Key Vault Reference - Invalid Credentials

[SeRo42]

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to set up a Key Vault reference in Microsoft Fabric, but I consistently receive the following error:

"The credentials provided for the AzureKeyVault source are invalid."

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

• Followed the official documentation: Configure AKV references – Microsoft Learn

• Verified roles and permissions as per this thread: Solved: Key Vault Reference Configuration – Fabric Community

• Tested deployments across different regions: Solved: Power BI Service - Key Vault Reference – Fabric Community

• Tried both legacy permission policies and RBAC

Despite these efforts, the issue persists. Could someone please provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to correctly configure this so that the Key Vault reference works as intended?

Any insight or working configuration examples would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Sebastian 

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SeRo42 ,

Has your issue been resolved?If the response provided by @Poojara_D12 ,addressed your query, could you please confirm? It helps us ensure that the solutions provided are effective and beneficial for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding.

[SeRo42]

Hi @v-tejrama,

no, my issue hasn't been resolved yet. I asked for further advice, that is still pending.

[v-tejrama · Accepted solution]

HI @SeRo42 ,

If you're getting the error "The credentials provided for the AzureKeyVault source are invalid" while trying to connect Microsoft Fabric to Azure Key Vault, don’t worry  it usually happens due to a few common reasons. First, make sure that both your Azure Key Vault and the Fabric workspace are in the same region, because cross-region connections are not supported.

Then, check whether the managed identity of the Fabric workspace has proper permissions. If you are using Azure RBAC, assign the Key Vault Secrets User role. If you're using the older Access Policy method, give it Get and List permissions. Also, verify your networking settings in Key Vault either keep public access enabled or at least allow trusted Microsoft services to connect.

Double-check if the secret is active, not expired, and avoid using version-specific references unless it's really needed. After making these changes, wait for around 5 to 15 minutes for the permissions to take effect. Following these steps usually solves the issue in most setups.

Thank you.

[matthew_kellner]

"Then, check whether the managed identity of the Fabric workspace has proper permissions. If you are using Azure RBAC, assign the Key Vault Secrets User role. If you're using the older Access Policy method, give it Get and List permissions. Also, verify your networking settings in Key Vault either keep public access enabled or at least allow trusted Microsoft services to connect."

Azure Key Vault references live outside workspaces. The only authentication option is Oauth. I have a "service account" user that has reader on the Key Vault and "get, list" in access policies. The user authenticates under edit credentials but fails to create the reference.

[v-tejrama]

Hi  @SeRo42 ,

I wanted to check if you had the opportunity to review the information provided. Please feel free to contact us if you have any further questions. 

Thank you.

Tejaswi.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SeRo42 ,

I wanted to follow up and see if you had a chance to review the information shared. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to reach out.

Thank you.

[v-tejrama]

Hi @SeRo42 ,

Just checking in have you been able to resolve this issue? If so, it would be greatly appreciated if you could mark the most helpful reply accordingly. This helps other community members quickly find relevant solutions.

Thank you .

[Akash_Varuna]

Hi @SeRo42 The error occurs because the credentials used for the Key Vault reference are invalid, often due to insufficient permissions or misconfiguration. Ensure the Microsoft Fabric workspace’s Managed Identity has Get and List permissions for secrets in the Key Vault through Access Policies or Azure RBAC. Verify the Key Vault reference is correctly formatted and that both the Key Vault and Fabric workspace are in the same Azure region. Test connectivity using Azure CLI or PowerShell, and check Key Vault logs for further insights.

[Poojara_D12]

Hi @SeRo42 

You're encountering the "The credentials provided for the AzureKeyVault source are invalid" error while trying to set up a Key Vault reference in Microsoft Fabric, which typically points to a misconfiguration in either the Azure Key Vault access policies, Microsoft Fabric-managed identity permissions, or region alignment. Even though you've already reviewed official documentation and community solutions, the issue usually stems from a few core requirements not being fully met or synced. Here's a step-by-step approach you can follow to resolve it comprehensively:

Verify the Key Vault Region: Ensure your Azure Key Vault is in the same region as your Microsoft Fabric workspace. Cross-region Key Vault references are not supported in Microsoft Fabric yet.

Use the Correct Managed Identity: Microsoft Fabric uses a system-assigned managed identity to access resources. Go to your Fabric workspace settings and identify the managed identity used by Fabric. This is the identity that needs access to the Key Vault.

Grant Key Vault Access:

If you're using RBAC, go to the Azure Key Vault > Access control (IAM) and assign the "Key Vault Secrets User" role to the Fabric managed identity.

If you're using the Access Policies (legacy) model, navigate to the Access policies blade in the Key Vault, and explicitly grant the Get and List permissions on secrets to the Fabric managed identity.

Ensure the Key Vault Firewall Allows Access: Your Key Vault must either allow public access or specifically allow the Fabric workspace's IP ranges. If firewall rules are too restrictive, Fabric won't be able to connect, even with proper permissions.

Format the Reference Correctly: In Fabric, ensure you are using the correct syntax for referencing the Key Vault secret, such as @Microsoft.KeyVault(SecretUri=https://<your-vault-name>.vault.azure.net/secrets/<secret-name>).

Check for Secret Versioning: Sometimes referencing a versioned secret causes issues. Use the URI without explicitly referencing a version (i.e., default to the latest).

Verify Secret Exists and Is Enabled: Double-check that the secret exists in the Key Vault and is not disabled or expired.

Allow Time for Permissions to Propagate: After assigning roles or policies, it may take a few minutes (or more) for changes to propagate.

If after following all these steps the issue still persists, try to test access using an Azure CLI or PowerShell script using the same managed identity to isolate whether the issue is with Fabric or Key Vault itself. A successful external call using the managed identity confirms the issue lies within the Fabric integration layer.

Let me know if you want me to provide a real configuration example or ARM template setup for this.

[SeRo42]

Hi Poojara, 

thank you for your comprehensive answer. Could you provide a real configuration example with screenshots if possible?