When adopting cloud computing, securing your cloud infrastructure should be a top priority. Starting with a landing zone provides the foundational infrastructure for all workloads and applications. This should also include designing for security in your landing zone.
In this post, we'll discuss how to design a secure landing zone in AWS and the best practices to follow.
1. Create a multi-account structure: Creating a multi-account structure is a best practice for securing your landing zone in AWS. This allows you to separate workloads, limit blast radius, and apply specific security controls to each account, or set of accounts. You can use AWS Organizations to create and manage multiple accounts in your AWS environment.
2. Define your security requirements: Before designing your landing zone, you should first define your security requirements. This will help you determine what security controls you need to put in place. Identify the type of data you will be storing (i.e. data classification), who will have access to it (i.e. data access), and the compliance regulations you must comply with (i.e. data compliance). The security controls are applied in what is referred to as the Security Baseline or Layer.
3. Use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM is a service that enables you to manage user access and permissions to AWS resources. You should use IAM to enforce the principle of least privilege and ensure that users only have access to the resources they need. You should also enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for added security. These service resources are applied in what is referred to as the Identity Baseline or Layer.
4. Implement encryption: Encryption is the process of encoding data so that only authorized parties can access it. You should encrypt all sensitive data at rest and in transit. AWS offers a variety of encryption options, including Amazon S3 encryption, AWS Key Management Service (KMS), and AWS Certificate Manager. The encryption key service is applied in the Data Protection Baseline or Layer.
5. Use AWS Config and AWS CloudTrail: AWS Config and AWS CloudTrail are services that provide visibility and auditing capabilities for your AWS environment. AWS Config helps you monitor resource configuration changes, while AWS CloudTrail provides a detailed record of all API activity in your AWS account. These services are applied in the Logging Baseline or Layer, and are dependent upon the Data Protection Baseline to provide the encryption keys necessary to encrypt log data.
6. Implement network segmentation: Network segmentation is the process of dividing your network into smaller, more secure segments. This helps to prevent lateral movement and limit the impact of a security breach. You can use Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) to create network segments in AWS. This capability is applied in the Network Baseline or Layer, and is dependent upon the previous deployed Logging Baseline and Data Protection Baseline to provide logging and encryption keys respectively.
7. Implement automated security checks: You should implement automated security checks to ensure that your landing zone remains secure over time. AWS provides a range of automated security tools, including AWS Security Hub, AWS Config Rules, and Amazon Inspector. This capability is implemented in the Compliance Baseline or Layer.
In conclusion, designing a secure landing zone in AWS requires careful planning and attention to detail. By following the best practices outlined above, you can create a landing zone that is secure, scalable, and easy to manage. Remember to regularly review your security controls and update them as necessary to keep up with changing security threats.
