Enable CloudWatch Alarm Action Rule
This rule states that CloudWatch alarm action should be enabled to ensure high security standards are met.
| Rule | CloudWatch alarm action should be enabled |
| Framework | NIST 800-53 Revision 4 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule Description
This rule ensures that CloudWatch alarms are enabled for compliance with NIST 800-53 Revision 4 requirements. CloudWatch alarms help monitor and notify you of changes or potential issues in your AWS resources. By enabling CloudWatch alarm actions, you can promptly respond to any non-compliance events and maintain a secure environment in accordance with NIST 800-53 Revision 4.
Troubleshooting Steps
- 1.
Verify IAM Permissions: Ensure that the IAM user or role associated with your account has the necessary permissions to create and manage CloudWatch alarms. Check if the user/role has
permission.cloudwatch:PutMetricAlarm - 2.
Check Alarm Configuration: Ensure that the CloudWatch alarm is correctly configured to monitor resources for compliance with NIST 800-53 Revision 4. Verify that the alarm's threshold, period, evaluation period, and other conditions are correctly set.
- 3.
Validate Alarm State: Confirm that the alarm state is set to "ALARM" to ensure that notifications are triggered when the specified threshold or condition is breached. If the alarm state is "INSUFFICIENT_DATA" or "OK", the alarm actions may not be triggered when required.
- 4.
Review Alarm Actions: Double-check the configured alarm actions to ensure they are correctly set. Verify that the SNS topic or other actions specified in the alarm configuration are valid and properly configured.
Necessary Codes
No specific code is required for this rule.
Step-by-step Remediation
- 1.
Sign in to the AWS Management Console.
- 2.
Open the CloudWatch service.
- 3.
In the navigation pane, click on "Alarms."
- 4.
Identify the alarm associated with the resource that needs to comply with NIST 800-53 Revision 4.
- 5.
Select the alarm and click on the "Actions" dropdown menu.
- 6.
Click on "Enable Actions" to enable the alarm actions.
- 7.
Verify that the alarm state is set to "ALARM."
- 8.
Review the alarm configuration to ensure it is correctly monitoring the resource for compliance.
- 9.
Validate the alarm actions and ensure they are correctly configured.
- 10.
Save the changes and exit the alarm configuration.
Now, CloudWatch alarm actions are enabled for NIST 800-53 Revision 4 compliance. Any breaches or non-compliance events will trigger the specified actions, helping you maintain a secure environment.