Rule: EBS Volumes in Backup Plan
Ensure EBS volumes are included in a backup plan to meet compliance standards.
| Rule | EBS volumes should be in a backup plan |
| Framework | NIST 800-171 Revision 2 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule Description
According to NIST 800-171 Revision 2, EBS (Elastic Block Store) volumes should be included in a proper backup plan. This ensures the protection and availability of essential data stored within the volumes. Backup plans serve as a crucial safeguard against data loss, corruption, or accidental deletion.
Troubleshooting Steps
If there are any issues or concerns related to the backup plan for EBS volumes, the following troubleshooting steps can be undertaken to resolve them:
- 1.Ensure that the EBS volumes have appropriate permissions for backing up and restoring data.
- 2.Check if the backup plan is properly configured and includes the required EBS volumes.
- 3.Verify if the backup schedule is set correctly and aligns with the organization's data retention policies.
- 4.Confirm that there is sufficient storage capacity available for backups, considering the size of the EBS volumes and the retention period.
- 5.Review the backup logs and any error messages generated during the backup process.
- 6.Verify if the backup plan integrates with any existing backup infrastructure, such as AWS Backup, or if it requires additional configuration.
Necessary Codes
Some necessary codes may be required for configuring a backup plan for EBS volumes. These codes might vary depending on the backup solution being used. Here is an example using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) for setting up a backup plan:
aws backup create-backup-plan --backup-plan-name <backup_plan_name> --backup-plan-rule '{"RuleName": "<rule_name>", "TargetBackupVaultName": "<backup_vault_name>", "ScheduleExpression": "<cron_expression>"}'
In the above code:
should be replaced with the desired name for the backup plan.<backup_plan_name>
should be replaced with an appropriate name for the backup rule.<rule_name>
should be replaced with the name of the backup vault where the backups will be stored.<backup_vault_name>
should be replaced with a valid cron expression to define the backup schedule.<cron_expression>
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation
To ensure compliance with the NIST 800-171 Revision 2 rule regarding EBS volume backups, follow these step-by-step instructions:
- 1.Identify the backup solution or tool being utilized in your environment. This could be AWS Backup, third-party software, or a custom backup system.
- 2.Assess if the existing backup plan includes EBS volumes and if it meets the requirements outlined in NIST 800-171 Revision 2. If not, proceed to the next step.
- 3.Determine the backup vault where EBS volume backups should be stored. This could be an existing vault or a new one specifically created for EBS volumes.
- 4.Create a backup plan rule that includes the following details:
- Rule Name: Choose an appropriate name for the backup rule.
- Target Backup Vault Name: Specify the name of the backup vault identified in the previous step.
- Schedule Expression: Define a backup schedule using a cron expression. This should align with your organization's data retention policies.
- 5.Configure the backup plan using the appropriate method based on your backup solution. If using AWS Backup, you can use the AWS CLI command mentioned earlier. Modify the command by replacing the placeholders with the relevant values.
- 6.Validate the backup plan configuration by checking if the EBS volumes are included in the backup schedule.
- 7.Monitor the backup process and verify that backups are being performed as per the defined schedule.
- 8.Periodically review and test the backup restore process to ensure data integrity and recoverability.
By following these steps, you can establish a backup plan for EBS volumes in compliance with NIST 800-171 Revision 2. Make sure to document the backup plan details and regularly review its effectiveness to adapt to any changes in your environment.