Rule: EC2 Instances Should Be Protected by Backup Plan
This rule states that EC2 instances must have a backup plan in place for protection.
| Rule | EC2 instances should be protected by backup plan |
| Framework | CISA-cyber-essentials |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Rule Description: EC2 instances must have a backup plan to protect data according to CISA Cyber Essentials guidelines.
Details:
CISA Cyber Essentials guidelines state that it is crucial to have a backup plan in place to protect sensitive data residing on EC2 instances. Without a proper backup strategy, data loss or corruption could lead to severe consequences such as business disruption, financial loss, or non-compliance with regulations.
To comply with this rule, a backup plan should be implemented and regularly tested to ensure data integrity and availability in the event of any unforeseen incidents or disasters. This includes defining backup policies, configuring backup tools, and conducting regular backups.
Troubleshooting Steps:
If the backup plan is not properly set up or functioning as expected, the following troubleshooting steps may be helpful:
- 1.Verify Backup Schedule: Check if the backup schedule is correctly configured to ensure backups are running at the desired frequency.
- 2.Disk Space Availability: Confirm that there is sufficient disk space available to store the backup data.
- 3.Backup Tool Configuration: Review the configuration settings of the backup tool or service being used. Ensure that it is properly configured and connected to the EC2 instances.
- 4.Check Backup Status: Monitor the backup status to ensure that backups are completing successfully without any errors or failures.
- 5.Review Error Logs: Examine the error logs generated by the backup tool for any useful information that can help diagnose and resolve issues.
Necessary Codes:
In order to implement and manage the backup plan for EC2 instances, the following code snippets can be utilized:
- 1.AWS CLI Command to Create and Configure Backup Vault:
aws backup create-backup-vault --backup-vault-name <vault-name>
- 1.AWS CLI Command to Create Backup Plan:
aws backup create-backup-plan --backup-plan-name <plan-name> --rule-name <rule-name> --schedule-expression <cron-expression> --start-window-minutes <start-window-minutes> --backup-vault-name <vault-name> --resource-arn <resource-arn>
- 1.AWS CLI Command to List Backup Plans:
aws backup list-backup-plans
- 1.AWS CLI Command to Enable Backup for an EC2 Instance:
aws backup start-backup-job --backup-vault-name <vault-name> --resource-arn <resource-arn>
Note: Replace
<vault-name><plan-name><rule-name><cron-expression><start-window-minutes><resource-arn>Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation:
Follow these steps to implement a backup plan for EC2 instances:
- 1.Identify the data that needs to be protected: Determine the critical data stored on the EC2 instances that requires backup.
- 2.Select a backup solution: Choose a backup tool or service that meets your requirements and is compatible with AWS EC2 instances.
- 3.Create a backup vault: Use the AWS CLI command mentioned above to create a backup vault where the backup data will be stored.
- 4.Define a backup plan: Use the AWS CLI command provided to create a backup plan specifying the frequency, retention period, and backup vault details.
- 5.Enable backup for EC2 instances: Use the appropriate AWS CLI command to enable the backup for each EC2 instance by providing the resource ARN.
- 6.Monitor backup status: Regularly check the backup status and logs to ensure backups are running successfully.
- 7.Conduct regular restore tests: Periodically perform restore tests to verify the integrity of the backup data and ensure quick recovery if needed.
- 8.Update backup plan as needed: Review and update the backup plan regularly to accommodate any changes in data or compliance requirements.
By following these steps and using the provided AWS CLI commands, you can establish a backup plan for your EC2 instances to comply with the CISA Cyber Essentials guidelines and protect your data effectively.