Rule: Enable CloudWatch Alarm Action
This rule ensures CloudWatch alarm action is enabled to monitor system performance.
| Rule | CloudWatch alarm action should be enabled |
| Framework | NIST 800-53 Revision 5 |
| Severity | ✔ High |
CloudWatch Alarm Action Compliance for NIST 800-53 Revision 5
Overview
Amazon CloudWatch Alarms can be configured to perform actions in response to a change in your AWS environment that matches certain criteria. Aligning with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 800-53 Revision 5, which provides a comprehensive set of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations, you should ensure actions are enabled for specific alarms as part of your organization's compliance.
NIST 800-53 Revision 5 Relevance
Under NIST 800-53 Revision 5, the relevant control families for setting CloudWatch Alarm actions might include SI-4 (System Monitoring), CA-7 (Continuous Monitoring), and IR-4 (Incident Response). CloudWatch Alarms can be considered as a part of the system monitoring strategy and incident response plan.
Compliance Rule Details
Rule Description
- 1.Alarms should be established for critical thresholds.
- 2.Actions must be configured to notify the appropriate personnel.
- 3.Alarm actions should be linked to automatic response systems where feasible.
Troubleshooting Steps
- 1.Verify alarms are configured correctly.
- 2.Confirm that actions are assigned to alarms.
- 3.Ensure appropriate notifications are being sent.
- 4.Check for the automatic response by those alarms.
- 5.Review and update alarm configurations periodically.
Necessary CLI Commands
List Existing CloudWatch Alarms:
aws cloudwatch describe-alarms --query 'MetricAlarms[].AlarmName' --output text
Describe Alarm Actions for a Specific Alarm:
aws cloudwatch describe-alarms --alarm-names "ALARM_NAME" --query 'MetricAlarms[].ActionsEnabled'
Set Actions for Alarms:
aws cloudwatch put-metric-alarm --alarm-name "ALARM_NAME" --actions-enabled
Step-by-Step Guide for Remediation
1. Identify and List CloudWatch Alarms
Discover which alarms are currently set up using the AWS CLI or AWS Management Console.
2. Review Current Alarm Configurations
Ensure that each alarm has an action configured and that the action is appropriate for the respective threshold.
3. Attach Actions to Alarms Without Actions
Use the AWS CLI or Management Console to attach notification actions to any alarms without actions.
4. Attach Automated Response to Alarms
Link alarms to automated responses where possible, such as stopping, starting, or rebooting instances.
5. Establish Notification Channels
Configure SNS topics or other notification channels to alert the necessary personnel when alarms are triggered.
6. Regularly Review and Update Alarms
Create a schedule for periodic review and adjusting of CloudWatch Alarm configurations to keep them effective and relevant.
By following these guidelines, you ensure that your AWS environment adheres to the best practices as recommended under NIST 800-53 Revision 5 for alarm actions, which not only maintains your compliance but also enhances your security and incident response capabilities.
Remember to document all configurations to provide clear audit trails for compliance checks and maintain a consistent security posture according to NIST 800-53 standards.