Amazon Web Services (AWS) is an ever-evolving cloud services platform that continues on its path to remaining the market leader in cloud infrastructure. If you use AWS services, you have an idea of what we’re talking about. However, are you sure you’re using all the AWS tools possible for SOC 2 compliance? Do you know all the tools AWS offers? What AWS tools can help you prepare for a SOC 2 audit?

Our firm continually strives to simplify SOC 2 compliance in the AWS environment and native AWS tools are a great way to do this. We touched on the best practice controls for monitoring performance in AWS, and want to take a closer look at what AWS security tools are available and how effective they are in supporting a SOC 2 compliance program.

How Does AWS Security Work?

AWS offers clients a cloud computing services platform committed to protecting your system’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability through application of the AWS Well-Architected Framework. AWS enables organizations to run a wide range of applications while simplifying much of the security and availability controls. On top of that, the AWS infrastructure was designed as one of the most flexible and secure cloud computing environments available for clients at all enterprise levels today.

What Security Does AWS Provide?

The security “of” the cloud lies within the AWS infrastructure, which uses layered controls, continuous validation, and testing, and an intricate array of automated processes to monitor and protect your systems and data 24/7. Further, these practices extend to every data center or service, allowing all customers to benefit from a design built for the most security-sensitive clients of AWS.Who is Responsible for Security in AWS?

AWS provides security for your system and data, considering that security its highest priority. Within the network architecture, AWS leadership ensures the cloud platform remains compliant with SOC 2 requirements, behaving much like the security measures used in your on-premises data centers. The best part is that you don’t have to maintain infrastructure and incur on-site operating costs. You have access to some of the best software-based security tools available, enabling you to monitor and secure a steady flow of information into and out of your system.

Ultimately, the AWS framework is considered a shared responsibility model, meaning that AWS protects the cloud environment, and you remain responsible for your security while working within the cloud.

All this means that you must remain vigilant and dutiful in protecting your content, applications, networks, systems, and platform the same as you always have. While AWS must remain SOC 2 compliant, you must also.

Is AWS SOC 2 and ISO Certified?

AWS maintains certification for compliance with several standards within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to ensure AWS SOC 2 compliance and much more. AWS relies on AWS audit security tools like the AWS audit manager to maintain compliance and shares audit reports through AWS Artifact. Who is Responsible for Security in AWS? AWS provides security for your system and data, considering that security its highest priority. Within the network architecture, AWS leadership ensures the cloud platform remains compliant with SOC 2 requirements, behaving much like the security measures used in your on-premises data centers. The best part is that you don’t have to maintain infrastructure and incur on-site operating costs. You have access to some of the best software-based security tools available, enabling you to monitor and secure a steady flow of information into and out of your system.

Ultimately, the AWS framework is considered a shared responsibility model, meaning that AWS protects the cloud environment, and you remain responsible for your security while working within the cloud.

All this means that you must remain vigilant and dutiful in protecting your content, applications, networks, systems, and platform the same as you always have. While AWS must remain SOC 2 compliant, you must also.

Is AWS SOC 2 and ISO Certified?

AWS maintains certification for compliance with several standards within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to ensure AWS SOC 2 compliance and much more. AWS relies on AWS audit security tools like the AWS audit manager to maintain compliance and shares audit reports through AWS Artifact.

How Do I Secure My AWS Environment? When you place your customer, employee, and intellectual data in the cloud, it makes sense to ask whether that data can be hacked. The answer is that any system can be breached, but you can protect your data with the right tools. AWS provides secure infrastructure, but you must do your part in managing OS patches, firewalls, and controls through regular SOC 2 audits.

With the right strategy and AWS security products, you can do your part to secure your AWS environment. Before leveraging any of the tools described in this article, it is suggested you lock down your AWS environment with a few specific controls:

Create strong passwords to access your AWS resources Enable multi-factor authentication. Devise an alias for your group emails associated with your AWS account. Set up AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user groups, roles, and groups for secure daily account access in each capacity, then delete your account’s access keys using the IAM root panel. Enable CloudTrail to enable governance, compliance, risk, and operational auditing for your AWS account. In more complex environments, consider using AWS Control Tower to properly configure multi-account environments. Can AWS See Your Data? AWS data security ensures that you have ownership and control over your data, using tools that allow you to determine and designate where to store your content while in transit and at rest. AWS works on a philosophy of “keeping humans away from data,” relying primarily on automation. In the few instances where human intervention from AWS is needed, AWS compliance tools come into play, tapping into robust governance controls, such as:

Employees who have administrative access to your data must undergo advanced levels of screening. Employees accessing your data must use a VPN, device certificates, multi-factor authentication, and detailed logging procedures. Each instance of administrative access to your data must undergo an evaluation to develop or improve advanced automation to prevent similar issues and the need to rely on employee access in the future