EC2 Security Best Practices and Hardening

1. Introduction

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) allows users to run virtual servers in the cloud. Security is paramount when managing EC2 instances as they could be exposed to various threats. This lesson covers best practices and techniques for hardening EC2 instances.

2. Best Practices

2.1 Use IAM Roles

Assigning IAM roles to EC2 instances instead of using access keys helps manage permissions securely.

Note: Ensure that roles have the least privilege necessary.

2.2 Security Groups

Security groups act as virtual firewalls. Configure them to allow only necessary traffic.

Tip: Regularly review security group rules to remove unnecessary permissions.

2.3 Network Access Control Lists (NACLs)

Use NACLs for an additional layer of security at the subnet level.

3. Hardening Techniques

3.1 Regular Updates

Regularly update the operating system and installed software to patch vulnerabilities.

3.2 Disable Unused Services

Disable services that are not needed for your application.

3.3 Instance Metadata Service (IMDS)

Use IMDSv2 to enhance the security of instance metadata. Enable IMDSv2 by applying the following command:

aws ec2 modify-instance-metadata-options --instance-id i-1234567890abcdef0 --http-tokens required

4. FAQ

What is IAM?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) allows you to manage access to AWS services and resources securely.

What are security groups?

Security groups act as virtual firewalls for your EC2 instances to control inbound and outbound traffic.

How often should I update my EC2 instance?

Regular updates should be performed at least once a month or as security patches are released.