How do you secure your AWS network and firewall settings?

Understanding the Network fundamentals and terminologies in AWS is key to secure AWS network. Know how to segregate resources using VPCs and subnets ,utilize VPC peering, transit gateway, VPC endpoints ,site-to-site VPN to connect to a VPC. Understand the difference between Security Groups and NACLs, security groups are stateful, you set rules for initial connections only, without needing opposite direction rules. Whereas NACLs are stateless, offers granular traffic control but requires more precise configuration. Understand the difference between IGW and NAT GW when you want to allow internet access to AWS resource one provides bi-directional and other does unidirectional internet access. Monitor NW traffic within VPC using VPC flow logs.

- disable telnet and insecure SNMP - Firewall Settings: Name, Description, VPC, Subnets, Tags, etc - Safeguard passwords and access keys - activate MFA on the AWS account - limit AWS account root user access to resources - network segmentation - monitoring network traffic

A basic networking knowledge is required to Design and implement AWS network. First Step is to know the differences and similarities between AWS and On Premises Networking. The understanding of foundation of Networking is required and then one should be familiar with key AWS VPC components like 1. VPC 2. Subnets 3. Internet Gateway 4. Security Groups 5. Network ACL (NACL) 6. Route Tables 7. VPC CIDR. Other Key concepts required are 8. Network Address Translation – NAT Gateway and NAT instance 9. VPC peering 10. Direct Connect 11. Transit gateway Knowing about AWS private connectivity options , VPN connections, AWS Client VPN and Public and Private AWS subnet will further help in successfully designing a good AWS Network.

Understand, Implement, Secure! 🔐☁️ I'd begin by thoroughly understanding AWS network components and their interplay. Configuring VPCs and subnets strategically segments the network, controlling access and flow. Setting up meticulous route tables and NACLs ensures precise traffic management. Security groups act as vigilant sentinels around resources, allowing only legitimate traffic. Monitoring and auditing activities continuously, akin to practices recommended in "AWS Certified Security Specialty" certification, keeps security posture proactive and resilient, ensuring our AWS network remains fortified against evolving threats.

1. Network segmentation. 2. Review inbound and out bound traffic policy. 3. Continuously Monitor & analyze bad traffic and try to draw pattern.

VPC includes Internet Gateway, Virtual Private Gateway and Customer Gateway. The best way to configure VPC for security: 1. Remove all default inbound and outbound rules. 2. selected IP based on business need may be allowed for inbound traffic followed by selected IP based for outbound traffic. 3. Allow only the outbound traffic for needed IP for ephemeral port range. This could be for ELB, Lambda, NAT Gateway, Windows Servers, Linux etc as per architecture. 4. Block all other traffic all IP and port combination basis need AWS creates subnets in every AZ with CIDR/20. Main route table with route to internet makes all subnet public. A Bastion host or NAT gateway can help providing internet access to the private subnet to make it secure.

Configuring Your VPC and Subnets Create a Private VPC: Isolate your resources from the public internet by default, establishing a strong foundation. Design Strategic Subnets: Separate public-facing resources from internal ones for enhanced security. Enable Flow Logs: Track network traffic patterns within your VPC to detect anomalies and potential threats.

When securing your AWS network, configuring your VPC and subnets to align with your needs and security standards is paramount. Opt for a custom VPC for enhanced control and flexibility, steering clear of default setups. Leverage multiple subnets to segregate resources by function, distinguishing between public and private access requirements. Ensure private subnets remain isolated from the internet while facilitating access via NAT gateways. Conversely, empower public subnets to connect externally through Internet Gateways (IGWs). This strategic setup fortifies your network against potential threats while optimizing performance. #AWS #NetworkSecurity #VPCConfiguration

Configuring your VPC and subnets in AWS involves setting up the foundational network infrastructure and implementing security measures to protect your resources. Here are steps to configure your VPC and subnets to secure your AWS network and firewall settings: 1. VPC Configuration 2. Subnet Configuration 3. Internet Gateway 4. Security Groups 5. Network ACLs 6. NAT Gateway or NAT Instance 7. VPN and Direct Connect 8. Monitoring and Logging 9. Access Control 10. Encryption 11. Regular Security Audits 12. Automation and Infrastructure as Code By following these steps and best practices, you can configure your VPC and subnets securely in AWS, creating a resilient and well-protected network environment for your resources.

Una VPC es una red de datacenters en diferentes regiones. Puedes configurar la VPC y las subredes a través de la consola de Amazon VPC. Al crear una subred, debes especificar sus direcciones IP, según la configuración de la VPC. Las subredes pueden ser de solo IPv4, de doble pila (IPv4 e IPv6), o de solo IPv6.

Route Table: decides traffic direction among subnets. 1. It is best to start with the review of the architecture as the AWS to decide on tables 2. custom table instead of default one. 3. routes should be strictly on a need basis. NACL: While Route table decide on traffic direction, the NACL works as a firewall for protecting a subnet. Real world example: If there are multiple attacks from diverse IPs. Then the subnets to be protected can be attached to NACL and can be protected from attack. Important points to consider are: 1. Each subnet in the VPC must be associated with a NACL. 2. Inbound and Outbound traffic must be carefully reviewed. 3. NACL configuration should be through IAM. 4. Security Groups and NACL must be in sync.

Control traffic to compute using security groups, control traffic on network level using NACL…Use private subnets, NAT gateways, Bastion hosts and SSL at all levels

Setting up route tables and NACLs has been instrumental in crafting a secure and well-organized VPC. The configuration of route tables enables precise control over traffic flow between subnets and the internet, facilitating tailored routing policies. Associating route tables with specific subnets allows for a flexible network architecture. Concurrently, Network Access Control Lists provide an additional security layer by governing inbound and outbound traffic at the subnet level. Leveraging NACLs supports the implementation of the principle of least privilege, enhancing overall security. Regular reviews and updates to these configurations are essential for adapting to evolving security needs and sustaining a resilient network environment.

Setting up route tables and network ACLs in AWS is crucial for controlling traffic within your VPC and between subnets. Here are steps to set up route tables and NACLs: 1. Route Tables Create a Route Table Define Routes Associate Subnets 2. Network ACLs Create a Network ACL Define Inbound and Outbound Rules Associate Subnets Rule Evaluation Order 3. Associating Subnets with Route Tables and NACLs 4. Verify and Test 5. Logging and Monitoring 6. Adjust Security Rules as Needed By carefully configuring route tables and NACLs, you can control the flow of traffic within your VPC, enhance security, and ensure that resources are appropriately isolated and protected.

Setting Up Route Tables and NACLs Configure Route Tables: Establish clear paths for traffic to flow within your VPC and to external networks. Implement NACLs Judiciously: Use NACLs as a secondary layer of defense, but prefer security groups for most access control.

One of the security engineers working in some Fintech reached out to me suspecting some problem in their AWS setup. After examining we could conclude that one of their instances was infected. I suggested to first create a security Group with restricted inbound/outbound connections and attach to the affected EC2 instance and remove the existing SG before going for Incident Management Cycle and due investigation and IT WORKED. SG is such a powerful tool ,works as a Firewall for EC2. Three most important points to consider: 1. Use Custom SG to restrict traffic. 2. Inbound and outbound access – restrict all and allow by specific IP and port only, even internally. 3. Monitor egress and ingress traffic in real time for anomaly detection

Security groups in AWS are a fundamental component for controlling inbound and outbound traffic to your instances. Here's how you can use security groups to protect your resources: 1. Understanding Security Groups 2. Creating and Configuring Security Groups 3. Associating Security Groups with Instances: 4. Best Practices for Using Security Groups 5. Common Security Group Scenarios 6. Dynamic Security Group Rules 7. Audit and Review 8. Integration with IAM By effectively using security groups and adhering to best practices, you can enhance the security posture of your AWS resources. Regularly review and update security group configurations to adapt to changes in your environment and to maintain a robust security architecture.

Erecting the Castle Walls: Using Security Groups Apply Security Groups to All Resources: Enforce granular access control at the instance level. Follow the Principle of Least Privilege: Grant only the minimum necessary permissions to reduce attack surfaces. Regularly Review and Update Rules: Adapt security groups as your needs evolve to maintain a robust defense.

Secure AWS network and firewall settings with best practices. Utilize Security Groups and Network ACLs to control traffic at instance and subnet levels. Follow least privilege principles with IAM for user and app access. Design VPCs with segmented subnets for isolation. Establish secure VPC connections through peering or VPNs. Enable AWS CloudTrail and CloudWatch for monitoring and alerts. Encrypt data at rest and in transit using AWS KMS, SSL/TLS. Protect web apps with AWS WAF for HTTP traffic filtering. Update security group rules regularly. Leverage AWS Shield for DDoS protection. Set up automated backups with services like Amazon RDS. Enable MFA for AWS accounts. Conduct periodic penetration testing.

Un grupo de seguridad en AWS controla el tráfico al que se permite llegar y dejar los recursos a los que está asociado. Por ejemplo, después de asociar un grupo de seguridad a una instancia de EC2, controla el tráfico de entrada y salida de la instancia.

The Major Security Risk in AWS is 1. Mis Configuration 2. Data Exfiltration 3. Access control failure 4. Denial of service 5. Malwares 6. Keys leakage and compromise It is very important to monitor and audit the Network activity continuously and act. The important native tools to support this are: 1. Amazon GuardDuty with malware scan capability 2. Amazon Detective for Threat detection 3. Amazon Inspector for VA Scan 4. Security Hub 5. AWS System Manager 6. Cloud Watch with log insight and metric filter 7. Amazon EventBridge 8. Amazon Athena 9. AWS Config 10. Cloud Trail 11. Amazon Macie to detect sensitive file 12. VPC Flow Logs 13. Amazon Kinesis 14. Amazon CodeGuru etc.

Utilize key tools like CloudTrail , VPC Flow Logs for traffic information, AWS Network Firewall Logs for traffic filtering details, and Amazon Inspector to identify vulnerabilities. CloudWatch Logs provides central management for logs from various services, enabling analysis and alerts. Track configuration changes with AWS Config and simplify audits with AWS Audit Manager. Best practices include enabling logging and monitoring for all resources, setting alerts for abnormal activity, consolidating logs with a SIEM tool, regularly reviewing audit logs, and conducting penetration tests. Maintain strong password policies, access controls, and keep software updated.

A great way to gain advanced network visibility and control is to use Managed rule groups if use AWS network firewall service. This can help better protect the org from advanced threats. AWS updates managed rule groups once a day to once a week which allows easier management and better vulnerability prevention capabilities.

Keeping Watch: Monitoring and Auditing Network Activity Enable AWS CloudTrail: Track network API calls and events for comprehensive visibility. Utilize Amazon GuardDuty: Detect threats and anomalies in real-time to proactively address risks. Integrate with Third-Party SIEMs: Combine AWS logs with other security data for centralized analysis and threat hunting.

Utilize AWS CloudWatch to track performance metrics and set up alarms for unusual activity. Implement AWS CloudTrail to log API calls and monitor changes to your network configuration, enabling you to detect and investigate suspicious activities. Use AWS Config to assess, audit, and evaluate the configurations of your AWS resources, ensuring they comply with desired settings. Regularly review these logs and reports to identify and respond to potential threats. By continuously monitoring and auditing your network activity, you can proactively manage security risks and maintain a secure AWS environment.

As a shared responsibility model while AWS manages security of the cloud, customers are responsible for security in the cloud and are required to protect your own data, platform, applications, systems, and networks. The 7 most important principles to protect your own AWS network. 1. When adding VPC to host our critical application – create them in multiple AZs/Regions 2. Use Security Groups to control the traffic to/from EC2 instances. 3. Always filter inbound and outbound traffic to VPC 4. Monitor anomaly in VPC Flow logs. 5. Use Network Access Analyzer to detect unintended network access. 6. NACLs can be used to control inbound and outbound traffic at the subnet level. 7. All AWS resources in VPC must be managed through IAM.

What I didn’t see is AWS Network Firewall - Protect an entire Amazon VPC - From Layer 3 - Layer 7 protection. You can inspect * VPC to VPC traffic * Outbound - internet * Inbound from internet * To & from Direct Connect & Site-to-Site VPN * Supports 1000s of rules such as * IP & port * Protocol for instance block the SMB protocol for outbound communications. Etc I also didn’t see AWS Firewall Manager - Manage firewall rules in ALL accounts (multi- account) of an AWS Organization.

For applications that do not require internet connectivity, set up VPC Interface and Gateway endpoints in order for your compute services to access AWS Service APIs, and configure restrictive security group rules. Set up lambda functions in VPCs to ensure that network traffic from lambda functions only pass through the private AWS backbone.

To secure your AWS network and firewall settings, implement strict Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies to control access. Utilize AWS WAF and AWS Shield for robust protection against web exploits and DDoS attacks. Enable VPC Flow Logs for detailed network traffic insights. Regularly update and patch systems, including EC2 instances, to address vulnerabilities. Finally, automate security best practices and perform regular network activity audits for continuous monitoring and compliance.

To complement the aforementioned strategies, here are five extra ones: (6) 🔑 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙄𝘿𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘼𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 (𝙄𝘼𝙈) (7) 🛡️ 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙀𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (8) 🔐 𝙐𝙨𝙚 𝙑𝙋𝙉 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝘿𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩 (9) 🔄 𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙖𝙙 𝘽𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 (10) 🌐 𝘼𝙙𝙤𝙥𝙩 𝘼𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨