AWS is undoubtedly one of the leading cloud service providers in the world. Despite its positive reputation and consistent stellar performance, there are still various misconceptions related to the security aspects of the AWS cloud. In this blog post, we’ll debunk the three most common myths surrounding AWS security. This information will help you and your organisation make an informed decision about the cloud infrastructure to opt for.
AWS being responsible for all security aspects.
It is a common misconception that once you move your infrastructure to AWS, all security responsibilities are automatically shouldered by the cloud provider. While AWS does offer a secure foundation, they operate on a shared responsibility model. This means that while AWS ensures the security of the underlying infrastructure, you are still responsible for securing the applications, operating systems, data, and configurations you deploy on their platform. It is of utmost importance in understanding the responsibilities, boundaries and remits.
AWS has a wide array of services and tools entirely focused on security. Identity and access management (IAM), network security groups (NSGs), encryption, and monitoring services are the most commonly used to achieve a secure cloud environment.
By taking advantage of these offerings and implementing robust security practices, you can build a highly secure environment on AWS. In addition, do conduct regular penetration tests and vulnerability assessments to identify any weaknesses and holes in your organisation’s digital cloud surface.
Running applications on AWS automatically makes them secure.
Another common myth is that hosting your applications on AWS guarantees your security. This is often the case when organisations lift-and-shift from on-premise to AWS. While AWS provides a secure infrastructure, securing the applications lies with your in-house development team or service provider/s. Neglecting security best practices, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities within your application code can compromise your AWS environment.
To mitigate this risk, following secure coding practices, conducting regular vulnerability assessments, and performing pen tests is essential. Additionally, leveraging AWS services like AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF), AWS Shield, and AWS Inspector can add an extra layer of protection to your applications, ensuring they remain secure in the cloud. Automated or manual pen tests should be done every time an application’s codebase is modified and/or when new applications are added to your cloud space.
AWS security is too complex for small businesses.
Security is essential to organisations of any size, from conglomerates to a micro-organisation in the startup phase. A number of SMEs may believe that AWS security is overly complex and only suitable for larger organisations. AWS offers a full suite of security services that can be deployed to organisations of varying sizes and dimensions. This provides flexibility to align security to the overarching cyber security direction (and risk appetite). In case of regulated businesses, such as Banks, Insurance companies and Forex platforms, the regulatory framework will impose the required security level.
AWS offers managed security services like Amazon GuardDuty, which uses machine learning to detect and respond to threats, and AWS Config, which provides automated monitoring and assessment of resource configurations. It is always advisable to plug in a certified partner that can assist with the roll-out, implementation and configuration of security measures in all your cloud environments.
Dispelling common misconceptions about AWS security is crucial for organisations considering or already using AWS for their cloud infrastructure. Research reliable and official sources and consult professionals to understand the ins and outs of cloud security. The first step is usually fully understanding the shared responsibility model.
Set an exploratory meeting today to start planning your cloud security.
