What is AWS Cloud Security? Core Services & Best Practices
What is AWS Cloud Security?
AWS cloud security is the combination of native services, security controls, and operational practices designed to protect infrastructure, data, and workloads hosted on the AWS cloud. Built on a shared responsibility model, it enables organizations to implement identity, network, and data protection across scalable cloud environments using AWS services.
Shared Responsibility Model in AWS Security
AWS cloud security operates on a shared responsibility model, where AWS is responsible for securing the infrastructure that runs all AWS cloud services, and customers are responsible for securing the workloads, configurations, and data they place in the cloud.
Core AWS Security Services
AWS offers a full suite of native security services to control access, detect threats, encrypt data, and maintain compliance. These tools are designed to scale across complex workloads with automation, visibility, and auditability.
1. Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM manages access to AWS resources through roles, policies, and temporary credentials. It supports fine-grained permissions, role-based access, and SAML 2.0 federation. IAM Identity Center centralizes user access across accounts and external apps. Access activity is logged via CloudTrail, and best practices include enforcing MFA and granting only the minimum required permissions.
2. Key Management Service (KMS)
KMS handles key generation, storage, and lifecycle management for encrypting data across services like S3, Lambda, and RDS. It supports AWS-managed and Customer Managed Keys (CMKs), is backed by FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSMs, and integrates with CloudTrail for full auditability.
3. Amazon GuardDuty & Security Hub
GuardDuty analyzes VPC flow logs, DNS requests, and CloudTrail events using ML and threat intelligence to detect anomalies like credential misuse or lateral movement. Security Hub aggregates findings from GuardDuty, Macie, and third-party tools, mapping them to compliance frameworks for unified visibility into security posture.
4. Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) & Network Firewall
VPC enables logical network isolation, route control, and security group enforcement. AWS Network Firewall adds managed intrusion detection and deep packet inspection with custom rule sets, domain filtering, and integration with threat intel feeds. The Firewall Manager ensures policy consistency across accounts and regions.
5. AWS Shield (DDoS Protection)
Shield Standard automatically protects AWS resources against common DDoS attacks. Shield Advanced adds 24/7 access to the DDoS Response Team (DRT), near real-time mitigation, and cost protection. It integrates with services like CloudFront, Route 53, and Elastic Load Balancing to ensure uptime during attacks.
6. AWS WAF & Amazon Inspector
AWS WAF applies customizable rules to block malicious web traffic, supporting managed rule groups and bot control. Amazon Inspector performs automated vulnerability scanning of EC2 and container images in ECR, scoring risks based on CVEs, network exposure, and exploitability. Findings integrate into Security Hub for triage.
7. AWS Config & AWS Artifact
Config tracks configuration changes and enforces compliance rules with automatic remediation options. It provides timeline views and alerts for drift. AWS Artifact gives instant access to audit-ready compliance reports (e.g., SOC, ISO, PCI), helping teams maintain regulatory alignment.
AWS Security Main Benefits
AWS provides foundational security capabilities that help organizations manage risk, meet compliance requirements, and operate securely at scale. These are the six most essential benefits:
- Built-in compliance with global standards: AWS maintains certifications for frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Customers can access audit artifacts via AWS Artifact and align their workloads with industry-specific requirements.
- Scalable and granular access controls: Using IAM and IAM Identity Center, organizations can implement precise permissions across users, roles, and services, even in complex multi-account environments. This makes least-privilege enforcement operationally feasible at scale.
- End-to-end data encryption options: AWS supports encryption at rest and in transit with services like KMS and CloudHSM. Customers can use AWS-managed or customer-managed keys, enabling control over encryption policy, key rotation, and auditability.
- Integrated threat detection and response: Services like GuardDuty and AWS Security Hub provide continuous monitoring, anomaly detection, and centralized threat intelligence. This enables faster identification and remediation of suspicious activity.
- Centralized visibility across cloud resources: Through CloudTrail, AWS Config, and Security Hub, organizations gain real-time visibility into configuration changes, user activity, and security findings across their entire AWS environment.
- Native automation for faster remediation: AWS enables automated responses to security events using tools like Lambda, EventBridge, and Systems Manager. Teams can contain threats, rotate credentials, or quarantine workloads without manual intervention.
How AWS Cloud Security Works
AWS cloud security operates through layered enforcement of access, data control, encryption, and active threat detection. These controls are built into core AWS services and provide consistent protection across workloads, identities, and resources.
Data Protection and Compliance in AWS Security
AWS provides native capabilities for protecting sensitive data and aligning with regulatory frameworks. These functions are tightly integrated with AWS identity, storage, and management tools.
- Encryption at rest and in transit: All major AWS services support data encryption using TLS for data in transit and AES-256 or customer-defined keys for data at rest. KMS and CloudHSM allow organizations to manage keys with full control over usage and rotation policies.
- Policy management and enforcement: Fine-grained access control is enforced through IAM policies, resource-based permissions, and AWS Organizations SCPs. These policies allow central governance across environments and restrict access to specific services, actions, or conditions.
- Compliance reports and audit trails: AWS Artifact provides immediate access to audit-ready documents for standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS. CloudTrail and AWS Config track configuration changes and user activity to support compliance verification and investigation.
- AWS CloudHSM and custom key control: For use cases requiring physical key isolation, AWS CloudHSM enables organizations to generate and manage encryption keys inside dedicated HSM appliances. These HSMs are FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated and support custom applications using PKCS#11 or JCE.
Threat Detection and Monitoring in AWS Security
Detection and monitoring are continuous in AWS, powered by machine learning, security telemetry, and cross-service integrations. These services help security teams surface and respond to threats quickly.
- Continuous monitoring with GuardDuty: GuardDuty analyzes VPC flow logs, DNS activity, and CloudTrail records to detect suspicious behavior. It flags threats such as port scanning, credential misuse, or anomalous API calls with severity scoring for triage.
- Centralized view via AWS Security Hub: Security Hub consolidates alerts from GuardDuty, Inspector, Macie, and external tools into a normalized format. It applies compliance checks against CIS Benchmarks and allows teams to track their security posture in one console.
- Integrating third-party tools for extended visibility: Through EventBridge and the Security Hub API, organizations can send findings to SIEM platforms, SOAR systems, or custom monitoring stacks. This enables end-to-end visibility across hybrid or multi-cloud environments.
Best Practices for Securing AWS Environments
Teams operating in AWS environments can benefit from a clear Cloud security checklist. The following foundational practices help improve posture and reduce misconfigurations across identity, data, and infrastructure layers.
Cloud-Native Security Architecture in AWS Security
Securing modern AWS environments means protecting workloads that run in serverless, containerized, and SaaS-integrated stacks. In these setups, the SaaS shared responsibility model applies alongside AWS controls, making it essential to understand which party is accountable for application-level security, user access, and data exposure.
Securing Serverless (Lambda) Environments
Lambda functions should follow least privilege principles using scoped IAM roles and temporary credentials. Encrypt data using KMS and avoid storing secrets in plaintext environment variables. Use CloudTrail and AWS Config to monitor changes, and rely on CloudWatch or X-Ray for runtime insights and anomaly detection.
Protecting Containers and Workloads (ECS, EKS)
Secure ECS and EKS workloads by hardening base images, enforcing IAM roles per service, and restricting traffic through VPC controls. Use Inspector for container image scanning and GuardDuty to detect unusual traffic. In EKS, secure the control plane, apply RBAC policies, and log API activity using CloudTrail or Fluent Bit.
Implementing Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)
CSPM tools ensure security configurations align with standards like CIS and NIST. Use AWS Config to enforce policy rules and trigger remediation via Systems Manager or EventBridge. Security Hub consolidates findings and tracks posture across accounts.
Securing SaaS and Third-Party Integrations
Restrict access scopes for external apps and monitor API usage continuously. IAM Identity Center supports centralized control, and AWS Secrets Manager protects credentials. Enable logging for all third-party access to maintain audit trails and accountability.
Optimizing SSPM Across Third-Party Apps
SaaS Security Posture Management helps monitor and secure external applications interacting with AWS. Reco maps both human and machine access across SaaS tools, detects over-permissioned access, and flags misconfigurations. Its automated workflows reduce risk and improve posture across cloud-connected apps.
Choosing the Right AWS Security Stack
Selecting the right combination of AWS-native and integrated security services depends on the scale of your operations, regulatory requirements, and existing tech stack. The points below highlight core capabilities to prioritize when building or extending your AWS security posture.
- Unified visibility and context awareness: Combine AWS Security Hub, CloudTrail, and GuardDuty to gain real-time insight into threats, user activity, and resource configurations across accounts and regions.
- Seamless integration with existing tools: Look for services that support native integration with your current SIEM, SOAR, or identity platforms. AWS offers extensive support for tools like Splunk, CrowdStrike, and ServiceNow.
- Auto-remediation capabilities: Use AWS Config, Systems Manager, and EventBridge to define rules and workflows that automatically respond to non-compliant configurations or security events.
- Support for hybrid or multi-cloud environments: Choose services that extend beyond AWS boundaries, such as AWS Control Tower, IAM Identity Center, and centralized logging tools that normalize telemetry from multiple clouds.
Gal Nakash
Cofounder & CPO at Reco
Gal is the Cofounder & CPO of Reco. Gal is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. He is a tech enthusiast, with a background of Security Researcher and Hacker. Gal has led teams in multiple cybersecurity areas with an expertise in the human element.
Expert Tip: Securing AWS Environments at Scale
From years of helping teams secure large AWS deployments, I’ve found that security issues often arise not from a lack of tooling but from inconsistent implementation across accounts and teams. Here’s what’s helped most:
- Automate IAM policy reviews: Use tools like AWS Access Analyzer and custom scripts to scan for unused permissions and over-provisioned roles. Least privilege starts with visibility.
- Standardize AMIs with pre-hardened baselines: Create golden images with pre-configured security settings (e.g., logging agents, intrusion detection hooks). Then, enforce usage via pipeline policies.
- Tag resources with security ownership metadata: Security is a team sport. Add Owner, Environment, and DataSensitivity tags so incidents and misconfigurations are traceable to the right team quickly.
- Implement preventative controls, not just alerts: Use AWS Organizations SCPs and Config rules to block risky actions before they happen, as alerts alone are not enough.
Takeaway: Security posture in AWS improves dramatically when teams shift from passive monitoring to automated, preventive controls that align with real-world ownership and workflows.
How Reco Helps Secure AWS Workloads
Reco complements native AWS cloud security by addressing SaaS sprawl and human access patterns that often connect to AWS environments. Rather than securing AWS infrastructure directly, Reco focuses on the SaaS applications and user behaviors that interact with AWS data, surfacing risks like shadow apps, AI agents and over-permissioned identities.
- Real-time discovery and monitoring of SaaS data flows: Reco continuously uncovers sanctioned, unsanctioned, and AI-powered SaaS apps, mapping how identities and data move across them in near real time. This visibility enables faster detection of unauthorized file access, abnormal sharing, and potential exfiltration.
- Mapping human access to critical AWS assets: Reco’s identity‑centric knowledge graph identifies which users and bots can access AWS workloads via SaaS tools, visualizing who has permissions and detecting over‑privileged or stale accounts.
- Reducing collaboration and misconfiguration risk: Reco analyzes permissions and configuration changes in SaaS apps, flagging dangerous sharing scenarios or misconfigurations that could expose AWS data. Organizations see a significant drop in risk related to third‑party collaboration.
- Automated SaaS risk detection across AWS-connected applications: Reco’s agentic AI monitors third-party SaaS integrations for signs of compromised credentials, unused but risky permissions, and policy misalignments. It prioritizes alerts based on business context and integrates natively with SIEM and SOAR platforms for remediation. This ensures that threats across cloud-connected apps, which are often overlooked in traditional CSPM workflows, are addressed in time.
Conclusion
Securing workloads in AWS requires more than enabling default settings. It involves active decisions around identity access, configuration management, and the expanding footprint of SaaS integrations. While AWS provides a comprehensive security foundation, visibility gaps still emerge, especially across third-party tools and human interactions.
Platforms like Reco close that gap by tracing how identities and data interact across cloud-connected environments. As AWS continues to evolve, adopting a layered, adaptive approach that combines native capabilities with intelligent automation will be key to staying ahead of threats and maintaining operational trust.
See how Reco uncovers hidden SaaS risks across your AWS environment—book a demo to get started.
Dvir Sasson
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dvir is the Director of Security Research Director, where he contributes a vast array of cybersecurity expertise gained over a decade in both offensive and defensive capacities. His areas of specialization include red team operations, incident response, security operations, governance, security research, threat intelligence, and safeguarding cloud environments. With certifications in CISSP and OSCP, Dvir is passionate about problem-solving, developing automation scripts in PowerShell and Python, and delving into the mechanics of breaking things.
