@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ For the available resource log categories, their associated Log Analytics tables
 
 In Azure AI Search, activity logs reflect control plane activity such as service creation and configuration, or API key usage or management. Entries often include **Get Admin Key**, one entry for every call that [provided an admin API key](search-security-api-keys.md) on the request. There are no details about the call itself, just a notification that the admin key was used.
 
-API keys can be disabled for data plane operations, such as creating or querying an index, but on the control plane they're used in the Azure portal to return service information.
+API keys can be disabled for data plane operations, such as creating or querying an index, but on the control plane they're used in the Azure portal to return service information. Control plane operations can request API keys so you continue to see key-related requests in the Activity log even if you disable key-based authentication.
 
 The following screenshot shows Azure AI Search activity log signals you can configure in an alert.
 

@@ -9,17 +9,23 @@ ms.service: azure-ai-search
 ms.custom:
   - ignite-2023
 ms.topic: how-to
-ms.date: 1/16/2025
+ms.date: 01/31/2025
 #customer intent: I want to learn how to connect to Azure AI Search using API keys so that I can authenticate inbound requests to my search service.
 ---
 
 # Connect to Azure AI Search using keys
 
-Azure AI Search supports both keyless and key-based authentication for connections to your search service. An API key is a unique string composed of 52 randomly generated numbers and letters. In your source code, you can specify it as an [environment variable](/azure/ai-services/cognitive-services-environment-variables) or as an app setting in your project, and then reference the variable on the request. A request made to a search service endpoint is accepted if both the request and the API key are valid.
+Azure AI Search supports both keyless and key-based authentication for connections to your search service. An API key is a unique string composed of 52 randomly generated numbers and letters. In your source code, you can specify it as an [environment variable](/azure/ai-services/cognitive-services-environment-variables) or as an app setting in your project, and then reference the variable on the request.
 
 > [!IMPORTANT]
 > When you create a search service, key-based authentication is the default, but it's not the most secure option. We recommend that you replace it with [role-based access](search-security-enable-roles.md).
 
+## Enabled by default
+
+Key-based authentication is the default on new search services. A request made to a search service endpoint is accepted if both the request and the API key are valid, and your search service is configured to allow API keys on a request. In the Azure portal, authentication is specified on the **Keys** page under **Settings**. Either **API keys** or **Both** provide key support.
+
+:::image type="content" source="media/search-security-overview/api-keys-enabled.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Keys page in the Azure portal.":::
+
 ## Types of API keys
 
 There are two kinds of keys used for authenticating a request:
@@ -95,7 +101,7 @@ A script example showing API key usage for various operations can be found at [Q
 
 **How API keys are used in the Azure portal**:
 
-+ Key authentication is built in. By default, the Azure portal tries API keys first. However, if you [disable API keys](search-security-enable-roles.md#disable-api-key-authentication) and set up role assignments, the Azure portal uses role assignments instead.
+Key authentication applies to data plane operations such as indexing and queries. It's enabled by default. However, if you [disable API keys](search-security-enable-roles.md#disable-api-key-authentication) and set up role assignments, the Azure portal uses role assignments instead.
 
 ---