy Object with your right mouse button.
Click on New.

Give your policy a Name.

I made also an temporary Exception policy.

Right click on your new Policy Object.
Click on Edit.

Go to Computer Configuration => Preferences => Windows Settings
Click on Registry.

Click on New and then on Registry Item.

Here you have to add the following Registry Properties:

Set these settings.

Set Path: HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters

Click on Apply for these Registry settings.

SMBv1 Disable setting is set in the Policy Object.

This is the path where we push the policy via GPO.

Here we Link the Existing GPO to the OU with the Windows Server 2012 R2
to disable SMBv1 Protocol.

Select your new Policy to disable SMBv1 Protocol.

We have now Linked the new GPO to Disable SMBv1

GPUpdate /force on your Server to disable SMBv1
To get the new GPO active on your Server.

Policy Update successfully.

GPResult /r to see the results.

Get-SmbServerConfiguration | Select EnableSMB1Protocol

or

Get-SmbServerConfiguration

You can still as a administrator enable SMBv1 on your Server with :

Set-SmbServerConfiguration -EnableSMB1Protocol $true

When the Server gets a reboot, SMBv1 will be disabled by GPO again.

When you have maintenance window for updates for example, you can un-install the SMBv1 Feature in Server Manager. This procedure needs a restart of the Windows Server.

Go to Server Manager remove features.

Click on Remove Roles and Features.

Remove the mark at SMB 1.0/CIFS File Sharing Support Feature.

Click on Remove.

Click on Close and Reboot the Server

Now SMBv1 protocol on the Windows Server is disabled and will use a higher version of SMB like version 2.x or 3.x.

More Microsoft information can be found here on Docs.

SMB over QUIC on Windows Server 2022

SMB over QUIC introduces an alternative to the TCP network transport, providing secure, reliable connectivity to edge file servers over untrusted networks like the Internet. QUIC is an IETF-standardized protocol with many benefits when compared with TCP:

• All packets are always encrypted and handshake is authenticated with TLS 1.3
• Parallel streams of reliable and unreliable application data
• Exchanges application data in the first round trip (0-RTT)
• Improved congestion control and loss recovery
• Survives a change in the clients IP address or port

SMB over QUIC offers an “SMB VPN” for telecommuters, mobile device users, and high security organizations. The server certificate creates a TLS 1.3-encrypted tunnel over the internet-friendly UDP port 443 instead of the legacy TCP port 445. All SMB traffic, including authentication and authorization within the tunnel is never exposed to the underlying network. SMB behaves normally within the QUIC tunnel, meaning the user experience doesn’t change. SMB features like multichannel, signing, compression, continuous availability, directory leasing, and so on, work normally.

Client Server Handshake and Data transfer differences.

Here you find a Great blogpost of Ned Pyle

SMB over QUIC: Files Without the VPN

Conclusion

When you still have Windows Servers running with SMBv1 by default enabled, for security you should disable SMBv1 protocol as soon as possible! Otherwise you make it easy for hackers to compromise your data with man in the middle attacks. In Windows Server 2019 and higher SMBv1 is disabled by default. Have a look at SMB over QUIC in your test environment and learn how secure it is and how it works for your security and data.

Windows Admin Center and Windows Server 2022 #Docker Host – Azure Container Instances and #AKS #WAC #Azure #Winserv

Windows Admin Center

Windows Admin Center runs in a web browser and can manage :

• Windows Server 2022, Windows Server 2019, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012 R2
• Windows 11, Windows 10
• Azure Stack HCI
• Clusters
• Containers; Docker, Kubernetes, AKS
• Azure Virtual Servers, Azure integration via extensions like Azure Monitoring, Azure Security, and much more….
• Lot of extensions to manage for example third party solutions.

This goes with the locally Windows Admin Center gateway installed on Windows Server or domain-joined Windows 10 /11.

Windows Admin Center Architecture.

Here you find more information about the Install options of Windows Admin Center

I’m working with Windows Admin Center every day to manage our datacenter and to mange my MVP LAB. When you have to install Windows Server Core
or Microsoft Azure Stack HCI Operating system, then Windows Admin Center is the right tool for you as an Administrator. You can use all the Server Manager tools via WAC
and you don’t have to work with Command-line tools only like CMD and PowerShell.

You can download Microsoft Windows Admin Center here

Installing Docker Host on Windows Server 2022

In my MVP LAB I have a Microsoft Windows Server 2022 Datacenter Edition Hyper-V Host, and I like to make a Docker Host Server for my Containers.
With Windows Admin Center it’s easy to roll out a Docker host Server for your Containers.
In the following steps I will Install a Docker Host Server on Windows Server 2022.

Open Windows Admin Center and connect to your Server.

I Have Container Extension installed version 1.150.0

Click on Containers and Click on Install
Windows Admin Center will Restart your Server for the Docker Installation!

Hang on while Docker Host will be Installed on Windows Server 2022.

Docker Host Installed Successfully.

Docker Host Container Overview Screen on Windows Server 2022.

From here you can Pull containers images to the Docker Host.
This is what I did but…..

Instead of pulling a Container Image you can also Create your Own Container Image.

Here I’m Pulling a ASP.NET Container Image from Microsoft.

Pulled Container Image Successfully.

The ASP.NET Container Image is now Available on the Docker Host.

Select the Container Image and Click on Run.

Give the Docker Container a name.
You can Manage the ports,
Hyper-V Isolation,
Memory,
CPU
And add addition Docker Run options,
Click on Run.

The ASP.NET Docker Container is running on Windows Server 2022.

When you Click on the running Container you will get options like :
Stats, Details, Logs, Console and Events.
When you Click on Console you will go remote by PowerShell to the Docker Host.

Here you got all the Docker commands 😉

And of course when you want to develop Containers as a developer you can use Microsoft Visual Studio Code as well.

The ASP.NET Container in VSCode.
Download Microsoft Visual Studio Code here

(I’m using Visual Studio Code Insiders version in my MVP LAB)

Microsoft Azure Container Instances

Containers are becoming the preferred way to package, deploy, and manage cloud applications. Azure Container Instances offers the fastest and simplest way to run a container in Azure, without having to manage any virtual machines and without having to adopt a higher-level service.

Azure Container Instances is a great solution for any scenario that can operate in isolated containers, including simple applications, task automation, and build jobs. For scenarios where you need full container orchestration, including service discovery across multiple containers, automatic scaling, and coordinated application upgrades, we recommend Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

For my MVP LAB Azure Container Instances (ACI) is a great way to run Containers fast in the Cloud and have a overview with Windows Admin Center for :

Here you have a overview of your Azure Container Instances in Windows Admin Center.

In the following steps I will create an Azure Container Instance via the Microsoft Azure Portal and show it in Windows Admin Center. For this you need to integrate Windows Admin Center with your Microsoft Azure Subscription. This you can do in settings of WAC:

Register your Azure Subscription with Windows Admin Center for Hybrid Benefit.
Here you find more information about Azure integration with Windows Admin Center

When you have your Azure Account active in Windows Admin Center, go to the Microsoft Azure Portal and search for Container instances.

Click on Create Container Instances

Here you set the basics of your Azure Container Instance

Here you set the following items for your Azure Container Instance (ACI) :

1. Select your Azure Subscription which is integrated with your Microsoft Windows Admin Center.
2. Select or Create the Resource Group for your Azure Container Instance.
3. Give your Container a name.
4. Select the Region in Microsoft Azure where you want your Azure Container Instance to run.
5. Availability zones to select.
6. Select your Image Source, I selected Quickstart images of Microsoft, but you can also select your own Container image.
7. Then select the size for vcpu, memory, gpus for your Azure Container Instance application.

Click on Next for Networking.

I Selected Public for testing but here you can select private too
with your own DNS name Label with the
right ports and protocols.

At Advanced settings you can configure additional container properties and variables

here you can TAG the Owner of the Azure Container Instance.
Click on Review + Create.

Now you can Click Create or Download the template for Automation.

Have a look at the Options here what you can do with the Template from here.

Microsoft Azure Container Instance is Deployed and running.

Nginx Container Instance is running on Azure.

Now we have the Microsoft Azure Container Instance with Nginx running in the Cloud, we can see that in Windows Admin Center.

Azure Container Instance in Windows Admin Center in running state.
When you don’t need it anymore you can end it here or in the Azure Portal.

Azure Container Instance is stopped by Windows Admin Center.

Run your Own Azure Container Instances from the ACR via
Windows Admin Center.

Manage Kubernetes Clusters and Containers with Windows Admin Center

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) on Azure Stack HCI is an on-premises implementation of Azure Kubernetes Service, which automates running containerized applications at scale. Azure Kubernetes Service is available on Azure Stack HCI, Windows Server 2019 Datacenter, and Windows Server 2022 Datacenter, making it quicker to get started hosting Linux and Windows containers in your datacenter. This is the High Available Container Solution on-premises from Microsoft, where you can run Containers and microservices in a isolated way in your datacenter with your DevOps Team. But you can also make your Azure Stack HCI Cluster hybrid with Azure integration and Azure Arc Services to benefit of Azure Hybrid Services.

 

Setup AKS on Azure Stack HCI with Windows Admin Center

Create your Own locally Azure Stack HCI Cluster with Azure Kubernetes Services

Conclusion

Microsoft product team of Windows Admin Center | Windows Server | Azure Stack HCI are working hard to make the Windows Admin Center Tool better and better to install and manage Container / microservices solutions. With Microsoft Azure extensions in Windows Admin Center and Azure Arc Services, Microsoft features from the Azure Cloud becomes available for your Containers like Azure Defender for Cloud with Container Insights, Azure Monitor, Azure App Services and much more.
Windows Admin Center is a Great Server Manager tool for your Windows Servers in your Datacenter. Especially when you use Windows Server Core or Azure Stack HCI.

Important:

Some features in Windows Admin Center are preview and not production ready yet, like ACR and ACI Integration I just showed in preview.
Please feel free to provide Microsoft feedback on Windows Admin Center here.

JOIN Windows Admin Center Community Group on LinkedIn

Apply #security principles to your #architecture to protect against attacks on your data and systems

Hope you started year 2022 in Good Health in a difficult pandemic time.

Starting 2022 by asking yourself, how is your Security by Design doing in 2022
Your Security is one of the most important aspects of any architecture for your Business.
It provides confidentiality, integrity, and availability assurances against attacks and abuse of your valuable data and systems. Losing these assurances can negatively impact your business operations and revenue, and your organization’s reputation.

Here you find Awesome information about Applying security principles to your architecture to protect against attacks on your data and systems:

Microsoft Architecture and Security Docs

Here you find more information about NIST Cybersecurity Framework

The Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architectures (MCRA) describe Microsoft’s cybersecurity capabilities. These References and diagrams can support you with implementing Security by design.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud

Microsoft Defender for Cloud (formerly known as Azure Security Center) community repository. This repository contains:

• Security recommendations that are in private preview
• Programmatic remediation tools for security recommendations
• PowerShell scripts for programmatic management
• Azure Policy custom definitions for at-scale management of Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Logic App templates that work with Defender for Cloud’s Logic App connectors (to automate response to Security alerts and recommendations)
• Logic App templates that help you run regular tasks or reports within the scope of Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Custom workbooks to visualize Defender for Cloud data

Become a Microsoft Defender for Cloud Ninja

Security and Learning is a ongoing process, I always say Learning on the Job 😉 is important to keep Up-to-Date every day of the week. Microsoft Tech Community platform and Microsoft Learning can support you to get the knowledge.

Become a Microsoft Defender for Cloud Ninja here

Conclusion

Microsoft and the community has a lot of good security information to start with for your Data and Systems to keep your business solution as save as possible. Here they write New blogposts for the community about Defender for Cloud

Keep in Mind “Security is only as strong as the weakest component in the Chain”

So keep your Security up-to-date and do assessments on vulnerabilities to keep your data and systems secure. Monitoring => Alerting => Remediation is 24/7/365 Process with Security people in the business.

Windows Admin Center 21.10 Packet Monitoring Preview Extension #WAC #Winserv

Windows Admin Center Packet Monitoring

Packet monitoring allows you to diagnose your server by capturing and displaying network traffic through the networking stack in a log that is filtered, organized, and easy to follow and manipulate.​

Download Windows Admin Center Here

Filter the Captured packets by PacketMon.

Before you start the capture you can set the filter, with great options and see differences between two IP-Addresses for example.

Capture is running.

You can explore every packet in details for trouble shooting.

You can save your Captures for later.

Conclusion

A great tool for trouble shooting in Windows Admin Center 21.10 with Packet Monitoring (preview) to get the bits and bytes in detail.

Windows Admin Center 21.10 Build 1.3.2111.01001 Secured-Core #Security #WindowsAdminCenter

Windows Admin Center Security

Secured-core – recommended for the most sensitive systems and industries like financial, healthcare, and government agencies. Builds on the previous layers and leverages advanced processor capabilities to provide protection from firmware attacks.

In Windows Admin Center Security you can Configure Secured-Core :

Secured-Core in Windows Admin Center 21.10

You can activate 6 secured-Core feature :

• Hypervisor Enforced Code Integrity (HVCI)
• Boot DMA Protection
• System Guard
• Secure Boot
• Virtualization-based Security (VBS)
• Trusted Platform Module 2.0 (TPM2.0)

You now can simply activate the Security Feature.
Needs a Reboot

Hypervisor Enforced Code Integrity (HVCI) is enabled.

More information about Secured-Core Features

Windows Admin Center Community on LinkedIn

JOIN Microsoft Ignite 2021 Event November 2-4 #MSIgnite #Azure #Winserv #Windows11 #Hybrid

Microsoft Ignite 2021

Join Microsoft and the Community November 2–4, 2021 to explore the latest tools, training sessions, technical expertise, networking opportunities, and more. You can register here

Here you find some great MSIgnite guidance on Microsoft Tech Community :

Check out what’s new in Security at Microsoft Ignite

Surface at Microsoft Ignite: November 2021

Your Guide to Microsoft Teams at Microsoft Ignite Fall 2021

Windows at Microsoft Ignite: November 2021

A developer’s guide to Ignite 2021

Bring Azure Kubernetes Services to a Hybrid Environment (The Blueprint Files)

Follow @MS_Ignite on Twitter

Of course you can make your own schedule from the session catalog here

Don’t forget your Registration and have a Great innovative Microsoft Ignite 2021 Event 😉

 

Azure Monitor Insights for Arc enabled Kubernetes Clusters anywhere #Azure #Kubernetes

Azure Monitor Insights for Monitoring your Containers.

In the last blogpost I wrote about Microsoft Azure Arc Services and how to connect a Docker for Desktop Kubernetes Cluster for testing your DevOps solution like Container Apps, Functions, App Services in a test environment. Here you find the Link to the Installation.

One of the Microsoft Azure Arc features is Azure Monitor Insights for monitoring your Kubernetes Cluster and the Containers.

Azure Arc Insights for Kubernetes Cluster anywhere

In the following step-by-step guide we will configure Azure Monitor Insights for your Kubernetes Cluster.

I Connected my Analytics Workspace CloudMVPLab.
Click on Configure.

Onboarding your Kubernetes Cluster will take some minutes.

After a while your Kubernetes Cluster Analytics data will show in Insights.

Here you see a navigation bar with the following topics

• What’s New
• Cluster
• Reports
• Nodes
• Controllers
• Containers.

Insights reports of the Kubernetes Cluster

Here you can Click on default reports of your Kubernetes Cluster.

Storage Capacity and Health Status report of your Kubernetes Cluster.

Storage Capacity more in Details.

Deployments Report of your Kubernetes Cluster.

Workload details Report of your Kubernetes Cluster.

Kubelet report of your Kubernetes Cluster

Data Usage of your Kubernetes Cluster

Data Usage

Insights the Nodes of the Kubernetes Cluster

Insights of the Nodes and on the right you can view Analytics.

Here you can work with Log Analytics on your Cluster.

Insights in Controllers of your Kubernetes Cluster

Insights of your Controllers

Insights Containers of your Kubernetes Cluster

Container Insights of your Kubernetes Cluster

Container Insights with Azure Log Analytics.

So with Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Clusters you can monitoring your Cluster and running Containers to keep you in Control on what is happening on the Cluster but also with your Container Apps and microservices. After this you can set Alerts and notifications when something is going wrong or offline. With this running you can start running your own App services, Containers or Azure functions on your Kubernetes Cluster.

Microsoft Senior Cloud Advocate Thomas Maurer explains in this awesome video how to add Azure App Services to your Kubernetes Cluster

Conclusion

This configuration with Docker for Desktop Kubernetes Cluster is for testing purpose only and can be used for your own DevOps solutions before you deploy on Production Ready Clusters. With Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Clusters you get the powerful Microsoft Azure Features and solutions in a secure way on your Kubernetes Cluster. I wish you lot of success with Azure Arc Enabled Kubernetes Clusters to make Awesome Apps and IT solutions for the Business 😉