Which practice is important for incident responders securing the Azure cloud platform?

Restricting access to administrative ports is crucial for incident responders securing the Azure cloud platform because administrative ports typically provide elevated privileges and access to sensitive resources within the cloud environment. By limiting access to these ports, organizations can significantly reduce the attack surface, making it much more difficult for unauthorized users or malicious actors to exploit potential vulnerabilities. Ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to these critical administrative functions helps maintain the integrity and security of the cloud infrastructure.

In contrast, encouraging open access to resources, using weak authentication measures, and disabling firewalls can lead to significant security risks. Open access can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, weak authentication makes it easier for attackers to gain entry, and disabling firewalls removes a critical line of defense against potential threats. Therefore, the practice of restricting access to administrative ports surfaces as a fundamental measure for securing the Azure cloud platform.