Help Center
Go back to application
Help Center
Go back to application
Platform Terms GlossaryContacting Support and Reporting Bugs
Task Management
Task Management explained Creating Tasks Setting up Task NotificationsGiving permissions to team members
Organization
Working together in KertosInviting UsersCreating rolesAssigning System AccessCreating Departments and Assigning Users
Integrations
Discovery
Tasks
Device Management
Human Resource Information Systems
Inventory
Inventorization of vendorsInventorization of systemsInventorization of assetsEU AI Act: Inventorization of AI use cases
Risks
Managing risks
Trust Center
Setting up your trust center
Incidents
Reporting incidents
KAIA
KAIA explainedPrinciples of AI at Kertos
Interacting with KAIA
Compliance
Frameworks explainedManaging & implementing controlsCreating & managing policiesCompleting & assigning trainingsGuidance
Privacy Management
Creating a RoPACreating TOMsCreating DPIAs
Data Subject Requests
API Reference
Ingress API Docs for DSRs Webhook API Docs for DSRs
Auto Checks
Auto Checks explainedAuto Checks: AWS Auto Checks: GCPAuto Checks: AzureEnabling Auto Checks by Reconfiguring the Azure IntegrationEnabling Auto Checks by Reconfiguring the GCP IntegrationEnabling Auto Checks by Reconfiguring the AWS Integration
AWS Auto Checks Detailed Explanations
Azure Auto Checks Detailed Explanations
Verify that Server Parameter 'log_retention_days' is greater than 3 days for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that server parameter 'connection_throttling' is set to 'ON' for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that server parameter 'log_disconnections' is set to 'ON' for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that server parameter 'log_connections' is set to 'ON' for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that 'Enforce SSL connection' is set to 'ENABLED' for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that Server Parameter 'log_checkpoints' is set to 'ON' for PostgreSQL Database ServerVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Create Policy AssignmentVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Create or Update Public IP Address ruleVerify that no Azure SQL Databases allow ingress from 0.0.0.0/0 (ANY IP)Verify that Activity Log Alert exists for Delete SQL Server Firewall RuleVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Create or Update SQL Server Firewall RuleVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Delete Network Security GroupVerify that the storage account containing the container with activity logs is encrypted with Customer Managed KeyVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Delete Policy AssignmentVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Create or Update Network Security GroupVerify that Diagnostic Setting captures appropriate categoriesVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Create or Update Security SolutionVerify that Activity Log Alert exists for Delete Public IP Address ruleVerify that logging for Azure AppService 'HTTP logs' is enabledVerify that logging for Azure Key Vault is 'Enabled'Verify that the Expiration Date is set for all Keys in RBAC Key VaultsEnable Role Based Access Control for Azure Key VaultVerify that Private Endpoints are Used for Azure Key VaultVerify that the Key Vault is RecoverableVerify that HTTP(S) access from the Internet is evaluated and restrictedVerify that SSH access from the Internet is evaluated and restrictedVerify that Network Security Group Flow Log retention period is 'greater than 90 days'Verify that Network Watcher is 'Enabled' for all locations in the Azure subscriptionVerify that RDP access from the Internet is evaluated and restrictedVerify that That 'Firewalls & Networks' Is Limited to Use Selected Networks Instead of All NetworksVerify that That Private Endpoints Are Used Where PossibleVerify that 'Enforce SSL connection' is set to 'Enabled' for Standard MySQL Database ServerVerify that 'TLS Version' is set to 'TLSV1.2' for MySQL flexible Database ServerVerify that SQL server's Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) protector is encryptedVerify that 'Auditing' Retention is 'greater than 90 days'Verify that Application Insights are Configured.Verify that 'Restrict non-admin users from creating tenants' is set to 'Yes'Verify that 'Guest invite restrictions' is set to 'Only users assigned to specific admin roles can invite guest users'Verify that That 'Guest users access restrictions' is set to 'Guest user access is restricted to properties and memberships of their own directory objects'Ensure Microsoft Defender for open-source relational databases is enabledVerify that That Microsoft Defender for App Services Is Set To 'On' Verify that That 'Notify about alerts with the following severity' is Set to 'High'Verify that 'Additional email addresses' is Configured with a Security Contact EmailVerify that That Microsoft Defender for SQL Servers on Machines Is Set To 'On' Verify that That 'All users with the following roles' is set to 'Owner'Verify that That Microsoft Defender for Storage Is Set To 'On'

Verify that SSH access from the Internet is evaluated and restricted

Framework Reference: A.8.20 Integration: Azure – Network Security Groups (NSGs)

Why this matters
SSH (port 22) is a frequent target for brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks. If unrestricted inbound access to port 22 is allowed from the Internet, attackers may gain shell access to virtual machines. From there, they could move laterally across the network or exploit other services. Restricting SSH to trusted IPs or internal networks is critical to minimizing external attack surface and maintaining secure access.

What this check does
This Auto Check verifies that no Network Security Group (NSG) rule allows unrestricted inbound access to TCP port 22 (SSH) from the Internet.

Check Logic:
Passes if:

  • No NSG rule allows inbound access to port 22 (or range including 22)
    AND
  • Source is not set to *, 0.0.0.0/0, /0, Internet, or Any

Fails if:

  • Any NSG rule allows inbound TCP traffic on port 22
    AND
  • Source is publicly routable (e.g. *, 0.0.0.0/0, Internet)

How to fix it

Azure Portal:

  1. Go to "Virtual machines"
  2. For each VM, open the "Networking" blade
  3. Under "Inbound port rules", locate rules with:
  4. Port = 22 or a range including 22
  5. Protocol = TCP or Any
  6. Source = Any, 0.0.0.0/0, or Internet
  7. Action = Allow
  8. Delete or restrict the rule to a known IP address or private network

Azure CLI:

az network nsg list --subscription <subscription-id> --output table

az network nsg rule list \  --resource-group <resource-group> \  --nsg-name <nsg-name> \  --query "[?contains(destinationPortRange, '22')]" 

az network nsg rule delete \  --resource-group <resource-group> \  --nsg-name <nsg-name> \  --name <rule-name>

PowerShell:

Get-AzNetworkSecurityGroup -ResourceGroupName <resource-group> | Get-AzNetworkSecurityRuleConfig | Where-Object {  $_.Direction -eq "Inbound" -and  $_.Access -eq "Allow" -and  $_.DestinationPortRange -eq "22" -and  ($_.SourceAddressPrefix -eq "*" -or $_.SourceAddressPrefix -eq "0.0.0.0/0" -or $_.SourceAddressPrefix -eq "Internet") }

Remove-AzNetworkSecurityRuleConfig `  -Name <rule-name> `  -NetworkSecurityGroup <nsg-object>

Exceptions
None. SSH must never be exposed to the open Internet without explicit justification and tight controls.

Was this article helpful?

Powered by Product Fruits