Enable DynamoDB Table Point-in-Time Recovery Rule
Implement the rule to enable point-in-time recovery for DynamoDB tables.
| Rule | DynamoDB table point-in-time recovery should be enabled |
| Framework | NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) v1.1 |
| Severity | ✔ Low |
DynamoDB Point-in-Time Recovery for NIST Cybersecurity Framework Compliance
Point-in-Time Recovery (PITR) in DynamoDB provides the ability to restore your data to any second in the last 35 days, protecting against data loss due to operational mishaps or unintended database writes and deletes. Enabling PITR can help you meet data recovery objectives for compliance with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF).
Rationale for Enabling PITR in DynamoDB
The NIST CSF stresses the importance of protecting information and assets from data loss and recovery in the event of an incident. Enabling PITR helps satisfy the Recovery (RS) category, specifically the recovery planning (RS.RP) subcategory which encourages the establishment and implementation of data recovery capabilities to restore services impaired due to data loss.
Enabling PITR: Step by Step Guide
Through AWS Management Console:
- 1.Navigate to the DynamoDB service in the AWS Management Console.
- 2.Choose the table you want to enable PITR on.
- 3.In the "Backups" section, locate the "Point-in-time recovery" setting.
- 4.Click on "Enable" to activate point-in-time recovery.
Using AWS CLI:
aws dynamodb update-continuous-backups --table-name YourTableName --point-in-time-recovery-specification PointInTimeRecoveryEnabled=True
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YourTableNameUsing AWS SDKs:
If you're working with AWS SDKs, for example:
With Boto3 for Python:
import boto3 dynamodb = boto3.client('dynamodb') response = dynamodb.update_continuous_backups( TableName='YourTableName', PointInTimeRecoverySpecification={ 'PointInTimeRecoveryEnabled': True } ) print(response)
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YourTableNameVerifying that PITR is Enabled
In AWS Management Console:
- 1.Go back to your table details in the DynamoDB service.
- 2.Check the "Point-in-time recovery" status to confirm it's "Enabled."
Using AWS CLI:
aws dynamodb describe-continuous-backups --table-name YourTableName
Check the
PointInTimeRecoveryDescriptionTroubleshooting Common PITR Activation Issues
If you encounter issues while enabling PITR, follow these steps for troubleshooting:
- Ensure that you have sufficient permissions to modify the DynamoDB table settings.
- Validate that your AWS CLI is up-to-date to support all recent DynamoDB features.
- Confirm the table's status is "ACTIVE" as you can only enable PITR on active tables.
- Check for any errors in the output or logs and resolve any reported problems.
Remediation for Unsuccessful PITR Activation
If PITR activation fails, you might need to perform manual intervention:
- Check your AWS IAM policies to confirm that your user/role has the
permission.dynamodb:UpdateContinuousBackups - Ensure no other conflicting table updates are happening simultaneously.
- Verify network connectivity and access to AWS services.
For detailed error information, use the AWS CLI or SDKs to get error messages that can guide further troubleshooting.
By carefully following these setup and verification procedures, you can enhance your overall data security posture aligning with NIST CSF requirements, thus fulfilling a critical aspect of your data protection strategy and contributing positively to your organization's SEO strategy by emphasizing security and compliance.