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Azure Compute Snapshot Deletion by Unusual User and Resource Group

Identifies when an Azure disk snapshot is deleted by an unusual user in a specific resource group. Snapshots are critical for backup, disaster recovery, and forensic analysis. Adversaries may delete snapshots to…

Description

Identifies when an Azure disk snapshot is deleted by an unusual user in a specific resource group. Snapshots are critical for backup, disaster recovery, and forensic analysis. Adversaries may delete snapshots to prevent data recovery, eliminate forensic evidence, or disrupt backup strategies before executing ransomware or other destructive attacks. Monitoring snapshot deletions is essential for detecting potential attacks targeting backup and recovery capabilities.

Detection logic

Its licence does not clear it for publishing here

Sunturai publishes a detection's own text where the licence it arrived under has been reviewed and permits it, and Elastic License 2.0 has not. The query as its source wrote it, its canonical form and the hash that pins this revision are in the workspace record.

Detection requirements

Platform
ContainersESXiIaaSLinuxmacOSNetwork DevicesWindows

The rule states no platform. This is derived from the 2 ATT&CK techniques it maps to.

Log source category
event_index

Known benign triggers

  • Storage administrators may legitimately delete snapshots during routine maintenance, storage optimization, or cleanup of old backup data. Verify that the deletion was expected and follows organizational data retention policies. Consider exceptions for approved maintenance windows or automated retention management tools.

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