Enable VPC Flow Logs Rule
This rule ensures VPC flow logs are enabled to enhance security and monitoring within the network.
| Rule | VPC flow logs should be enabled |
| Framework | NIST 800-171 Revision 2 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule Description: VPC Flow Logs for NIST 800-171 Revision 2 Compliance
Overview
In order to meet the requirements of NIST 800-171 Revision 2, VPC flow logs should be enabled for your Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) environment. VPC flow logs provide a detailed record of the inbound and outbound traffic flowing through your VPC, enabling you to monitor and analyze network traffic to meet compliance standards.
Troubleshooting Steps
If VPC flow logs are not enabled or encountering issues, follow the troubleshooting steps below to resolve the problem:
- 1.
Verify IAM Permissions: Ensure that the IAM user or role associated with your AWS account has the necessary permissions to create and manage flow logs.
- 2.
Check VPC Configuration: Confirm that the VPC is properly configured and associated with the correct flow log settings.
- 3.
Verify Flow Log Settings: Double-check the flow log configurations, including the logging destination (Amazon S3 bucket or Amazon CloudWatch Logs) and the log format (IPv4 or IPv6).
- 4.
Verify Network ACL Settings: Ensure that the network access control lists (ACLs) associated with the VPC allow traffic to flow log destinations.
- 5.
Check VPC Flow Log State: Confirm the current state of the VPC flow logs using the AWS Management Console or CLI. If the state is anything other than "active," troubleshoot the issue accordingly.
- 6.
Review VPC Flow Log Data: Analyze the VPC flow logs to identify any irregularities or abnormalities in network traffic patterns. This step is useful for monitoring and identifying potential security incidents.
Required Codes
No specific codes are required for this rule. However, you may need to utilize AWS CLI commands for troubleshooting or verification purposes.
Remediation Steps
Follow the step-by-step guide below to remediate any issues related to enabling VPC flow logs for NIST 800-171 Revision 2 compliance:
- 1.
Log in to the AWS Management Console.
- 2.
Navigate to the Amazon VPC service.
- 3.
Select the desired VPC.
- 4.
In the navigation pane, click on "Flow Logs."
- 5.
Click on "Create Flow Log" to create a new flow log.
- 6.
On the "Create Flow Log" page, specify the following details:
- IAM Role: Choose an existing IAM role or create a new one with the necessary permissions.
- Destination: Select either Amazon S3 bucket or CloudWatch Logs as the flow log destination.
- Log Format: Choose between IPv4 or IPv6 log format based on your requirements.
- 1.
Click on "Create" to enable flow logs for the selected VPC.
- 2.
Monitor the status of the flow logs to ensure they are in an "active" state.
- 3.
Verify the flow log data is being recorded correctly by reviewing the logs in the chosen destination (S3 bucket or CloudWatch Logs).
- 4.
Regularly review and analyze the flow log data to identify any anomalies or compliance violations.
By following these remediation steps, you can enable and configure VPC flow logs to meet the requirements of NIST 800-171 Revision 2 compliance.