Check ID:
Provider: Azure
Service:
Severity: MEDIUM
Categories:
Resource type:
monitor_alert_create_policy_assignmentProvider: Azure
Service:
monitorSeverity: MEDIUM
Categories:
loggingResource type:
microsoft.insights/activitylogalertsWhat this check verifies
Azure Monitor Activity Log alert configurations are assessed for an activity log alert onMicrosoft.Authorization/policyAssignments/write, indicating monitoring of newly created Azure Policy assignments
Risk
Absent alerts on new policy assignments, unauthorized or accidental changes can silently weaken governance. Adversaries could assign permissive policies or replace deny rules, enabling misconfigurations, privilege expansion, and data exposure-degrading integrity and threatening confidentiality and availability.Recommendation
Implement an activity log alert forMicrosoft.Authorization/policyAssignments/write and route to an action group for timely response.
Apply across all subscriptions, restrict assignment rights (least privilege), require change approval, and integrate notifications with your SIEM for defense in depth.
Remediation
- CLI
- Terraform
- Native IaC
- Dashboard steps
References
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/azure.resourcemanager.monitor.activitylogalertresource?view=azure-dotnet
- https://learn.microsoft.com/en-in/azure/azure-monitor/alerts/alerts-create-activity-log-alert-rule?tabs=activity-log
- https://www.trendmicro.com/cloudoneconformity/knowledge-base/azure/ActivityLog/create-alert-for-create-policy-assignment-events.html
Where this check fires
This check runs on every scheduled scan against your Azure account. Findings appear at Cloud Security → Findings filterable byCheck ID = monitor_alert_create_policy_assignment. 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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