Rule: KMS CMK Rotation Should Be Enabled
This rule ensures that Key Management Service Customer Master Key rotation is enabled for enhanced security measures.
| Rule | KMS CMK rotation should be enabled |
| Framework | HIPAA |
| Severity | ✔ Critical |
Enabling KMS CMK Key Rotation for HIPAA Compliance
Overview
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) sets the standard for sensitive patient data protection. Companies that deal with protected health information (PHI) must have physical, network, and process security measures in place and follow them to ensure HIPAA Compliance.
AWS Key Management Service (KMS) is a managed service that makes it easy for you to create and control the encryption keys used to encrypt your data. The AWS KMS customer master keys (CMKs) can be rotated to enhance security by retiring the old key material and replacing it with new key material.
Rule Details
It is a recommended best practice to enable automatic annual rotation for KMS CMKs to generate new cryptographic material. AWS KMS does not automatically rotate the keys to allow customers control and the ability to enforce their rotation policy as they require.
Troubleshooting Steps
If your keys aren't rotating as expected, ensure the following:
- 1.Automatic Rotation is Enabled: Verify if automatic key rotation is enabled for your CMKs.
- 2.Key State: Ensure that the CMK is enabled and not pending deletion.
- 3.Permissions: Verify that your AWS IAM policy allows for key rotation.
Required AWS CLI Commands
To manage KMS CMK rotation, AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) can be used. Here are the detailed steps and necessary commands.
Check If Rotation is Enabled for a CMK
aws kms get-key-rotation-status --key-id <your-key-id>
Enable Rotation for a CMK
aws kms enable-key-rotation --key-id <your-key-id>
Disable Rotation for a CMK
If for some reason you need to disable rotation, use the following command:
aws kms disable-key-rotation --key-id <your-key-id>
Step by Step Guide for Remediation
- 1.Log in to AWS Management Console: Use your credentials to log in.
- 2.Navigate to the KMS Dashboard: Go to the 'IAM & Admin' section, and select 'Key Management Service'.
- 3.Select the CMK: Choose the CMK that you want to configure rotation for.
- 4.Check Rotation Status: Under 'Key Details', look for 'Automatic Key Rotation'. If it's disabled, move to the next step.
- 5.Enable Automatic Key Rotation: Click on the 'Actions' button, and from the dropdown, select 'Enable automatic key rotation'.
- 6.Confirm: Click 'Enable' when prompted to confirm the action.
Alternatively, you can complete these steps using the AWS CLI with the provided commands above.
Utilizing the AWS KMS and enabling CMK rotation, according to these instructions, will help maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations concerning data encryption and security management.
Additional Information
- Make sure that you have logging and monitoring in place to track the usage of your keys.
- Review AWS CloudTrail logs to ensure rotation requests are made and to track key usage.
- Audit your rotated keys regularly for any unauthorized access or anomalies.
- Be aware that when a CMK is rotated, the old cryptographic material remains available to decrypt data that was encrypted under the old key.
Incorporating the above guidance into your HIPAA compliance strategy will not only protect sensitive data but also enhance your search engine optimization efforts by highlighting security compliance and data protection measures.