BISIL - Infrastructure & Data Security Implementation

Background:

The client is a leading provider of Business Process Management Suite (BPMS) products and services. They offer BPM technology solutions to a global clientele.

Challenges Faced

The client's initial AWS cloud infrastructure lacked adherence to the AWS Well-Architected Framework and NIST benchmarks, creating significant security vulnerabilities. With servers residing in public subnets and direct internet exposure, the environment faced risks like data breaches and service disruptions. This resulted in a low compliance score of 20%.

Objectives:

• Enhance security posture and achieve compliance with industry standards.
• Improve disaster recovery capabilities through geographical diversification.
• Implement robust access control mechanisms.
• Increase data security with encryption at rest.
• Automate infrastructure management for operational efficiency.

Solution Summary:

A comprehensive re-architecture of the cloud environment was undertaken to address security concerns and achieve compliance objectives. Key initiatives included:

• Geographical Diversification: Resources were distributed across multiple regions for improved availability and disaster recovery. With Amazon RDS high availability features such as Multi-AZ deployments, we could  automatically replicate databases across multiple Availability Zones for failover protection.
• Security Enhancement: Public websites were migrated behind Application Load Balancers (ALB) in private subnets, significantly increasing security. Migrating the client's databases to Amazon RDS, to ensure that sensitive data is encrypted, thus meeting compliance requirements and improving data security posture. Amazon RDS provides built-in security features such as encryption at rest using AWS Key Management Service (KMS) and encryption in transit.
• Network Isolation: All servers were relocated to private subnets with secure access through load balancers.
• Connectivity and Security: NAT Gateways and VPNs were implemented for secure outbound internet access and remote connectivity.
• Regulatory Compliance: AWS security tools like Config, GuardDuty, SecurityHub, and Inspector were integrated for configuration management, threat detection, and security monitoring.
• Data Encryption: AWS Key Management Service (KMS) was used to encrypt EBS volumes, ensuring data integrity at rest.
• Access Management: Stringent IAM policies and roles were established for granular access control.
• Operational Automation: Automated solutions were deployed for AMI management, snapshot management, and EC2 scheduling, improving operational efficiency. With Amazon RDS, the we could automate routine tasks such as database backups, maintenance, and scaling, improving operational efficiency and reducing the burden on IT staff. Amazon RDS simplifies database administration tasks such as provisioning, scaling, and patching, allowing the client to focus on their core business activities rather than managing database infrastructure. 
• Protocol Standardization: Robust security protocols were implemented, including Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and secure CloudTrail logging.

By implementing Amazon RDS as part of their re-architecture initiative, the client could further enhance the security, compliance, and operational efficiency of their cloud environment, contributing to the overall success of the project and solidifying their reputation for security and reliability in the market.

Tech Stack:

• AWS Services: EC2, VPC, ALB, Amazon RDS, NAT Gateway, AMI, OpenVPN, WAF, Config, GuardDuty, KMS, SecurityHub, Amazon Inspector, CloudTrail, IAM, S3, CloudWatch, Systems Manager, SNS
  

Outcomes:

The client's compliance score soared from 20% to 95% following the re-architecture. The project established a robust security framework, ensured high availability through geographical diversification, and achieved compliance with key industry benchmarks. This enhanced cloud environment offers the client exceptional protection for their operations, solidifying their reputation for security and reliability in the market.