In an increasingly digital world, data storage options are paramount to both businesses and individuals. Cloud storage has become the go-to solution for these needs. In a survey of 1,052 cyber security professionals, 39% of respondents ran more than half of their workloads in the cloud.
Amazon S3 is a widely used cloud service solution that can accommodate a nearly unlimited number of storage objects. However, with any online cloud storage comes the possibility of a data breach. Without Amazon S3 security in place, the data stored on this platform can remain vulnerable to cybercrime.
How Amazon S3 Works
Amazon S3 is a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP). More specifically, it functions as an object storage service that operates in the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud, creating storage “buckets” into which users can upload data. This system has several benefits. For starters, the virtual container system can accommodate an almost unlimited amount of data. It also automates the organization process for users. Each “bucket” or data object receives a unique identifier, which makes it easy for users to find and access them.
The Protection of Data Encryption
One important method for protecting the information at rest in cloud storage is data encryption. Data encryption protects data by encoding it into a mathematical language that only entrusted parties have the description key for.
Data encryption can be done on both the client and server side. There are three methods for server-side encryption: AWS-managed keys, customer-managed keys, and AWS KMS. In customer-managed keys, the client maintains the overhead of key management. In the AWS and AWS KMS methods, S3 handles the key management and encryption processes.
It is also important to protect data in transit to and from the user. Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) are both formats for safeguarding online data. When HTTPS appears in a URL, this indicates the website is secured.
Access Control and Management
When using Amazon S3, AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies are important for regulating access to the data buckets stored in the system. IAM policies set and manage access guardrails, managing identities across single AWS accounts or connecting identities across multiple AWS accounts.
AWS Organizations and Service Control Policies (SCPs) manage multiple accounts across the Amazon S3 platform. This is important to businesses and organizations with large numbers of users. SCPs implement organization policies that govern user permissions and help accounts stay within the organization’s control guidelines.
Data Integrity and Auditing
It is important to ensure the integrity of data moving across cloud services. One method of this is checksums. A checksum value functions as an error detection mechanism. By checking for the checksum value, IT professionals can be sure that the full range of data is being delivered.
AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config are two tools important for auditing data used in Amazon S3 storage. Both of these tools help users assess and evaluate activity across their accounts, logging and monitoring use events.
Compliance and Best Practices
Amazon S3 is compliant with multiple third-party auditors and security frameworks, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This allows businesses to use Amazon S3 across multiple industries, including healthcare and sales.
However, the businesses and users who implement Amazon S3 into their operations should still make sure they follow the best security practices. This includes disabling public access, using encrypted transfers, and reviewing their access policies.
Advanced Security Features
In addition to the services and security methods above, advanced security features are also available for Amazon S3. For greater data compliance and protection, S3 Block Public Access, S3 Access Points, and S3 Object Lock are all enableable features for this platform.
Other AWS services can also be integrated into S3. Among these is AWS Macie, which is one of the first AI-enabled services of its kind. It assists users in discovering sensitive data stored in Amazon S3, such as names, addresses, and credit card numbers.
Avoid the Pitfalls of Amazon S3 Security
Navigating S3 services can be complex, and many users run into pitfalls in their security. Some common misconfigurations include failing to implement the correct policies or disabling public access.
Above all else, users should educate themselves on the different security measures and services available for managing their Amazon S3 accounts. By learning how this cloud service functions, how it stores and encrypts data, and how the data is utilized, users can find the proper policies and security measures for their S3 accounts, allowing their data to be both easy to access and secure.
