Rule for EC2 Instances Backup Plan
This rule emphasizes protecting EC2 instances with a backup plan.
| Rule | EC2 instances should be protected by backup plan |
| Framework | CISA-cyber-essentials |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Rule Description:
EC2 instances should be protected by a backup plan to ensure data integrity and availability in case of system failures, data corruption, or accidental deletions. This rule is in line with the CISA Cyber Essentials guidance which emphasizes the importance of regular data backups as part of an organization's cybersecurity strategy.
Troubleshooting Steps (if necessary):
- Check if a backup plan is already in place for the EC2 instances.
- Verify if the backup policy aligns with the CISA Cyber Essentials guidelines.
- Ensure that the backup schedule is appropriate and covers the required data.
- Confirm that backups are being successfully executed and stored in a secure location.
- Validate the ability to restore data from the backups.
Necessary Codes (if applicable):
There are no specific codes associated with this rule, as it primarily focuses on adopting a backup plan and following best practices.
Step-by-step Remediation Guide:
- 1.
Evaluate your backup requirements: Assess the criticality of your EC2 instances and the data they store. Determine the desired recovery point objective (RPO), which is the acceptable amount of data loss in case of a failure or incident, and the recovery time objective (RTO), which is the acceptable downtime for restoring the data.
- 2.
Create a backup plan: Formulate a backup plan that considers the RPO and RTO requirements. Determine the appropriate backup frequency, retention period, and backup storage location.
- 3.
Select a backup solution: Choose a suitable backup solution that aligns with your organization's needs and budget. You can either use AWS native services like Amazon EBS snapshots, Amazon S3, or leverage third-party backup tools.
- 4.
Configure backup schedules: Define backup schedules based on the importance and criticality of your data. Consider factors like daily, weekly, or monthly backups, and the time of day when the backups should occur to minimize the impact on system performance.
- 5.
Enable automated backups: Implement automatic backup configurations to ensure consistent and regular backups are performed without manual intervention.
- 6.
Test the backup and restore process: Regularly test the backup and restore process to ensure data recoverability. Perform periodic restoration tests to validate the integrity and accessibility of the backup data.
- 7.
Monitor backup operations: Set up monitoring and alerts to proactively identify any potential backup failures or issues. Regularly review backup logs and reports for any anomalies.
- 8.
Store backups securely: Ensure that the backup data is stored in a secure location to protect it from unauthorized access or data breaches. Consider using encryption, access controls, and redundancy measures to safeguard the backups.
- 9.
Update and review backup plan regularly: Continuously revisit and update the backup plan based on changes in the EC2 instances, data volume, and organizational requirements. Regularly review the effectiveness of the backup plan to identify any areas for improvement.
By following these steps, your EC2 instances will be protected by a backup plan that adheres to the CISA Cyber Essentials guidelines, ensuring data integrity and availability in the event of any unforeseen incidents or system failures.