Use strong sign-in mechanisms

Managing identities effectively is crucial to securing AWS workloads. By implementing strong sign-in mechanisms, you can significantly reduce risks associated with unauthorized access and data breaches, ensuring that only authenticated users and machines interact with your resources.

Best Practices

Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• Enable MFA for all IAM users, especially for those with elevated privileges, to add an extra layer of security beyond just a password. Implementing MFA helps to ensure that even if sign-in credentials are compromised, unauthorized access can still be mitigated. Utilize hardware tokens, virtual MFA apps, or SMS-based MFA as options for users.

Enforce Strong Password Policies

• Require strong password policies that enforce a minimum length and complexity (uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters). Regularly prompt users to update their passwords (e.g., every 90 days) to minimize the risk of using compromised passwords. Provide guidance and tools to help users create strong passwords safely.

Monitor and Respond to Sign-In Activity

• Utilize AWS CloudTrail to log and monitor sign-in events and establish alerts for unusual activity. Set up AWS Config Rules to track compliance and deviations from set security standards regarding sign-in mechanisms. Regularly review logs to detect suspicious behavior and take timely action.

Use IAM Roles and Policies for Machine Identities

• Utilize IAM roles for service applications and operational tools to assume identities rather than embedding access keys in code. This enhances security by enabling permissions to be granted dynamically and limiting the lifespan of access. Implement least privilege principles by creating specific roles with narrowly defined permissions for each application or service.

Educate Users About Security Best Practices

• Conduct regular training sessions to educate administrators, developers, and end users about the importance of strong sign-in mechanisms, including how to recognize phishing attempts. Provide materials that emphasize the importance of safeguarding credentials and using MFA in their day-to-day interactions with AWS.

Questions to ask your team

• Do you implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all human identities accessing AWS resources?
• Are strong password policies enforced across all accounts, including complexity and rotation requirements?
• How do you monitor for and respond to potential signs of credential compromise?
• Is there a process in place to regularly review access permissions for human and machine identities?
• What strategies do you employ to educate users about the importance of secure sign-in practices?

Who should be doing this?

Identity and Access Management (IAM) Administrator

• Configure and manage IAM policies and roles for both human and machine identities.
• Implement strong password policies and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for AWS accounts.
• Regularly audit access controls and identity permissions to ensure compliance with security standards.
• Provide training and best practices for users on managing sign-in credentials securely.
• Monitor and respond to identity-related security incidents or anomalies.

Security Architect

• Design and recommend security practices for identity management across AWS resources.
• Conduct risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities related to identity and access.
• Collaborate with development teams to integrate identity management solutions into applications.
• Keep abreast of AWS security best practices and update strategies accordingly.
• Evaluate and select third-party identity management solutions as needed.

IT Support Specialist

• Assist users in managing their AWS identities and handling authentication issues.
• Support users in enabling and configuring MFA on their accounts.
• Respond to access requests and manage user provisioning/deprovisioning.
• Educate users on secure sign-in practices and how to protect their credentials.
• Document and troubleshoot identity-related incidents and user support cases.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Identity Management Policy: A comprehensive document outlining the procedures for managing human and machine identities, including guidelines for strong sign-in mechanisms, implementation of MFA, and password policies.
• MFA Implementation Guide: A step-by-step guide detailing how to implement multi-factor authentication for AWS accounts, including user setup, device registration, and troubleshooting tips.
• Access Control Checklist: A checklist designed to ensure that proper access controls are in place for both human and machine identities, emphasizing the need for strong sign-in mechanisms and MFA for all users.
• Identity Access Management Dashboard: An operational dashboard that provides real-time visibility into user access patterns, authentication attempts, and security alerts related to identity management within AWS environments.
• Security Training Plan: A training plan for staff that covers best practices for identity management, including the importance of strong sign-in methods and perfecting user awareness for security risks.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): IAM allows you to manage user access and permissions to AWS resources securely. It supports the implementation of strong sign-in mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• AWS Single Sign-On (SSO): AWS SSO enables centralized management of user access to AWS accounts and applications, supporting MFA and providing a seamless sign-in experience.
• Amazon Cognito: Cognito provides user sign-up, sign-in, and access control, enabling you to implement MFA and strong password policies for both human and machine identities.

Azure

• Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Azure AD is a cloud-based identity and access management service that includes support for MFA and secure sign-in processes for users interacting with Azure resources.
• Azure Active Directory B2C: Azure AD B2C enables customer identity management with robust features including MFA, allowing external users to access applications securely.

Google Cloud Platform

• Google Cloud Identity: Google Cloud Identity provides identity management and enables secure sign-in capabilities, including MFA for both users and service accounts.
• Google Cloud IAM: Google Cloud IAM allows you to manage access to Google Cloud resources securely, enabling MFA and fine-grained roles for secure access control.

Question: How do you manage identities for people and machines?
Pillar: Security (Code: SEC)