Check ID: network_flow_log_captured_sent
Provider: Azure
Service: network
Severity: HIGH
Categories: logging, forensics-ready
Resource type: microsoft.network/networkwatchers

What this check verifies

Azure Network Watcher has NSG flow logs enabled and configured to forward traffic records to a centralized Log Analytics workspace

Risk

Missing or disabled flow logging blinds visibility into network behavior, hindering detection of:
  • Lateral movement and internal scanning
  • C2 beacons and exfiltration patterns This degrades incident response and correlation, impacting confidentiality and integrity.

Recommendation

Enable and centrally aggregate NSG flow logs to a Log Analytics workspace.
  • Enforce least privilege on log data
  • Define retention and secure storage
  • Use layered monitoring (e.g., Traffic Analytics)
  • Ensure coverage across regions/subscriptions and critical NSGs

Remediation

az network watcher flow-log create —location <REGION> —name <FLOW_LOG_NAME> —resource-group <RESOURCE_GROUP> —nsg <NSG_NAME> —storage-account <STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME> —enabled true —workspace <LOG_ANALYTICS_WORKSPACE_ID>

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 = network_flow_log_captured_sent. 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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