Virtual machines with no identities should use system-assigned managed identity for Guest Configuration assignments
Adds a system-assigned managed identity to virtual machines hosted in Azure that are supported by Guest Configuration but do not have any managed identities. A system-assigned managed identity is a prerequisite for all Guest Configuration assignments.
What this control checks
Azure Policy 3cf2ab00-13f1-4d0c-8971-2ac904541a7e applies to Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines and adds a system-assigned managed identity to VMs that are supported by Guest Configuration but do not have any managed identities. Azure Policy d26f7642-7545-4e18-9b75-8c9bbdee3a9a looks at Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/extensions with publisher Microsoft.GuestConfiguration. It uses the effect AuditIfNotExists by default, and the VM passes when identity.type contains SystemAssigned. VMs are non-compliant when they have the Guest Configuration extension installed but do not have a system assigned managed identity.
Framework mappings
The clauses this control is mapped to in each framework.
- AC-17 Remote Access
- AC-17(1) Monitoring And Control
- Access Enforcement (AC-3)
- IA-5: Authenticator Management
- IA-5(1) Password-based Authentication
FedRAMP Moderate Baseline Rev 4
- AC-3 Access Enforcement
- AC-17 (3): Managed Access Control Points
- AC-17(1) Automated Monitoring/Control
- AU-12 Audit Generation
- IA-5 (1): Password-Based Authentication
2 more clauses
- IA-5(1) Password-Based Authentication
- SI-4: Information System Monitoring
- 3.1.1 Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, and devices (including other systems)
- 3.1.12: Monitor and control remote access sessions.
- 3.5.2 Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational systems
- 3.5.7 Enforce a minimum password complexity and change of characters when new passwords are created
- 3.5.8: Prohibit password reuse for a specified number of generations.
1 more clause
- 3.5.10 Store and transmit only cryptographically-protected passwords
- AU.L2-3.3.1 Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful or unauthorized system activity
- AU.L2-3.3.2 Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users, so they can be held accountable for their actions
- SI.L2-3.14.6 Monitor organizational systems, including inbound and outbound communications traffic, to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks
- SI.L2-3.14.7 Identify unauthorized use of organizational systems
- AC-3 Access Enforcement
- AC-17 Remote Access
- AC-17(1) Automated Monitoring / Control
- IA-5 Authenticator Management
- IA-5(1) Password-Based Authentication
- Do not allow an individual to submit a new password/passphrase that is the same as any of the last four passwords/passphrases he or she has used
- Passwords/passphrases require a minimum length of at least seven characters, contain both numeric and alphabetic characters
Related controls
- Windows virtual machines should have the Windows Guest Configuration extension installed for assignments
- App Service apps should use managed identity
- Windows Server virtual machines should have the default Microsoft IaaSAntimalware extension installed
- Windows machines should have the Log Analytics agent connected as expected
Tool mappings
Use these identifiers to cross-reference this control across tools, reports, and evidence.
- Compliance.tf Control:
compute_vm_guest_configuration_with_no_managed_identity - Powerpipe Controls:
azure_compliance.control.compute_vm_guest_configuration_with_no_managed_identity,azure_compliance.control.compute_vm_guest_configuration_with_system_assigned_managed_identity - Azure Policy Definitions:
3cf2ab00-13f1-4d0c-8971-2ac904541a7e,d26f7642-7545-4e18-9b75-8c9bbdee3a9a
Last reviewed: 2026-10-11