Free AWS Security Assessment with Prowler: A Comprehensive Guide
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Understanding Cloud Security Audits
For professionals in cloud security, the phrase "security audit" can often induce anxiety. Given that cloud security is a relatively new field, it can be challenging to articulate the protective measures in place to auditors. Moreover, commercial tools for evaluating cloud security across platforms like Azure, AWS, and GCP can significantly strain budgets.
To effectively manage your AWS account, regular reviews are essential. Being proactive about potential security audits, such as PCI DSS or ISO 27001, by conducting consistent security assessments of your AWS environment is a smart approach. This involves generating reports that highlight your cloud security posture and identify any vulnerabilities. However, doing so on a tight budget can quickly become overwhelming.
Although investing in a Cloud Security Posture Management solution could be a remedy—something I’ve covered in previous discussions—these tools often come with hefty price tags. Alternatively, AWS Security Hub offers a cost-effective solution, but it still incurs expenses. So, what options do you have if your budget is nonexistent? Introducing Prowler: A Free AWS Security Review Tool.
Prowler: Your Go-To Security Tool
Prowler stands out as one of the best free cloud security tools available and has consistently been my primary choice for conducting AWS security reviews. As an open-source tool, Prowler assesses AWS security best practices and audits compliance with standards like CIS Amazon benchmarks, PCI-DSS, ISO27001, GDPR, and HIPAA.
By executing it from the command line with the necessary permissions, you can generate comprehensive reports that provide profound insights into your AWS security and how well you align with best practices.
Prowler features over 200 checks, including:
- Identity and Access Management
- Logging
- Monitoring
- Networking
- CIS Level 1 & 2
- GDPR
- HIPAA
- Internet-exposed resources
- Additional compliance checks for PCI-DSS, ISO-27001, FFIEC, SOC2, and ENS
Installing and Running Prowler
Setting up Prowler is a simple process if you adhere to the provided instructions and ensure that all dependencies are installed. The GitHub page for Prowler lists all requirements, such as AWS CLI, jq, detect-secrets, etc. (Make sure these are set up before proceeding.)
To download Prowler, run the following command:
This will clone the repository to your machine.
Next, verify that you have the necessary IAM permissions to execute the scan. You will need an IAM access key and secret key for Prowler to authenticate. Alternatively, advanced users can assume a role. The user or role must have at least the following permissions:
arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/SecurityAudit
arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/job-function/ViewOnlyAccess
Once you have the user created, run the AWS configuration command to set up your credentials. With that done, you're ready to run Prowler!
Options for Generating Prowler Reports
You can choose different formats to save your Prowler reports. I typically prefer CSV or HTML, but multiple formats are available:
For CSV:
./prowler -M csv
For HTML:
./prowler -M html
You can also run both formats simultaneously. If everything is set up correctly, you should see a notification indicating that Prowler is running.
Reviewing Your Prowler Report
The duration of the Prowler scan depends on the number of services active in your account. Once the scan concludes, the report will be saved in a subdirectory named 'output' within your Prowler folder. Examine the report carefully and prioritize addressing any high or critical issues first.
If you plan to share the report with other teams, conduct a preliminary review before distribution. Always verify the report's accuracy and address any quick fixes before circulating it.
In conclusion, I hope this guide has illustrated the immense value Prowler offers for free to enhance your AWS security posture. Stay tuned for more articles exploring advanced features of Prowler in the coming days.
Thank you for reading! If you're interested in cloud security, consider checking out my YouTube channel "Cloud Security Guy," where I regularly share insights on cloud security, artificial intelligence, and general advice on cybersecurity careers.
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