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Wednesday, Nov. 13
The Indiana Daily Student

Giraffe Software Explains: Top Strategies AWS Developers Use to Secure the Cloud

​Photo by Nubelson Fernnades on Unsplash 

AWS is a reliable cloud that solves almost all business problems and has many security measures. However, it is only easy to utilize with experts and experienced cloud engineers. Now, let’s look at some of the bits AWS-certified developer applies in cloud environment security.  

These are strategies that you may need to learn to adopt if you are planning to migrate to the cloud or if you are already using AWS. If you want to strengthen your business's cloud security, it will be beneficial to hire AWS developer who can grasp the specifics of AWS cloud security. 

Building a Secure AWS Environment 

A good AWS environment has been well secured, and this begins with the fundamentals. In owning the infrastructure and service offering, AWS adopts a Shared Responsibility Model where AWS works to secure the Cloud. So, clients are expected to protect their content and applications. AWS-certified developers start by checking all accounts to ensure that all services are set to the best practices, such as using multiple-factor authentication to enhance security. 

Strengthening Identity and Access Management 

An important facet of AWS cloud Security is Identity and Access Management, or IAM. It is crucial to control access so that only the authorized person can use, view, or update data concerning a specific organization. The company needs to hire AWS developers who focus on the following: 

  • Applying a privileged account in which the user or employee is granted only access needed for specific job duties. 
  • Frequent credential review and the new practice of IAM credential turnover. 
  • Implementing the AWS Identity Federation and SSO for security in identity access. 
  • Overseeing the IAM policies that are used to ensure they are compatible with the latest security standards. 

Data Security and Encryption Strategies 

Data is very important in cloud security. AWS-certified developers utilize several strategies to secure data: 

  • Encrypting sensitive data with AWS Key Management Service (KMS) and several other encryption instruments. 
  • Data exchange between AWS services is carried out over an SSL/TLS connection. 
  • The automated backup of data and version control for protection. 
  • Recording all the data access logs that can be checked for unlawful activities. 

Network Security Best Practices 

Security within AWS is bilateral and comprises security groups, NACL, which refers to network access control lists, and VPCs, which refers to virtual private clouds to check on people with access. Key practices include: 

  • Creating the solution with VPCs containing multiple layers of security, such as public and private subnets. 
  • Using AWS security groups to control inbound and outbound traffic to instances. 
  • Network segmentation should be adopted to isolate certain systems. 
  • Protection from common web threats with the help of AWS Web application Firewall (WAF) and AWS Shield. 

Monitoring, Logging, and Compliance 

Keeping AWS secure requires an organization to monitor and log data continuously at all times. CloudWatch, CloudTrail and Config are some of the tools offered by AWS to assist programmers in monitoring and logging activity. Strategies include: 

  • Setting CloudWatch Alarms that would alert administrators about suspicious activities. 
  • Storing active CloudTrail for every API call and every AWS resource change. 
  • Integrated automatic conformity inspection to check compliance with set rules and regulations in the current market. 

Automating Security with DevSecOps 

AWS developers tend to embrace the DevSecOps strategies regarding including security in development. Key automation practices: 

  • Use infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools like AWS CloudFormation or Terraform. 
  • Adopting application security verification processes incorporating scans and tests in the CI/CD process to identify issues early. 
  • Employing AWS Lambda and other serverless technologies to respond to security incidents on auto-pilot. 
  • Implementing security using automated governance about security compliance checks. 

Security in Multi-Account AWS Environments 

The issue arises in an organization with several AWS accounts when handling security. AWS developers focus on the following: 

  • Introducing the AWS Organizations service for improved management and control of multiple accounts. 
  • Creating SCPs to implement security policies for all accounts and regions will prevent the usage of security threats. 
  • AWS Control Tower to provision and govern multiple accounts environment. 
  • Use cross-account access consistently, perform periodic cross-account access reviews and comply with security best practices. 

Image by Allison Saeng on Unsplash 

In Conclusion 

Locking down an AWS environment is possible, but significant knowledge of the AWS services and policies that need to be implemented is required. Effective AWS-certified developers are critical in developing and managing a safe cloud system. From the definition of user identity and access to the control of networks and even utilizing automation, these experts apply a number of methods to safeguard your data and applications on the cloud. 

If you hire AWS developers, you guarantee that your AWS setting is in the capable hands of professionals who appreciate the differences that characterize AWS cloud security. With Giraffe Software, you get a team of professional AWS developers tasked with protecting your cloud environment.

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