Azure Vulnerability Management Best Practices [Cheat Sheet]

After reading this cheat sheet, you’ll be able to:

• Understand how to approach vulnerability assessments for Azure VMs, containers, and databases using Defender for Cloud.

• Explore ways to streamline patch management with Azure Update Manager and reduce manual overhead.

• Learn how Azure Policy can help standardize vulnerability controls and align configurations with security benchmarks.

• Identify key factors to consider when prioritizing vulnerabilities—like exposure, data sensitivity, and identity context.

• Discover how automation and integration with tools such as Microsoft Sentinel can help coordinate faster responses.

Is this cheat sheet for you?

This guide is designed for:

• Cloud security engineers managing vulnerabilities across Azure workloads and virtual machines.

• DevOps and infrastructure teams integrating security checks and patching into deployment pipelines.

• Governance and compliance teams ensuring adherence to frameworks like CIS, NIST, and PCI DSS.

• Security leaders seeking to align vulnerability management with overall cloud-risk reduction strategies.

If your organization runs critical workloads on Azure and you’re looking for a clear, practical starting point for vulnerability management – this cheat sheet is for you.

What’s Inside?

Inside this cheat sheet, you’ll find:

• A breakdown of the Azure vulnerability management lifecycle from identification to continuous improvement.

• Guidelines for configuration and patch management tailored to Azure VMs, containers, and databases.

• Practical insights into using Defender for Cloud, Azure Policy, and Sentinel to manage vulnerabilities effectively.

• Tips for prioritizing vulnerabilities based on contextual risk factors and cloud exposure.

• A look at how modern exposure management approaches connect vulnerabilities with misconfigurations, identities, and data sensitivity for a more complete risk picture.