Securing Your Cloud: Proactive Strategies for AWS Security
Tags: aws, cloud, security, cloudcomputing
Published: 2024-05-02 15:42:17

As a professional working in any information and technology niche you learn quickly that securing every part of your IT infrastructure is arguably the most critical task. There is no room for debate — it is ESSENTIAL. Since the ability to tell stories and tell them well is an important skill in this modern economy, a little backstory if I may. Recently the IT infrastructure of the city of Hamilton, Ontario [where I live] was breached. I bet this set the city back in terms of finances (they needed to upgrade security measures and fortify their defenses) and potentially compromising resident safety (this is not an exaggeration). All this got me thinking: is a purely defensive security posture enough for businesses and IT professionals when push comes to shove? That question led me to write this article in which I explore how we can be more offensive in our security strategies within the AWS cloud environment. We are going to look at the various ways we can leverage various services to anticipate and mitigate potential security threats before they materialize. So Let’s get to it!!

## Continuous Observation, Monitoring and Analysis
As a self-proclaimed storyteller, here’s another backstory for you. While at my first AWS summit last year in Toronto, I noticed that most of the companies with showcase booths at the summit were offering observability services. This is indicative of how important monitoring and observing your cloud infrastructure is. Monitoring and observability tools can help you detect suspicious activity, potential vulnerabilities, and even signs of an ongoing attack. For these, AWS services such as CloudWatch and CloudTrail are there to assist you. But how exactly do you make use of them, you might wonder. Without going into too much detail, here’s how: By analyzing user activity in CloudTrail and centralizing logs in CloudWatch, you can proactively hunt for threats. You can set log alarms for anomalies and use CloudWatch Insights to investigate suspicious activity. CloudTrail data can even help you understand attacker behavior and prioritize security measures. Combining these tools with other strategies we are going to look at will help you shift from reactive defense to proactive threat hunting in your AWS cloud environment. To learn more about CloudWatch and CloudTrail, check out t[his article](https://medium.com/@dbrandonbawe/from-logs-to-compliance-a-guide-to-aws-monitoring-and-auditing-with-cloudwatch-cloudtrail-and-4322b14b1c02).

## Automating Security Tasks and Configurations
Automating security tasks and configurations does not only save time spent correcting mistakes and ensuring consistency but also prevents costly errors that could disrupt operations. Here is how you can do this using services such as IAM, AWS config and AWS Lambda. You can use IAM to control user access (always remember to follow the [Principle of Least Privilege](https://www.sentinelone.com/cybersecurity-101/what-is-the-principle-of-least-privilege-polp/?utm_source=gdn-paid&utm_medium=paid-display&utm_campaign=nam-pmax-brand-ppc&utm_term=&campaign_id=19502097988&ad_id=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZiHmlUiKSynmK-0w_3QaZxctE54vZyyDi23LvZe1VXCA89RbI1VsARoCT9QQAvD_BwE)), while using Config to continuously monitor your resources against pre-defined security rules. If Config detects a violation, it triggers an AWS Lambda function — a serverless compute service. You can write custom code in Lambda to automate remediation actions. For example, a Lambda function could automatically revert a non-compliant configuration change or send an alert to security personnel. By doing this, you automate security tasks and enforce compliance, freeing you to turn your attention on optimizing other aspects of your security posture.

## Incident Response Planning
I will not assume that everyone reading this knows what Incident Response Planning is from the jump. Before moving forward let me explain what it is in the first place. Incident Response planning is the process of developing a documented strategy on how your organization will detect, respond to and recover from security incidents. As important as Incident Response (IR) plans are, most companies have attested to the fact that their IR plans are informal or even nonexistent. Understanding that a threat to an organization’s security is not only a technical issue but a threat to the organization’s business continuity can go a long way to change how organizations take on IR planning. You don’t necessarily have to build an IR plan from the ground up by yourself as there are many companies offering incident response services.

## Secure DevOps Practices
The rise of DevOps practices in software development is attributed to a growing need for faster development cycles, improved collaboration, and better software quality. When and where does security come into play in this DevOps conversation? It is when the conversation changes from talking about DevOps to DevSecOps. To achieve DevSecOps on AWS, integrate security into every step of your development process. To integrate early security checks, leverage AWS security services like Inspector and CodeBuild for automated testing within your CodePipeline, enforce security best practices in your Infrastructure as Code (IaC) with [CloudFormation](https://medium.com/@dbrandonbawe/navigating-aws-cloudformation-with-confidence-a-sysops-admins-playbook-f118eaf21648) and Config, automate patching with [Patch Manager](https://medium.com/aws-in-plain-english/automating-aws-operations-a-deep-dive-into-systems-manager-for-sysops-a975412355ea), and cultivate a security-aware DevOps team through training and incident response planning. This continuous approach embeds security within your AWS DevOps workflow for a more secure and efficient development process.

## Vulnerability Management
This is the the last offensive strategy we are going to look in this article but it is be no means the last security strategy you can leverage as there are many other robust strategies not included in this article. The whole point of vulnerability management is that regularly scanning your AWS environment for vulnerabilities is an essential security practice. By identifying potential weaknesses before attackers exploit them, you significantly reduce the risk of data breaches and downtime. This not only protects your sensitive data but also helps maintain compliance with industry regulations. Regular scans provide a clear picture of your overall security posture, allowing you to prioritize patching vulnerabilities and continuously strengthen your defenses. It’s a proactive investment that pays off in a more secure and resilient AWS environment. You can use Amazon Inspector and even third-party vulnerability scanners to achieve this.

## Last words
I hope after reading this article, you were able to take away at least one strategy that you are going to implement to improve the rigidity of the security posture of your AWS cloud environment. Remember, security is an ongoing journey, not a destination. As the threat landscape evolves, so should your security practices. By embracing a proactive and offensive approach, utilizing the powerful tools offered by AWS as well as other service providers, and continuously refining your strategies, you can build a robust and resilient cloud environment that is well-equipped to withstand even the most sophisticated attacks.