Enable CloudWatch Alarm Action Rule
This rule ensures that CloudWatch alarm action is enabled for security measures.
| Rule | CloudWatch alarm action should be enabled |
| Framework | NIST 800-53 Revision 4 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
Rule Description:
The CloudWatch alarm action should be enabled for NIST 800-53 Revision 4 compliance. This rule ensures that proper monitoring and notification mechanisms are in place to meet the security requirements outlined in NIST 800-53 Revision 4.
Troubleshooting Steps:
- 1.
Verify if CloudWatch is enabled in your AWS account. You can do this by navigating to the AWS Management Console and searching for "CloudWatch" in the services search bar. If CloudWatch is not listed, you may need to enable the service.
- 2.
Ensure that the appropriate CloudWatch alarm actions are configured. This typically involves setting up alarms to monitor specific metrics or events in your environment, such as CPU usage, network traffic, or application errors.
- 3.
Check if the CloudWatch alarm actions align with the specific requirements outlined in NIST 800-53 Revision 4. Review the NIST documentation to identify the required alarm actions and ensure they are correctly configured in your CloudWatch alarms.
Necessary Codes:
No specific codes are provided for this policy. However, you may need to use AWS CLI commands to manage and configure your CloudWatch alarms. Refer to the AWS CLI documentation for a comprehensive list of commands available for CloudWatch.
Remediation Steps:
- 1.
Log in to the AWS Management Console and navigate to the CloudWatch service.
- 2.
Click on "Alarms" in the left-hand navigation menu.
- 3.
Review the existing alarms to ensure they align with the NIST 800-53 Revision 4 requirements.
- 4.
To modify an existing alarm, click on its name, then click on the "Actions" dropdown menu, and choose "Modify."
- 5.
Adjust the alarm settings as necessary to meet the NIST requirements. This may include configuring the appropriate actions, such as sending notifications to specified email addresses, triggering AWS Lambda functions, or triggering other AWS services.
- 6.
After making the necessary changes, click on the "Save" button to apply the modifications to the alarm.
- 7.
Repeat steps 4-6 for all relevant CloudWatch alarms to ensure full compliance with NIST 800-53 Revision 4.
Conclusion:
By enabling the CloudWatch alarm actions as per the requirements of NIST 800-53 Revision 4, you enhance your ability to monitor and respond to critical events or metrics in your AWS environment. This helps meet the compliance standards and ensures a higher level of security.