Azure Table Storage offers three authentication and authorization methods: Shared Key, Shared Access Signature (SAS), and Azure Active Directory (AAD).
1. Shared Key: Uses account name and key to sign requests. Suitable for server-side applications with full access to storage resources. However, it’s less secure as keys grant complete control.
2. Shared Access Signature: Provides time-limited, granular permissions through signed tokens. Ideal for client-side apps or third-party services requiring restricted access. SAS can be created at the service, container, or object level, offering flexibility in managing access rights.
3. Azure Active Directory: Integrates with AAD for role-based access control (RBAC). Recommended for enterprise scenarios where centralized identity management is crucial. RBAC simplifies permission management by assigning roles to users/groups instead of sharing keys/tokens.
Choose Shared Key for trusted server-side apps, SAS for limited access scenarios, and AAD for robust, enterprise-level security with centralized identity management.
