When storing sensitive data in Azure DB or Azure SQL VM, compliance officers and security teams often ask the critical question: What level of access does Microsoft have to customer data? Microsoft's official documentation states:

// Microsoft's data access policy (simplified representation)
class MicrosoftDataPolicy {
  constructor() {
    this.customerDataOwnership = true;
    this.automatedMonitoring = false;
    this.humanAccessProtocols = [
      "Limited-access program",
      "Customer-initiated support cases",
      "Legal requirements"
    ];
  }
}

Azure implements multiple security layers:

// Example of Azure SQL security configuration
# Configure Azure SQL Server firewall
az sql server firewall-rule create \
  --resource-group myResourceGroup \
  --server myServer \
  --name AllowMyIP \
  --start-ip-address 203.0.113.0 \
  --end-ip-address 203.0.113.255

# Enable Transparent Data Encryption
ALTER DATABASE MyDatabase 
SET ENCRYPTION ON;

Azure provides tools to track all database access attempts:

-- SQL Audit query example
SELECT 
    event_time,
    server_principal_name,
    database_name,
    statement
FROM sys.fn_get_audit_file(
    'https://mystorage.blob.core.windows.net/auditlogs/MyServer/MyDatabase/*',
    DEFAULT,
    DEFAULT
)
WHERE statement LIKE '%SELECT%SECRET_TABLE%'
ORDER BY event_time DESC;

The telemetry collection differs significantly:

// License comparison table (pseudo-code)
const licenseComparison = {
  developerEdition: {
    telemetryCollection: "Mandatory",
    dataTypesCollected: [
      "Performance metrics",
      "Error reports",
      "Feature usage",
      "IP addresses"
    ],
    optOutPossible: false
  },
  productionEdition: {
    telemetryCollection: "Configurable",
    dataTypesCollected: [
      "Aggregated service metrics"
    ],
    optOutPossible: true
  }
};

For maximum protection of sensitive data:

# PowerShell script for enhanced SQL security
Set-AzSqlDatabaseThreatDetectionPolicy 
  -ResourceGroupName "MyResourceGroup" 
  -ServerName "MyServer" 
  -DatabaseName "MyDatabase" 
  -EmailAdmins $true 
  -NotificationRecipients "security-team@mycompany.com"

# Configure Always Encrypted
$CMKsettings = New-SqlCertificateStoreColumnMasterKeySettings 
  -CertificateStoreLocation "CurrentUser" 
  -Thumbprint "123456..."
  
New-SqlColumnMasterKey 
  -Name "CMK1" 
  -ColumnMasterKeySettings $CMKsettings

When dealing with sensitive data in Azure DB or Azure SQL VM, it's crucial to understand Microsoft's access control framework. Azure implements a strict separation of duties model where:

• Production access requires multi-factor authentication and Just-In-Time elevation
• All access is logged in immutable audit trails
• Customer data access requires explicit business justification

Microsoft engineers don't have standing access to customer data. The system implements several protection layers:

// Example of Azure's access control flow
if (accessRequest.type === "customerData") {
  requireBusinessJustification();
  requireMultiFactorAuth();
  logToImmutableAuditTrail();
  enforceTimeBoundAccess();
} else {
  // Standard operational access
}

The telemetry collection in SQL Server Developer Edition differs fundamentally from Azure services:

For maximum security in Azure SQL DB, implement these T-SQL commands:

-- Enable Transparent Data Encryption
CREATE DATABASE SCOPED CREDENTIAL MyAzureKeyVaultCredential
WITH IDENTITY = 'Managed Identity';

CREATE ASYMMETRIC KEY MyAKS
FROM PROVIDER [AzureKeyVault]
WITH PROVIDER_KEY_NAME = 'MyKey',
CREATION_DISPOSITION = OPEN_EXISTING;

-- Enable Always Encrypted for sensitive columns
CREATE COLUMN MASTER KEY MyCMK
WITH (KEY_STORE_PROVIDER_NAME = 'AZURE_KEY_VAULT',
KEY_PATH = 'https://myvault.vault.azure.net/keys/MyCMK/');

CREATE COLUMN ENCRYPTION KEY MyCEK
WITH VALUES
(
    COLUMN_MASTER_KEY = MyCMK,
    ALGORITHM = 'RSA_OAEP',
    ENCRYPTED_VALUE = 0x01700000016...
);

To verify who has accessed your databases, run this PowerShell audit script:

# Get all SQL servers in subscription
$servers = Get-AzSqlServer

foreach ($server in $servers) {
    # Check audit settings
    $auditing = Get-AzSqlServerAuditing -ResourceGroupName $server.ResourceGroupName -ServerName $server.ServerName
    
    if (-not $auditing.AuditState -eq "Enabled") {
        Write-Warning "Auditing not enabled for $($server.ServerName)"
    }
    
    # Check vulnerability assessment
    $va = Get-AzSqlServerVulnerabilityAssessmentSetting -ResourceGroupName $server.ResourceGroupName -ServerName $server.ServerName
    if (-not $va.StorageAccountName) {
        Write-Warning "VA not configured for $($server.ServerName)"
    }
}

There are strictly limited scenarios where Microsoft personnel might access data:

1. When you open a support ticket and explicitly grant access
2. For compliance with valid legal requirements
3. During security incident investigation (with strict approvals)

In all cases, you would receive notification through the Service Trust Portal.