Azure Files + Entra ID Kerberos: Full Setup Guide (Hybrid & Cloud-Only Access)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to setting up Azure Files with Entra ID Kerberos authentication. You'll learn how to create a secure and seamless file access solution in Azure, whether operating in a hybrid environment or a cloud-only scenario. This setup is ideal for organizations transitioning from traditional Windows file servers and looking to leverage modern identity strategies.

Step 1: Create Azure Files Share

1. Log into Azure Portal:

   • Navigate to the Azure Portal and sign in to your account.

2. Create a Storage Account:

   • Go to "Storage accounts" in the Azure Portal.
   • Click on "Create."
   • Choose the desired subscription and resource group.
   • Select a name for your storage account, ensure the performance is set to "Premium," and select the required region.

3. Create a File Share:

   • After creating the storage account, go to it and click on "File shares."
   • Click on "Add File Share."
   • Provide a name and set the quota for the file share.
   • Click "Create" to finalize.

Step 2: Configure Private Endpoints and DNS

1. Set Up Private Endpoint:

   • In your storage account, navigate to "Networking."
   • Select "Private endpoint connections" and click on "Add."
   • Fill in the required details, including the name and resource type, and select the virtual network.

2. Configure Private DNS:

   • Create a Private DNS zone for your storage account.
   • Link the DNS zone to your virtual network.
   • Ensure the DNS records are created for the storage account to resolve properly.

Step 3: Set Up Permissions and Access Control

1. Configure NTFS and RBAC Permissions:

   • Go to your file share and select "Access Control (IAM)."
   • Assign roles to users or groups using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC).
   • For NTFS permissions, use the Azure Storage Explorer or connect via SMB to set permissions on the file share.

2. Modify Enterprise App Manifest Identifiers:

   • Navigate to Azure Active Directory in the portal.
   • Go to "Enterprise applications" and select your application.
   • Modify the manifest to include the necessary identifiers for Kerberos authentication.

Step 4: Configure Client Computers for Cloud Kerberos Ticket

1. Hybrid-Joined Device Configuration:

   • Ensure devices are hybrid-joined to authenticate using Cloud Kerberos.
   • Verify the device settings and ensure they meet the necessary requirements.

2. Entra ID–Joined Devices:

   • For Windows 11 devices, ensure they are joined to Entra ID.
   • Check that the devices can authenticate and access Azure Files seamlessly.

Step 5: Testing Access on Hybrid and Entra ID Joined Machines

1. Access Testing:

   • From a hybrid-joined device, attempt to access the Azure Files share using the UNC path (e.g., \<storage_account>.file.core.windows.net<file_share>).
   • Repeat the process on an Entra ID-joined device to verify connectivity and permissions.

2. Troubleshooting:

   • If access fails, check DNS configurations, permissions, and ensure that the devices are properly joined and configured.

Step 6: Best Practices for Azure File Shares

1. Design Considerations:

   • Split file shares by department to manage access more efficiently.
   • Plan provisioning sizes based on anticipated storage needs.

2. Management Tips:

   • Regularly review and update permissions to ensure security compliance.
   • Monitor file share performance and adjust configurations as necessary.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned to set up Azure Files with Entra ID Kerberos authentication, focusing on creating file shares, configuring private endpoints, setting permissions, and testing access across devices. This setup enhances secure file access for both hybrid and cloud-only environments. Next, consider implementing regular audits of your file shares and permissions to maintain security and performance.