Security for Amazon web services or AWS cloud is an essential topic in today\'s cybersecurity environment with more and more businesses adopting cloud services and shifting to AWS. While there is no doubt that AWS offers the best security services, it is not their sole responsibility. The users are as much accountable as the AWS. However, with the plethora of infrastructural changes, you may miss some of the AWS best practices. The best option to cope with such a mistake is to partner with a competent Amazon Web Services Consulting firm in the USA.
But before moving on to the practices for AWS cloud security, let us first understand what AWS is.
What is AWS?
AWS is a secure and comprehensive cloud platform provided by Amazon. It offers many services to allow individuals and organizations to build, deploy and manage applications and infrastructure on the cloud.
Its services include computing power, storage, databases, analytics, machine learning, networking, security, and more. AWS allows access to on-demand computing resources payable only for what they use, reducing their investment in hardware and infrastructure. AWS has become a cornerstone of modern technology infrastructure with millions of users worldwide.
Discover how to ensure enhanced security by implementing AWS cloud security best practices.
Enforce Precise, Consistent Cloud Security Controls and Procedures
Investigations revealed the S3 attacks to be related to the S3 bucket breaches being set to "public." These buckets contain sensitive data and are, by default, sent on "private," meaning only authorized persons can access these buckets.
To ensure the security of your data in S3 buckets, you should create a set of clear and consistent security control and procedures. This set should define the type of data that can be stored in the cloud along with a hierarchy to categorize sensitive data.
Utilize The Native Security Tools of The Cloud
Another way to enhance your AWS cloud security is by effectively utilizing the full potential of the native security tools offered by the platform. These tools are specifically designed to assist you in securing your infrastructure against attacks.
Some of the key tools offered by AWS include Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Key Management Service (KMS), Amazon GuardDuty, AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall), and Amazon Inspector. These tools can help you encrypt your data, monitor your network and respond to security threats in real-time.
Develop a Security Culture
Security maintenance is a combined effort of every member of the organization. Today, when cyber security is so threatened, hiring professionals is recommended if you cannot deal with the problem in-house.
Irrespective of having a separate security department, you must train every employee about the importance of security and hold them accountable for their role in strengthening the organization against threats.
Constant Monitoring of User Access for your Database
You must monitor user access to your database constantly to determine its purpose and limit the use of unnecessary users. Additionally, you can use controls like data integrity validation and data-in-motion encryption if your application uses eternal sources. It will help you maintain data integrity and confidentiality.
Use Encryption for Sensitive Information
Encrypting the sensitive data is one of the most effective ways of securing it. It is very easy to encrypt the data on the AWS platform, especially if you leverage their native encryption. The native encryption of AWS provides HTTPS and end-to-end SSL/TLS for APIs and AWS service.
Wrapping Up:
Shifting to AWS infrastructure or expanding your existing infrastructure requires you to consider the security of your AWS infrastructure for maintaining data integrity. Being up-to-date about the latest upgrades and changes in the platform will help you to adapt better.
Apart from the few practices mentioned above, you can also collaborate with a firm offering Amazon Web Services in Boston to help secure your cloud data.