How to Get Compliance Insights with AWS Config

Outlined in this post is a guide to help you begin the process of getting a full analysis for where you stand with AWS compliance.

AWS Config is a service that enables you to assess, audit, and evaluate the configurations of your AWS resources. It continuously monitors and records your AWS resource configurations and allows you to automate the evaluation of recorded configurations against desired configurations.

Getting Started with AWS Config

1. Navigate to the AWS Config console
2. Click "Get started" or "Settings" if you've used Config before
3. Choose which resource types to record (we recommend "All resources")
4. Set up an S3 bucket for storing configuration history
5. Optionally set up an SNS topic for notifications

Using Conformance Packs

Conformance packs are collections of AWS Config rules and remediation actions that can be easily deployed as a single entity. AWS provides several conformance packs for common compliance frameworks:

• CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark
• PCI DSS
• HIPAA
• SOC 2
• NIST 800-53

Viewing Compliance Dashboard

Once AWS Config is set up with rules:

1. Go to the AWS Config console
2. Click on "Dashboard" in the left navigation
3. View your compliance summary showing compliant vs. non-compliant resources
4. Click on specific rules to see which resources are non-compliant

Remediation

AWS Config can automatically remediate non-compliant resources using AWS Systems Manager Automation documents. You can set up automatic or manual remediation actions for each rule.