Rule: Attached EBS Volumes Encryption Requirement
This rule ensures EBS volumes have encryption enabled for security compliance.
| Rule | Attached EBS volumes should have encryption enabled |
| Framework | General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) |
| Severity | ✔ Medium |
Rule Description
The rule/policy states that all attached Elastic Block Store (EBS) volumes should have encryption enabled in order to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR is a legal framework that aims to protect the personal data and privacy of individuals within the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA). By enabling encryption on EBS volumes, you can ensure that the data stored on them remains secure and protected.
Troubleshooting Steps (if applicable)
If encryption is not enabled on an attached EBS volume, follow these troubleshooting steps:
- 1.
Check if the volume is attached to an EC2 instance: Verify that the volume in question is indeed attached to an EC2 instance.
- 2.
Verify volume encryption status: Use the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI to check the encryption status of the volume. If the status indicates that encryption is not enabled, proceed to the next step.
- 3.
Review encryption key configuration: Ensure that an appropriate encryption key is used. If no key is specified, the default AWS Key Management Service (KMS) key is applied. Alternatively, a customer-managed key can be utilized for added control over encryption key management.
- 4.
Enable encryption for the volume: If encryption is not enabled, apply encryption to the volume by following the remediation steps.
Necessary Codes (if applicable)
If you wish to encrypt an EBS volume using the AWS CLI, you can use the following code snippet:
aws ec2 enable-ebs-encryption-by-default
This command enables encryption for all new EBS volumes by default. However, existing volumes need to be encrypted separately.
Remediation Steps
To enable encryption for an attached EBS volume, follow these step-by-step guide:
- 1.
Log in to the AWS Management Console.
- 2.
Open the EC2 service.
- 3.
Select the appropriate region from the top-right corner.
- 4.
In the left navigation pane, click on "Volumes" under "ELASTIC BLOCK STORE."
- 5.
Identify the volume that needs encryption and select it by clicking the checkbox next to it.
- 6.
Click on the "Actions" drop-down menu above the list of volumes and select "Modify Volume."
- 7.
In the "Modify Volume" dialog box, locate the "Encryption" section.
- 8.
Choose the desired encryption option:
- To use the default AWS KMS key, select "Use AWS managed CMK (default)".
- To use a custom KMS key, select "Use custom CMK" and choose the appropriate key from the drop-down menu.
- 9.
Click on the "Modify" button to apply the encryption settings to the selected volume.
- 10.
Wait for the modification to complete. This process might take a few minutes depending on the volume size and activity.
- 11.
Once the modification is complete, the EBS volume will be encrypted and data stored on it will be protected in compliance with GDPR requirements.
- 12.
Repeat the above steps for any other attached EBS volumes that require encryption.
By following these steps, you can ensure that all attached EBS volumes are encrypted, thereby complying with the GDPR regulations for protecting personal data.