Azure Compute Snapshot Deletion by Unusual User and Resource Group

Last updated a month ago on 2025-10-10

Created a month ago on 2025-10-10

About

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.

Tags

Domain: CloudDomain: StorageData Source: AzureData Source: Azure Activity LogsUse Case: Threat DetectionTactic: ImpactLanguage: kuery

Severity

low

Risk Score

MITRE ATT&CK™

Impact (TA0040)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Data Destruction (T1485)(opens in a new tab or window)

↳ Inhibit System Recovery (T1490)(opens in a new tab or window)

False Positive Examples

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.

License

Elastic License v2(opens in a new tab or window)

Definition

Rule Type: New Terms Rule
Integration Pack: Prebuilt Security Detection Rules
Index Patterns: logs-azure.activitylogs-*
Related Integrations: azure(opens in a new tab or window)
Query

event.dataset: azure.activitylogs and
    azure.activitylogs.operation_name: "MICROSOFT.COMPUTE/SNAPSHOTS/DELETE" and
    azure.activitylogs.properties.status_code: "Accepted" and
    azure.activitylogs.identity.claims_initiated_by_user.name: *

Install detection rules in Elastic Security

Detect Azure Compute Snapshot Deletion by Unusual User and Resource Group in the Elastic Security detection engine by installing this rule into your Elastic Stack.

To setup this rule, check out the installation guide for Prebuilt Security Detection Rules(opens in a new tab or window).