Azure Compliance ControlsAzure RBAC
Custom RBAC roles should not be used
Audit built-in roles such as 'Owner, Contributor, Reader' instead of custom RBAC roles, which are error prone. Using custom roles is treated as an exception and requires a rigorous review and threat modeling.
What this control checks
Audits Microsoft.Authorization/roleDefinitions whose type equals CustomRole.
Framework mappings
The clauses this control is mapped to in each framework.
- AC-2 Account Management
- AC-2(7) Privileged User Accounts
- AC-6: Least Privilege
- AC-6(7) Review of User Privileges
NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2.0
- GV.RR-01: Organizational leadership is responsible and accountable for cybersecurity risk and fosters a culture that is risk-aware, ethical, and continually improving.
FedRAMP Moderate Baseline Rev 4
- AC-2 (3): Disable Inactive Accounts
- AC-2(7) Role-Based Schemes
- AC-6 (5): Privileged Accounts
- 3.1.1 Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, and devices (including other systems)
- 3.1.2: Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.
- 3.1.5: Employ the principle of least privilege, including for specific security functions and privileged accounts.
- 3.1.a Identification and Classification of Information Assets
- 3.1.f Maker-checker
- AC.L1-3.1.1 Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users, and devices (including other systems)
- AC.L1-3.1.2 Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute
- AC.L2-3.1.5 Employ the principle of least privilege, including for specific security functions and privileged accounts
- AC-2 Account Management
- AC-2(7) Role-Based Schemes
- AC-6 Least Privilege
- AC-6(7) Review Of User Privileges
- 1148.01c2System.78-01.c 01.02 Authorized Access to Information Systems
- 1230.09c2Organizational.1-09.c 09.01 Documented Operating Procedures
- 7.2.1 Confirm that access control systems are in place on all system components
- Do not store sensitive authentication data after authorization (even if encrypted)
- Incorporate multi-factor authentication for all non-console access into the CDE for personnel with administrative access
Related controls
- Microsoft Entra ID policies should have 'Users can create security groups in Azure portals, API or PowerShell' set to 'No'
- Microsoft Entra ID policies should have 'Guest users access restrictions' set to 'Guest user access is restricted to properties and memberships of their own directory objects'
- Microsoft Entra ID tenants should have 'security defaults' enabled
Tool mappings
Use these identifiers to cross-reference this control across tools, reports, and evidence.
- Compliance.tf Control:
iam_no_custom_role - Powerpipe Control:
azure_compliance.control.iam_no_custom_role - Azure Policy Definition:
a451c1ef-c6ca-483d-87ed-f49761e3ffb5
Last reviewed: 2026-10-13