Rule: Enable AWS Config for Compliance
Ensure AWS Config is enabled to adhere to compliance standards.
| Rule | AWS Config should be enabled |
| Framework | SOC 2 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule Description
The rule requires enabling AWS Config for SOC 2 compliance. AWS Config provides a detailed inventory of AWS resources and records any configuration changes, helping with audit and compliance requirements. SOC 2 is a widely recognized auditing standard that ensures data security and privacy, and AWS Config helps meet those requirements.
Troubleshooting Steps
If AWS Config is not already enabled for SOC 2, follow these troubleshooting steps:
- 1.
Verify SOC 2 Compliance: Ensure that your organization requires SOC 2 compliance and that it aligns with your specific needs.
- 2.
Check AWS Config Status: Verify if AWS Config is already enabled by checking the service status in the AWS Management Console. If it is not enabled, proceed with the remediation steps.
Remediation Steps
To enable AWS Config for SOC 2 compliance, follow these steps:
Step 1: Access the AWS Management Console
- 1.Sign in to the AWS Management Console using your AWS credentials.
Step 2: Open the AWS Config Service
- 1.In the AWS Management Console, search for "Config" in the services search field and select "AWS Config" from the results.
Step 3: Create a Config Recorder
- 1.
In the AWS Config Dashboard, click on "Get started" if you don't have a configuration recorder set up. Otherwise, skip to the next step.
- 2.
Click on "Create a recorder."
- 3.
Enter a unique name for your recorder.
- 4.
Ensure that the "Recording group" option is set to capture all supported AWS resources.
- 5.
Choose the Amazon S3 bucket to store the configuration snapshots.
- 6.
Set up optional tags and click "Next."
- 7.
Review the details and click on "Create recorder."
Step 4: Configure AWS Config Permissions
- 1.
Click on "Settings" in the AWS Config Dashboard.
- 2.
Under the "Account-level permissions" section, click on "Edit."
- 3.
Choose the IAM role that allows AWS Config to access the resources and record their configurations. If you don't have an appropriate IAM role, create one by following the AWS IAM documentation.
- 4.
Click "Save."
Step 5: Enable AWS Config
- 1.
In the AWS Config Dashboard, click on "Settings."
- 2.
Under the "Recorder status," click on "Edit."
- 3.
Select the previously created recorder.
- 4.
Choose "Enable AWS Config" and click on "Save."
Step 6: Verify AWS Config Compliance
- 1.
Wait for a few minutes to allow AWS Config to monitor and capture the configuration changes.
- 2.
Go back to the AWS Config Dashboard and check the status. It should show "Active" once it starts recording the changes.
- 3.
Verify that the configuration snapshots are being stored in the configured Amazon S3 bucket.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can enable AWS Config to meet SOC 2 compliance requirements. AWS Config will capture and record the configuration changes of your AWS resources, providing an audit trail and supporting compliance initiatives. Ensure regular monitoring of AWS Config and maintain compliance with the required SOC 2 standards.