Check ID: defender_ensure_defender_for_cosmosdb_is_on
Provider: Azure
Service: defender
Severity: HIGH
Categories: vulnerabilities
Resource type: microsoft.security/pricings

What this check verifies

Microsoft Defender for Azure Cosmos DB is enabled at the subscription using the Standard pricing tier for the CosmosDbs plan, covering all Cosmos DB accounts

Risk

Without this protection, Cosmos DB activity lacks advanced threat detection and telemetry. Attacks such as SQL injection, credential abuse, and anomalous access patterns may go unnoticed, enabling data exfiltration and unauthorized changes, degrading confidentiality and integrity.

Recommendation

Enable the Standard plan for Microsoft Defender for Azure Cosmos DB at the subscription to ensure full coverage. Enforce least privilege, route alerts to your SIEM, and tune detections. Use policy to require the plan across environments and regularly review findings to strengthen defense in depth.

Remediation

az security pricing create -n CosmosDbs —tier Standard

References

Where this check fires

This check runs on every scheduled scan against your Azure account. Findings appear at Cloud Security → Findings filterable by Check ID = defender_ensure_defender_for_cosmosdb_is_on. To re-evaluate after a fix, hit Run now on the account’s schedule under Cloud Security → Schedules — the next scan re-checks this control and marks the finding fixed or keeps it persistent.
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