Securing data in transit and data at rest in AWS

Securing data in transit and data at rest in AWS requires a combination of encryption, access controls, and AWS native security services.

1. Securing Data in Transit

Data in transit refers to data actively moving across networks, such as between clients and AWS services or between AWS resources.

Best Practices

• Use TLS (Transport Layer Security) Encryption:
  • Enforce HTTPS (TLS 1.2 or 1.3) for API endpoints and web applications.
  • Use AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) to manage SSL/TLS certificates.
• Encrypt Data in Transit Between AWS Services:
  • AWS services like S3, RDS, and DynamoDB automatically use TLS for data transmission.
  • Use AWS PrivateLink to securely communicate between VPCs and AWS services.
• Implement Mutual TLS (mTLS):
  • Use ACM and AWS IoT for mutual authentication.
• Use Secure Communication Channels:
  • VPNs: AWS SitetoSite VPN and AWS Client VPN for secure access.
  • AWS Direct Connect with MACsec (Media Access Control Security) for encrypted dedicated connections.
• Enable Encryption in Transit for Databases:
  • RDS, Aurora, Redshift, and DynamoDB support TLS encryption.
• Use AWS Shield and AWS WAF:
  • Protect against DDoS and applicationlayer attacks on encrypted endpoints.

AWS Services for Data in Transit Security

• AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) - Manages SSL/TLS certificates for HTTPS
• AWS PrivateLink - Secure communication between VPCs and AWS services
• AWS VPN & AWS Direct Connect - Secure network connections to AWS
• AWS Shield & AWS WAF - Protects against DDoS attacks
• AWS Key Management Service (KMS) - Encrypts data in transit and at rest
• AWS Secrets Manager - Stores and manages database credentials and API keys securely

2. Securing Data at Rest

Data at rest refers to stored data, such as files in S3, databases, and snapshots.

Best Practices

• Use AWSManaged Encryption Services:
  • Enable server side encryption (SSE) for S3, RDS, DynamoDB, EBS, and Redshift.
  • Use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to manage encryption keys.
• Enforce Encryption at Rest Across All AWS Storage Services:
  • Amazon S3: SSES3 (AES256), SSEKMS, or SSEC.
  • Amazon EBS: Encrypt EBS volumes and snapshots using KMS.
  • Amazon RDS: Enable encryption when creating a database instance.
  • Amazon DynamoDB: Default encryption with AWS KMS.
• Limit Access to Encrypted Data:
  • Implement IAM policies and bucket policies to control access.
  • Use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) for least privilege access.
• Monitor and Audit Data Access:
  • Use AWS CloudTrail for logging and monitoring API calls.
  • Enable AWS Config to track configuration changes.
  • Use Amazon Macie to detect sensitive data in S3.
• Backup and Secure Snapshots:
  • Encrypt backups and snapshots (S3, RDS, EBS).
  • Use AWS Backup to automate encrypted backups.

AWS Services for Data at Rest Security

• AWS Key Management Service (KMS) - Manages encryption keys for AWS services
• AWS Secrets Manager - Securely stores and rotates secrets
• AWS CloudTrail - Logs API activity for security auditing
• Amazon Macie - Detects sensitive data in S3
• AWS Config - Tracks resource configurations and compliance
• AWS Backup - Centralized backup management with encryption

Conclusion

• Use AWS KMS for all encryption needs.
• Enforce IAM least privilege principles to prevent unauthorized access.
• Automate security monitoring with AWS Security Hub, CloudWatch, and GuardDuty.
• Follow AWS WellArchitected Framework security best practices.