Document Details
Best Practices Least Privileged Account
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This page contains Windows bias
About This Page
This page is part of the Azure documentation. It contains code examples and configuration instructions for working with Azure services.
Bias Analysis
Bias Types:
⚠️
windows_first
⚠️
windows_tools
⚠️
powershell_heavy
⚠️
missing_linux_example
Summary:
The documentation demonstrates a moderate Windows bias: Windows examples and tools are often presented first, with more detailed step-by-step instructions and screenshots for Windows (e.g., WMI Control Panel configuration), while Linux instructions are more concise and sometimes lack equivalent detail or visual aids. Windows-specific tools and patterns (WMI, WinRM, Windows authentication, SQL Server) receive more attention, and some sections (like database discovery) focus almost exclusively on Windows technologies, with Linux or open-source alternatives only briefly mentioned or omitted.
Recommendations:
- Ensure Linux instructions are as detailed as Windows ones, including step-by-step guides, command-line examples, and screenshots where appropriate.
- Present Linux and Windows examples in parallel or alternate their order to avoid always listing Windows first.
- Include Linux-native tools and authentication methods (e.g., SSH, Linux-based SQL authentication) with equal prominence.
- Expand database discovery sections to cover common Linux database scenarios (e.g., PostgreSQL, MariaDB) with least-privilege setup instructions.
- Where Windows-specific tools (like WMI or WinRM) are discussed, provide Linux equivalents (e.g., SSH, systemd, or other monitoring tools) and explain how to configure them for Azure Migrate.
- Add troubleshooting and permission validation steps for Linux environments similar to those provided for Windows.
- Review all tables and code blocks to ensure Linux and Windows examples are equally represented and easy to follow.
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Scan History
| Date | Scan ID | Status | Bias Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-16 00:00 | #113 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-15 00:00 | #112 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-14 00:00 | #111 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-13 00:00 | #110 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-12 00:00 | #109 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-11 00:00 | #108 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-10 00:00 | #107 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-09-09 00:00 | #106 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-17 00:01 | #83 | in_progress | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-11 00:00 | #77 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-10 00:00 | #76 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-09 00:00 | #75 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-08 00:00 | #74 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-07 00:00 | #73 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-06 00:00 | #72 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-05 00:00 | #71 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-03 00:00 | #69 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-08-01 00:00 | #67 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-31 00:00 | #66 | completed | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-13 21:37 | #48 | completed | ❌ Biased |
| 2025-07-12 23:44 | #41 | in_progress | ❌ Biased |
| 2025-07-09 13:09 | #3 | cancelled | ✅ Clean |
| 2025-07-08 04:23 | #2 | cancelled | ❌ Biased |
Flagged Code Snippets
-- Create a login to run the assessment
use master;
DECLARE @SID NVARCHAR(MAX) = N'';
CREATE LOGIN [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT] FROM WINDOWS;
SELECT @SID = N'0x'+CONVERT(NVARCHAR, sid, 2) FROM sys.syslogins where name = 'MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT'
IF (ISNULL(@SID,'') != '')
PRINT N'Created login [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT] with SID = ' + @SID
ELSE
PRINT N'Login creation failed'
GO
-- Create user in every database other than tempdb, model, and secondary AG databases (with connection_type = ALL) and provide minimal read-only permissions.
USE master;
EXECUTE sp_MSforeachdb '
USE [?];
IF (''?'' NOT IN (''tempdb'',''model''))
BEGIN
DECLARE @is_secondary_replica BIT = 0;
IF CAST(PARSENAME(CAST(SERVERPROPERTY(''ProductVersion'') AS VARCHAR), 4) AS INT) >= 11
BEGIN
DECLARE @innersql NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET @innersql = N''
SELECT @is_secondary_replica = IIF(
EXISTS (
SELECT 1
FROM sys.availability_replicas a
INNER JOIN sys.dm_hadr_database_replica_states b
ON a.replica_id = b.replica_id
WHERE b.is_local = 1
AND b.is_primary_replica = 0
AND a.secondary_role_allow_connections = 2
AND b.database_id = DB_ID()
), 1, 0
);
'';
EXEC sp_executesql @innersql, N''@is_secondary_replica BIT OUTPUT'', @is_secondary_replica OUTPUT;
END
IF (@is_secondary_replica = 0)
BEGIN
CREATE USER [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT] FOR LOGIN [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON sys.sql_expression_dependencies TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT VIEW DATABASE STATE TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
END
END'
GO
-- Provide server level read-only permissions
use master;
GRANT SELECT ON sys.sql_expression_dependencies TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT EXECUTE ON OBJECT::sys.xp_regenumkeys TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT EXECUTE ON OBJECT::sys.xp_instance_regread TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT VIEW DATABASE STATE TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT VIEW SERVER STATE TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT VIEW ANY DEFINITION TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GO
-- Provide msdb specific permissions
use msdb;
GRANT EXECUTE ON [msdb].[dbo].[agent_datetime] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobsteps] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syssubsystems] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobhistory] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syscategories] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobs] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmaintplan_plans] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syscollector_collection_sets] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_profile] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_profileaccount] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_account] TO [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
GO
-- Clean up
--use master;
-- EXECUTE sp_MSforeachdb 'USE [?]; DROP USER [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT]'
-- DROP LOGIN [MYDOMAIN\MYACCOUNT];
--GO
--- Create a login to run the assessment
use master;
-- NOTE: SQL instances that host replicas of Always On availability groups must use the same SID for the SQL login.
-- After the account is created in one of the members, copy the SID output from the script and include this value
-- when executing against the remaining replicas.
-- When the SID needs to be specified, add the value to the @SID variable definition below.
DECLARE @SID NVARCHAR(MAX) = N'';
IF (@SID = N'')
BEGIN
CREATE LOGIN [evaluator]
WITH PASSWORD = '<provide a strong password>'
END
ELSE
BEGIN
DECLARE @SQLString NVARCHAR(500) = 'CREATE LOGIN [evaluator]
WITH PASSWORD = ''<provide a strong password>''
, SID = ' + @SID
EXEC SP_EXECUTESQL @SQLString
END
SELECT @SID = N'0x'+CONVERT(NVARCHAR(100), sid, 2) FROM sys.syslogins where name = 'evaluator'
IF (ISNULL(@SID,'') != '')
PRINT N'Created login [evaluator] with SID = '''+ @SID +'''. If this instance hosts any Always On Availability Group replica, use this SID value when executing the script against the instances hosting the other replicas'
ELSE
PRINT N'Login creation failed'
GO
-- Create user in every database other than tempdb, model, and secondary AG databases (with connection_type = ALL) and provide minimal read-only permissions.
USE master;
EXECUTE sp_MSforeachdb '
USE [?];
IF (''?'' NOT IN (''tempdb'',''model''))
BEGIN
DECLARE @is_secondary_replica BIT = 0;
IF CAST(PARSENAME(CAST(SERVERPROPERTY(''ProductVersion'') AS VARCHAR), 4) AS INT) >= 11
BEGIN
DECLARE @innersql NVARCHAR(MAX);
SET @innersql = N''
SELECT @is_secondary_replica = IIF(
EXISTS (
SELECT 1
FROM sys.availability_replicas a
INNER JOIN sys.dm_hadr_database_replica_states b
ON a.replica_id = b.replica_id
WHERE b.is_local = 1
AND b.is_primary_replica = 0
AND a.secondary_role_allow_connections = 2
AND b.database_id = DB_ID()
), 1, 0
);
'';
EXEC sp_executesql @innersql, N''@is_secondary_replica BIT OUTPUT'', @is_secondary_replica OUTPUT;
END
IF (@is_secondary_replica = 0)
BEGIN
CREATE USER [evaluator] FOR LOGIN [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON sys.sql_expression_dependencies TO [evaluator];
GRANT VIEW DATABASE STATE TO [evaluator];
END
END'
GO
-- Provide server level read-only permissions
USE master;
GRANT SELECT ON sys.sql_expression_dependencies TO [evaluator];
GRANT EXECUTE ON OBJECT::sys.xp_regenumkeys TO [evaluator];
GRANT EXECUTE ON OBJECT::sys.xp_instance_regread TO [evaluator];
GRANT VIEW DATABASE STATE TO [evaluator];
GRANT VIEW SERVER STATE TO [evaluator];
GRANT VIEW ANY DEFINITION TO [evaluator];
GO
-- Provide msdb specific permissions
USE msdb;
GRANT EXECUTE ON [msdb].[dbo].[agent_datetime] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobsteps] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syssubsystems] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobhistory] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syscategories] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysjobs] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmaintplan_plans] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[syscollector_collection_sets] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_profile] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_profileaccount] TO [evaluator];
GRANT SELECT ON [msdb].[dbo].[sysmail_account] TO [evaluator];
GO
-- Clean up
--use master;
-- EXECUTE sp_MSforeachdb 'USE [?]; BEGIN TRY DROP USER [evaluator] END TRY BEGIN CATCH PRINT ERROR_MESSAGE() END CATCH;'
-- BEGIN TRY DROP LOGIN [evaluator] END TRY BEGIN CATCH PRINT ERROR_MESSAGE() END CATCH;
--GO