EBS Volumes in Backup Plan Rule
Ensure all EBS volumes are included in a backup plan to maintain data integrity and availability.
| Rule | EBS volumes should be in a backup plan |
| Framework | NIST 800-53 Revision 5 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule/Policy Description
The NIST 800-53 Revision 5 requires that EBS (Elastic Block Store) volumes should be included in a backup plan. This ensures that data on the EBS volumes can be recovered in the event of accidental deletion, corruption, or other data loss scenarios. Backup plans help to mitigate the risks associated with data loss and ensure business continuity.
Troubleshooting Steps
If EBS volumes are not included in the backup plan, it is essential to take appropriate actions to rectify the situation. Here are some troubleshooting steps:
- 1.
Verify Backup Status: Check if the EBS volumes in question are currently being backed up or not. You can do this by reviewing the backup configuration and monitoring system logs. Ensure that backups are being performed at regular intervals as defined in the backup plan.
- 2.
Identify Missing Volumes: If any EBS volumes are not part of the backup plan, identify them by reviewing the backup schedule and comparing it against the existing EBS volumes in your environment.
- 3.
Update Backup Plan: Modify the backup plan to include the missing EBS volumes. Adjust backup schedules, retention policies, and any other relevant configuration settings as needed.
- 4.
Test Backup and Restore: Once the backup plan is updated, perform a test backup and restore to validate the integrity of the backup process. Ensure that data can be successfully restored from the backup to a test environment.
- 5.
Monitor Backup Execution: Continuously monitor the execution of backup jobs to ensure they are running successfully without any errors or failures. Implement automated monitoring alerts to promptly capture any backup failures.
Necessary Codes
There are no specific codes associated with this rule/policy. However, you may need to use appropriate AWS CLI commands to manage and configure backups for EBS volumes.
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation
To include EBS volumes in a backup plan as per the NIST 800-53 Revision 5, follow these steps:
- 1.
Identify EBS Volumes: Obtain a list of all EBS volumes that need to be included in the backup plan.
- 2.
Create a Backup Plan: Log in to the AWS Management Console and navigate to the AWS Backup service.
- 3.
Click on "Create backup plan" and provide a meaningful name for the backup plan.
- 4.
Define Backup Schedule: Specify the backup schedule, which includes the frequency and timing of backups. Ensure that the schedule aligns with your organization's RPO (Recovery Point Objective) requirements.
- 5.
Configure Backup Retention: Set the retention period for backups. This determines how long the backups will be retained before they are automatically deleted.
- 6.
Include EBS Volumes: In the backup plan configuration, add the identified EBS volumes to the backup selection. Ensure that all necessary EBS volumes are included.
- 7.
Review and Save: Review the backup plan configuration to ensure it aligns with your organization's backup policies. Save the backup plan.
- 8.
Test Backup and Restore: Perform a test backup and restore operation to validate the efficacy of the backup plan. Ensure that data can be successfully restored from the backup.
- 9.
Monitor Backup Execution: Set up monitoring alerts to receive notifications in case of backup failures or issues. Regularly review backup logs and reports to identify any anomalies or discrepancies.
Following these steps will help you comply with the NIST 800-53 Revision 5 requirement of including EBS volumes in a backup plan.