Building a Secure Infrastructure with AWS Terraform

In today’s fast-paced and dynamic world, where technology is evolving rapidly, securing infrastructure has become a top priority for organizations. With the increase in cyber threats and attacks, building a secure infrastructure is crucial for protecting sensitive data and ensuring business continuity.

If you’re looking to build a secure infrastructure on AWS, Terraform is an excellent choice. Terraform provides a platform-agnostic and declarative approach to infrastructure as code (IaC) that simplifies the process of building and managing secure infrastructure.

In this chapter, we’ll discuss the importance of security in infrastructure, the best practices for governing security in AWS, and how to build a secure infrastructure with Terraform. We’ll also explore the relationship between security and Terraform, as well as the benefits of using Terraform for building secure infrastructure.

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What is security in infrastructure?

Security is one of the most important considerations when building any infrastructure. In the context of IT infrastructure, security refers to the measures and techniques that are put in place to protect the infrastructure and the data it holds from unauthorized access, theft, destruction, and other malicious activities. Building a secure infrastructure is essential for any organization, especially those that deal with sensitive information, such as financial or medical data.

In this section, we’ll discuss the various aspects of security in infrastructure and what it entails.

By the end of this section, you should have a clear understanding of what security in infrastructure means and what measures are necessary to build a secure infrastructure on AWS using Terraform.

Threats to infrastructure security

IT infrastructure is vulnerable to a range of threats, both external and internal. These threats can compromise the integrity,...

How to govern security in AWS

Now that we’ve explored the basics of infrastructure security and the role of governance in securing infrastructure resources, let’s turn our attention to how to govern security in AWS. AWS provides a range of security features and services to help organizations build and manage secure infrastructure. However, to ensure that security is integrated into every aspect of AWS management, organizations should also implement robust governance frameworks that align with their security objectives.

By the end of this section, you should have a solid understanding of how to govern security in AWS.

AWS security services and features

AWS provides a range of security services and features that can help organizations build and manage secure infrastructure on the cloud. Let’s have a look at some of these services and features:

• AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM is a service that enables organizations to manage access to...

How to build secure infrastructure in Terraform

Terraform is an IaC tool that enables organizations to define and manage IaC. By using Terraform to build and manage infrastructure in AWS, organizations can achieve greater agility, scalability, and security. In this section, we’ll explore best practices for building secure infrastructure in Terraform.

By following these best practices, organizations can build secure and compliant infrastructure in AWS using Terraform.

Implementing least privilege using IAM policies

IAM is a service provided by AWS that enables organizations to manage access to AWS resources and services. IAM policies are a key component of IAM that specify the permissions that are granted to AWS users, groups, and roles. Implementing least privilege using IAM policies means granting users, groups, and roles the minimum permissions required to perform their tasks. This can help reduce the risk of unauthorized access to AWS resources and services. Here...

Security and Terraform

Terraform is a powerful tool for managing IaC in AWS, but it also introduces new security challenges. In this section, we’ll explore how Terraform can be used to enhance the security of AWS infrastructure, as well as some potential security risks and how to mitigate them.

By understanding the security implications of using Terraform in AWS and implementing best practices for secure Terraform usage, organizations can leverage the full potential of Terraform while maintaining a secure infrastructure.

The security benefits of using Terraform

Terraform offers several security benefits when managing IaC in AWS. Here are some of the key security benefits of using Terraform:

• Consistent configuration: Terraform enables organizations to define IaC, ensuring that the infrastructure is deployed in a consistent and repeatable manner. This can help reduce the risk of misconfigurations and security vulnerabilities.
• Infrastructure versioning: Terraform...

Security and IaC operations

IaC operations are critical to ensuring the security and stability of AWS infrastructure. In this section, we’ll explore the security implications of IaC operations in AWS.

By understanding the security implications of IaC operations in AWS and implementing best practices for secure IaC operations, organizations can ensure the ongoing security and stability of their infrastructure.

IaC pipeline security

IaC pipelines are used to automate the build, test, and deployment of IaC in AWS. It is important to ensure the security of IaC pipelines to prevent unauthorized access and modifications to the code, as well as to protect against potential security vulnerabilities. Here are some best practices for securing IaC pipelines in AWS:

• Use version control: Use version control for IaC code to enable tracking of changes, collaboration, and accountability. Consider using a version control system such as Git to store code.
• Implement access...

Summary

In this chapter, we explored the importance of security in infrastructure and how to build secure infrastructure in AWS using Terraform. We discussed the basic principles of infrastructure security, types of security measures for infrastructure, and the role of governance in infrastructure security.

We also covered best practices for governing security in AWS, including AWS security services and features, security compliance and certifications, security governance frameworks, monitoring and logging for security, and incident response for security.

Additionally, we explored best practices for building secure infrastructure in Terraform, including implementing least privilege using IAM policies, creating secure network architectures, automating compliance checks, securely managing secrets, and managing Terraform state.

Then, we delved into the security benefits of using Terraform, best practices for using Terraform securely, and common security risks with Terraform and...