Check ID: storage_default_network_access_rule_is_denied
Provider: Azure
Service: storage
Severity: HIGH
Categories: internet-exposed, trust-boundaries
Resource type: microsoft.storage/storageaccounts

What this check verifies

Azure Storage accounts configure the default network access rule to Deny, so the public endpoint only accepts traffic from explicitly allowed virtual networks, IP ranges, or private endpoints

Risk

With the default action set to Allow, the public endpoint is reachable from any network. This removes a network boundary, so stolen access keys or leaked SAS tokens can be abused from anywhere, enabling data exfiltration, tampering, and destructive writes-impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Recommendation

Set the default network access to Deny and permit only required sources: selected VNets, specific IP ranges, or preferably private endpoints. Apply least privilege, minimize service bypass, and use short-lived, scoped SAS to limit blast radius if credentials leak.

Remediation

az storage account update —name <STORAGE_ACCOUNT_NAME> —resource-group <RESOURCE_GROUP_NAME> —default-action Deny

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 = storage_default_network_access_rule_is_denied. 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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