Secure account root user and properties

Securing the account root user is critical because it possesses unmatched privileges, making it a prime target for attackers. By taking steps to secure this account, you significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access and potential compromises in your AWS environment.

Best Practices

Secure the AWS Account Root User

• Disable Programmatic Access: Ensure that programmatic access (API key access) for the root user is disabled. This limits the risk of someone leveraging the root account for unauthorized actions via the AWS CLI or SDKs.
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Require MFA for the root user. This adds an extra layer of security and significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
• Create and Use IAM Users: Instead of using the root user for daily tasks, create individual IAM users with the necessary permissions. This promotes the principle of least privilege, minimizing the risk associated with broad access.
• Monitor Root Account Activities: Set up CloudTrail to log all API calls that use the root account. Regularly review these logs to detect any unauthorized activities.
• Establish Strong Password Policies: Implement strong password policies for the root user and enforce regular password changes to prevent unauthorized access.
• Ensure Secure Backup of Root Credentials: Store any recovery keys, including root user credentials, in a secure and encrypted format using a password manager or an encrypted vault.

Questions to ask your team

• Is programmatic access to the root user disabled?
• Are there established controls and policies governing the use of the root user?
• Are there specific guidelines for accessing the root user account?
• How often do you review and audit root user access and activities?
• Is multi-factor authentication (MFA) enabled for the root user?
• Are there notifications or alerts set up for any root user activity?

Who should be doing this?

Cloud Security Administrator

• Manage access controls and permissions for the AWS root user.
• Establish policies to limit the use of the root user account.
• Monitor logs for any authentication attempts involving the root user.
• Regularly review and update security configurations related to the root user.
• Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the root user account.

DevOps Engineer

• Automate security processes to minimize the need for root user access.
• Ensure adherence to access policies and avoid routine use of the root user for deployments.
• Develop scripts and tools to monitor and manage security configurations.
• Conduct regular testing of security processes and controls.

Compliance Officer

• Ensure compliance with industry standards regarding the management of the root user.
• Conduct audits to verify that the root user is secured according to best practices.
• Maintain documentation of policies and procedures related to the root user security.
• Provide ongoing training to staff on the importance of protecting the root account.

Incident Response Team Member

• Respond to and investigate any security incidents involving the root user.
• Keep up to date with AWS security updates and best practices.
• Update threat models and control objectives based on evolving risks.
• Coordinate with the Cloud Security Administrator to remediate any potential risks.

What evidence shows this is happening in your organization?

• Root User Management Policy: A policy document that outlines the procedures for managing the AWS account root user, including instructions for disabling programmatic access, establishing controls, and guidelines for minimal usage to mitigate security risks.
• Root User Access Control Checklist: A checklist to ensure all security measures are in place regarding the root user, including verifying that programmatic access is disabled, MFA is enabled, and access is limited to specific personnel.
• AWS Root User Security Playbook: A comprehensive playbook detailing best practices and steps for securing the root user, providing actionable guidance on maintaining security hygiene and incident response related to the root user.
• AWS Account Audit Report: A report that summarizes the current state of root user security, highlighting any vulnerabilities, compliance with established policies, and recommendations for improvement.
• Security Monitoring Dashboard: A dashboard that provides real-time insights into account activity related to the root user, including logins, access attempts, and security control audits to help promptly identify any suspicious behavior.

Cloud Services

AWS

• AWS IAM: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) enables you to securely manage access to AWS services and resources, allowing you to create and manage AWS users and groups, and use permissions to allow and deny their access.
• AWS CloudTrail: AWS CloudTrail enables governance, compliance, and operational and risk auditing of your AWS account. It allows you to track user activity and API usage across your AWS infrastructure.
• AWS Organizations: AWS Organizations helps you manage multiple AWS accounts. It enables you to apply policies across accounts to enforce security best practices, including managing root account access.
• AWS Security Hub: AWS Security Hub provides a comprehensive view of your security alerts and security posture across your AWS accounts, helping you manage your security practices effectively.
• AWS Config: AWS Config enables you to assess, audit, and evaluate the configurations of your AWS resources. It helps you track changes and improves compliance and governance.

Azure

• Azure Active Directory: Azure Active Directory manages user identities and access to applications and services, providing enhanced security features like conditional access policies.
• Azure Security Center: Azure Security Center provides unified security management and advanced threat protection across hybrid cloud workloads.
• Azure Policy: Azure Policy helps you manage and prevent changes to your resources, ensuring compliance with your organization’s security requirements.
• Azure Monitor: Azure Monitor provides full-stack monitoring capabilities, giving insights into the performance and health of applications and infrastructure.

Google Cloud Platform

• Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM): Google Cloud IAM helps you manage access control on Google Cloud, allowing you to set permissions on resources and track access and usage.
• Google Cloud Security Command Center: Google Cloud Security Command Center helps you prevent, detect, and respond to threats from a single pane of glass.
• Google Cloud Logging: Google Cloud Logging enables you to store, search, analyze, monitor, and alert on log data and events from Google Cloud.
• Google Cloud Compliance: Google Cloud Compliance provides resources and solutions for compliance with security standards, helping ensure your workloads remain secure.

Question: How do you securely operate your workload?
Pillar: Security (Code: SEC)