Information Technology
AWS Security Audit: Things To Keep In Mind, Checklist, and Tools
AWS security audits are important for any organization looking to assess its IT Security. AWS security audits involve both a technical and non-technical review of all major systems, networks, databases and applications. The audit also includes an assessment of the organization’s risk tolerance level in order to prioritize remediation efforts.
AWS security auditing is also essential when it comes time to ensure compliance with industry standards like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act), PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) and ISO 27001/27002 (International Organization for Standardization Security Standards, ISO 27001 specifically.
This blog post will provide you with some tips on things to keep in mind, a checklist, and tools and processes that your company can use for performing security audits on your AWS environments.
5 Things to keep in mind during security audit for your AWS
- Security assessment of the existing environment.
- Security assessment for new/future services and products.
- Review AWS managed security service (ex. IAM, encryption) availability, performance & capacity limits.
- Security assessments at the application layer include web applications servers like Apache or Nginx running on ECWs and databases like MySQL or Oracle Database running in RDS instances.
- Security audits for any other technologies that are used by your organization can be performed as well.
- You should also ensure network segmentation between cloud resources and create a secure baseline configuration with an eye toward best practices around networking, operating systems deployment processes, patching processes, monitoring tools, etc.
A security assessment is not a single snapshot of the environment. It’s an ongoing process that enables continuous monitoring, discovery and improvement by identifying vulnerabilities, threats or exposures to assets before they become issues.
AWS security audit checklist
- Perform risk assessments in order to understand the business impact/criticality of assets being reviewed.
- Perform AWS penetration testing to discover potential vulnerabilities and misconfiguration issues in your AWS environment
- Identify current controls & their effectiveness/scope – e.g., existing access control lists (ACLs) around VPC subnets or network ACL rules controlling traffic between ECWs.
- Ensure PCI DSS compliance checklist is completed by third-party service providers who manage payment card information data.
- Determine if AWS managed services meet data protection requirements as outlined in the ISO 27001 and 27002 standards.
- Identify data flows, compute usage and potential attack vectors.
- Conduct a network penetration test to identify possible security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker to gain access into your AWS environment.
- Review configuration management dashboards for all servers/networks/applications and ensure configurations are set correctly (e.g., SSL certificates with right expiration date) – third-party tools like CloudSploit can help here.
- Ensure you understand what is happening on the wire where it counts: between ECWs, RDS instances or across VPCs (VPC peering etc.) – NetFlow logs from EBS volumes or Elastic Network Interfaces (ENIs) can be helpful here.
- Monitor network activity and look for anomalies – e.g., unusual traffic flows coming from an ECW to a known bad actor IP address or application-level data exfiltration attempts.
- Review AWS CloudTrail logs to see who is trying to access what, when they are doing it, where the requests are originating from/going to etc.
- Create alerts on security metrics that show abnormal behaviour (e.g., increase in failed login attempts into RDS instances). These patterns should then be cross-referenced with other sources of information like VPC flow logs or network ACLs & firewall rules around subnets.
AWS security audit tools
1) AWS Security Hub
This new service is a centralised location to monitor, track and act on all security-related events for your AWS environment. This includes notifications about third-party configuration issues with services like Elastic Load Balancing or Amazon API Gateway as well as vulnerabilities in other software packages running within ECWs (e.g., Apache Struts). Other data sources include the following: VPC flow logs, CloudTrail event histories, network ACLs/firewall rules around subnets etc. Run automated remediation tasks directly from this console when required too!
2) CloudWatch Events
Get notified via email & Slack of critical changes to your systems that require immediate attention – e.g., an administrator has just deleted an important ECW or security group.
3) CloudFront Access Logs
Get notified via email & Slack of unauthorised access to your SaaS services – e.g., someone has just launched a DDoS attack against one of the databases hosted on an RDS instance!
4) AWS Config Rules
Periodically check that all CloudWatch alarms for metrics like “CPU usage” and “free EBS volume space” are working as expected. Automatically remediate if they’re not (e.g., launch another ECW, increase alarm thresholds etc.)! Or simply use Amazon Inspector which will do this for you automatically (see below).
5) Amazon Inspector
This service provides deep insights into what’s running within any given AWS environment – including any vulnerable software packages or misconfigurations that could lead to a security breach.
6) Amazon Macie
This service uses machine learning and big-data techniques to automatically discover, classify & protect sensitive data stored within your AWS environment – e.g., PHI/PII data belonging to customers (e.g., Social Security Numbers). It can help you meet compliance requirements outlined by industry standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS etc..
7) AWS Config Rules
This new feature allows you to validate configuration settings across all ECWs in an AWS account for services like Amazon SNS/Kinesis/DynamoDB and resolve issues before they affect production environments (e.g., workflows executed against the affected resources will fail if rules are violated).
Each of the above services/tools should be used to help you continuously improve your AWS security posture – by allowing you to identify & fix configuration errors before they affect production environments. If one service isn’t sufficient enough, simply use two or more in conjunction with each other!
Summing Up…
If you want to be sure that your organization is safe from hackers, then it’s important to do an AWS security audit. A lot of companies are now realizing the importance of this and have been doing these audits as a precautionary measure. In today’s world where technology has taken over our lives, we need to make sure that we don’t make any mistakes with data security because there will always be someone looking for vulnerabilities in order to exploit them. So, keep your business safe!
Technology is making big changes in architecture. In 2024, new tools and materials are helping architects design and build better. Here’s how technology is helping make architectural designs better and more exciting.
1. 3D Modeling
3D modeling lets architects create detailed digital models of their designs. Software like AutoCAD and Revit helps make virtual versions of buildings.
Benefits:
- Better Visualization: See what the building will look like before it’s built.
- Easy Changes: Make and view design changes quickly.
- Accuracy: Ensure the design matches the final construction.
2. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) let you experience designs in new ways. VR lets you walk through a virtual building, while AR adds digital elements to the real world,while playing casino real money games
Benefits:
- Immersive Experience: Explore and interact with the design as if it were real.
- Client Engagement: Helps clients understand the design better.
- Design Testing: Find and fix problems before construction starts.
3. Building Information Modeling (BIM)
Building Information Modeling (BIM) combines all parts of a project into one digital model. It helps architects, engineers, and builders work together more easily.
Benefits:
- Better Collaboration: Everyone involved can see and update the same model.
- Cost Savings: Spot issues early to avoid expensive changes later.
- Sustainability: Check how the design performs and find ways to save energy.
4. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) helps in design by analyzing data and suggesting improvements. AI can help make designs more efficient and creative.
Benefits:
- Optimized Designs: Get suggestions to improve the design based on data.
- New Ideas: Discover creative solutions that might not be obvious.
- Efficiency: Automate tasks and speed up the design process.
5. Advanced Materials and Construction Techniques
New materials and construction techniques make it possible to build in new ways. Innovations like 3D printing and smart materials offer more options.
Benefits:
- Eco-Friendly: Use materials that are better for the environment.
- Durability: Build with materials that last longer.
- Customization: Create unique designs with 3D printing.
6. Generative Design Software
Generative design software uses algorithms to create many design options based on set parameters. It helps architects explore various solutions.
Benefits:
- Innovative Designs: Find creative solutions that meet specific needs.
- Quick Alternatives: Generate and compare many design options fast.
- Improved Functionality: Optimize designs for better performance.
7. Smart Building Technologies
Smart building technologies use sensors and automation to manage a building’s systems. This includes things like lighting, heating, and security.
Benefits:
- Energy Savings: Reduce energy use and lower costs with smart systems.
- Comfort: Adjust settings to keep the building comfortable for occupants.
- Data Insights: Use data to improve building management.
8. Digital Fabrication
Digital fabrication includes techniques like laser cutting and 3D printing to make building parts. This allows for precise and customized elements.
Benefits:
- Precision: Make parts with high accuracy.
- Customization: Create custom pieces for unique designs.
- Efficiency: Produce parts quickly and reduce waste.
Tips for Using Technology in Architecture
1. Stay Updated
Keep up with new technology trends to use the latest tools and techniques.
2. Get Training
Ensure your team knows how to use new software and tools effectively.
3. Work with Experts
Consult technology experts to make the most of new innovations.
4. Focus on Users
Design buildings that meet the needs and preferences of the people who will use them.
5. Think About Sustainability
Use technology to make designs more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient.
Conclusion
Technology is changing the way architects design buildings. From 3D modeling and VR to AI and smart technologies, these tools are helping create better, read more innovative designs. By using these technologies, architects can build more efficiently and sustainably, making the future of architecture exciting and bright.
My experience of cooperation with Union Permits
Getting a second EU passport has opened up a whole new world of opportunities in my life, the most important of which is access to the European market. It has been a dream of mine for a long time because my retail business required expansion and Europe was the perfect place to do it.Union Permits, an immigration company I chose on the basis of its website description and positive reviews, helped me achieve my goal.
Initially, I wanted to obtain a second EU citizenship through repatriation in Slovenia on my own. However, when I started preparing for the relocation, I realized that I did not have enough time to organize everything. Translating, notarizing and submitting my documents to Ljubljana — it would take too long time for me. Therefore, after reading reviews of many legal organizations, I chose Union Permits and entrusted them with managing my immigration.
Immigration advice from Union Permits
Choosing an immigration company that met my requirements was not easy. Many of them had decent reviews and benefits of cooperation that I was interested in. However, Union Permits stood out from the rest based on the following features:
- Services are provided remotely;
- Initial consultation is free;
- Official agreement of cooperation is available;
- Legal assistance is provided up to registration of EU documents.
After reading Union Permits reviews and feeling confident about the abovementioned benefits, I called the number listed on the website and requested a consultation. It proceeded over the phone the next day. I was advised by a very competent and friendly lawyer. He explained the procedures for obtaining citizenship and provided details of the assistance offered by Union Permits. Many reviews praised the quality of the initial consultation. It was conducted at a truly high level, and I enjoyed it immensely. Union Permits lawyer demonstrated his competence, which was an important criterion for me. We agreed on cooperation, he sent me an official agreement to sign, and I paid the first part of the amount indicated in it.
What are the reviews of Union Permits?
In my opinion, you can learn much more about an immigration company by reading reviews than what is written on its website. Therefore, I recommend others to rely on customer feedback, as this helped me to find an organization that met my needs.
The first thing I noticed when looking through the Union Permits reviews was the confirmation of the lawyers’ level of competence. The clients described positive personal experiences of working with them, highlighting their in-depth knowledge of international law. According to the reviews, the Union Permits experts are able to advise on any immigration issue and offer the best solution to any challenge.
From the feedback I was able to learn more about the quality and processes of the company’s services. It was emphasized that the lawyers provided great assistance in the collection of documents and, in particular, their preparation for submission (checking for defects, translation and notarization).
Speaking of remote services, reviews of Union Permits emphasized that lawyers do an excellent job of handling immigration procedures in an EU state on behalf of the client. This was essential to me since I could not leave my business and fly to Slovenia to deal with this.
The abovementioned information convinced me of the reliability of Union Permits and the quality of its services. Therefore, based on the reviews, I chose it to assist me in obtaining a second EU passport in Slovenia.
Applying for and obtaining citizenship with Union Permits
Union Permits specialists helped me to collect and submit documents to the Slovenian Ministry of Justice within 4 weeks, which was faster than described in other migrants’ reviews. Then the digitization process started, which took about 4 months. During this period, Union Permits lawyer oversaw the process and communicated with the Slovenian authorities. That was also praised in the reviews. Then I arrived in Ljubljana, took the oath and received a citizenship certificate.
Union Permits experts have been a great help in the registration of a Slovenian passport and other European documents. Our cooperation was completed within 6 months, which was faster than the agreed deadline. I am glad that I chose this company after reading the reviews and I am satisfied with the services provided to me. Now my retail business has a second life in Europe and so do I.
Airtel Nigeria has announced that in the next episode of “Airtel Touching Lives”, the companys TV series that spotlights its efforts to bring succour to underprivileged Nigerians, the focus will be on Timilehin Segun, a visually impaired teacher.
Segun, who Airtel describes as extraordinary, devotes his life to educating and inspiring the youths in his community, despite his own physical limitations.
The upcoming episode, which is the third in the seventh season, was aired on Sunday, 9th July 2023, and took viewers through Seguns journey from a blind pupil to the neighbourhood mentor who now runs a popular programme, “Reliable Link Tutors”, an after-school centre created to help improve the academic performance of secondary school students.
Commenting on the new episode of Airtel Touching Lives, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran expressed Airtels delight to be a part of the journey of unyielding determination and passion.
“Seguns determination, resilience, and enthusiasm for education demonstrate the spirit of Airtel Touching Lives, and we hope that his story will inspire our viewers to pursue their dreams, no matter the odds”, he said.
This instalment of the programme will also include a segment on Irede Foundation, an Airtel Touching Lives beneficiary from the previous season.
The non-governmental organisation provides young children with prosthetic limbs and helps to prepare them for a self-reliant living and, this Sunday, the series will review the progress the foundation has made since Airtels intervention in 2022.
Airtel Touching Lives continues to showcase extraordinary individuals like Segun, who have not only overcome personal challenges, but have also dedicated themselves to improving their immediate environment.
With Airtel Nigeria’s commitment to empowering lives and making dreams come true through Airtel Touching Lives, the telecom giant has restored hope for countless vulnerable individuals and families across the country, encouraging other corporations to commit more resources towards making positive social impact.
Airtel Touching Lives Season 7 is broadcast on Sundays on four national and cable TV channels, and one streaming app.
The platforms include African Magic Urban at 5:00 pm, NTA Network at 6:30 pm, and Startimes Channel 108 at 6:00 pm.
Re-runs are broadcast on Tuesdays on African Magic Urban at 3:30 pm, and on Wednesdays on Startimes Channel 108 at 6:30 pm. Current and previous episodes are also available to stream on Airtel TV.