Rule: RDS Aurora clusters should be protected by backup plan

Rule Description:

Troubleshooting Steps (if applicable):

2. 1.
   Verify the RDS Aurora cluster configuration to ensure it meets the HIPAA compliance requirements.
4. 2.
   Check if the backup plan is properly configured and enabled for the cluster.
6. 3.
   Review the backup intervals and retention periods to ensure they align with your organization's data retention policies.
8. 4.
   Validate that automated backups are being performed successfully and without errors.
10. 5.
    Confirm that the backup data is stored securely and encrypted to maintain data confidentiality.
12. 6.
    If any issues are identified, refer to the documentation or contact the appropriate support channels for assistance.

Necessary Codes (if applicable):

2. 1.
   AWS CLI Command to create an RDS Aurora cluster with backup enabled:

aws rds create-db-cluster \
    --db-cluster-identifier my-cluster \
    --engine aurora \
    --backup-retention-period 7 \
    --enable-iam-database-authentication \
    --engine-version 5.7.mysql_aurora.2.03.2 \
    --master-username myuser \
    --master-user-password mypassword

2. 1.
   AWS CLI Command to modify the backup retention period for an RDS Aurora cluster:

aws rds modify-db-cluster \
    --db-cluster-identifier my-cluster \
    --backup-retention-period 30

Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation:

2. 1.
   Assess the current RDS Aurora cluster configuration and backup policies to identify any gaps or non-compliance with HIPAA requirements.
4. 2.
   Configure automated backups for the RDS Aurora cluster if not already enabled. This can be done through the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs.
6. 3.
   Ensure that the backup retention period is set to an appropriate duration based on your organization's data retention policies and HIPAA compliance requirements.
8. 4.
   Verify that the backups are encrypted using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) or other encryption mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of the healthcare data.
10. 5.
    Regularly monitor and validate that the backups are successfully performed and stored securely.
12. 6.
    Test the restore process from backups periodically to ensure they can be used for data recovery if needed.
14. 7.
    Document the backup plan implementation, including details such as backup schedules, retention periods, and encryption mechanisms used.
16. 8.
    Regularly review and update the backup plan as necessary to reflect any changes in compliance requirements, data growth, or system configurations.