2.1.3. Task 1.3: Determine Appropriate Data Security Controls
š” First Principle: Data is a critical organizational asset. Its protection is paramount, demanding a multi-layered, holistic approach to ensure its Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) throughout its entire lifecycle.
This task focuses on applying AWS services and best practices to implement robust data protection mechanisms. Key concepts include:
- Encryption: Protecting data at rest (e.g., S3, EBS with KMS) and in transit (e.g., SSL/TLS with ELB, CloudFront).
- Key Management: Securely managing cryptographic keys using services like AWS Key Management Service (KMS) and AWS CloudHSM.
- Data Retention & Lifecycle Management: Defining policies for data storage duration and transitions (e.g., S3 Lifecycle Policies) to meet business and compliance needs.
- Compliance: Adhering to regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA) by selecting and configuring appropriate AWS services.
This section moves beyond mere definitions, challenging you to apply these principles to real-world scenarios, aligning with the exam's emphasis on comprehension and practical application.
Scenario: You are designing a system to store sensitive customer data, including personal identifiable information (PII) and financial records. You need to ensure this data is secure throughout its entire lifecycle, from storage to transmission.
Visual: Data Security Controls
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ā ļø Common Pitfall: Overlooking "data in transit" encryption, assuming network-level security is enough. All sensitive data moving between systems, even within AWS, should be encrypted using TLS.
Key Trade-Offs:
- Security (Encryption/Access Control) vs. Management Overhead: Implementing robust data security adds management complexity (key management, policy definition) but is non-negotiable for sensitive data.
Reflection Question: How do data classification, encryption (at rest and in transit), and proper key management fundamentally inform your choice of specific AWS security controls for different types of sensitive data?