AWS Control Tower has recently launched landing zone version 3.3, bringing with it several updates to managed resources, resource-based policies, and controls. These updates are designed to enhance the flexibility, security, and manageability of your AWS environment. In this article, we will explore the key features of AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3, focusing on its impact on security, scalability, and resource management. Additionally, we will discuss additional technical points that illustrate the power and potential of this update.
Introduction¶
AWS Control Tower is a powerful service that simplifies the process of setting up and governing a secure multi-account AWS environment. It automates the setup of an environment called a landing zone, which incorporates AWS best practices for security and operations. With the latest update, landing zone version 3.3, AWS Control Tower introduces new capabilities to further enhance the management and control of your AWS resources.
Simplified Resource-based Policies¶
One of the key updates in AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 is the support for the new AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) global condition key, aws:SourceOrgID. This condition key enables you to easily control access to your resources by allowing AWS services to access your resources on your behalf. By using the aws:SourceOrgID condition key in your resource-based policies, you can ensure that requests originating from your organization or organizational unit (OU) are permitted, while blocking requests from outside your organization.
For example, let’s say you have an S3 bucket and you want to restrict write access to CloudTrail logs only for accounts within your organization. By adding the aws:SourceOrgID condition key and setting the value to your organization ID in the condition element of your S3 bucket policy, you can ensure that only CloudTrail logs originating from accounts within your organization are allowed to write to your bucket. This adds an additional layer of security, preventing unauthorized access to your sensitive logs.
Improved Security with Region Deny Control¶
In addition to the new aws:SourceOrgID condition key, landing zone version 3.3 introduces an improved version of the Region Deny control. This control allows you to specify the regions that are permitted or denied for resource deployment. With this update, you have more granular control over the regions where your resources can be deployed, enhancing security by preventing accidental or unauthorized deployments in specific regions.
The Region Deny control enforces region permissions by leveraging AWS Organizations. By defining a list of permitted and denied regions in your landing zone configuration, you can ensure that resources are deployed only in the approved regions. This control is particularly useful in scenarios where compliance or data residency requirements dictate the specific regions where your resources can reside.
Enhanced KMS Drift Reporting¶
In landing zone version 3.3, AWS Control Tower introduces improved Key Management Service (KMS) drift reporting. KMS drift occurs when there is a mismatch between the key policies stored in AWS KMS and the desired policies defined in your AWS Control Tower landing zone. This mismatch can pose security risks, as it may result in unauthorized access or modification of your encryption keys.
The enhanced KMS drift reporting in AWS Control Tower provides better visibility into the drift status of your KMS keys. It enables you to identify and remediate any discrepancies between the desired policies and the actual policies for your keys. By regularly monitoring and addressing KMS drift, you can ensure the integrity and security of your encryption keys, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.
Additional Technical Points¶
While the above updates highlight the key features of AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3, there are several additional technical points worth mentioning that further enhance the capabilities and usefulness of this update:
1. Centralized Logging with AWS CloudTrail¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 enables centralized logging using AWS CloudTrail, a service that provides a detailed record of actions taken by users, roles, and AWS services within your AWS environment. By leveraging CloudTrail, you can gain insights into changes made to your environment, detect suspicious activity, and investigate security incidents. This centralized logging capability enhances your ability to monitor and secure your AWS resources effectively.
2. Integration with AWS Service Catalog¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 integrates seamlessly with AWS Service Catalog, allowing you to define and manage approved AWS resources and services for your organization. With Service Catalog integration, you can create standardized catalogs of AWS resources, ensuring that only authorized and compliant resources are provisioned within your landing zone. This integration enhances governance and control by providing a centralized mechanism for resource provisioning.
3. Cost Control with AWS Budgets¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 introduces integration with AWS Budgets, enabling you to set and enforce cost limits for your AWS environment. By defining budget thresholds, you can proactively monitor and control your AWS usage, ensuring that costs are within acceptable limits. This integration empowers you to manage cost effectively, preventing cost overruns and optimizing resource utilization.
4. Continuous Compliance with AWS Config¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 leverages AWS Config to ensure continuous compliance of your AWS environment with organizational policies and security best practices. AWS Config enables you to define and enforce desired configurations for your resources, perform automated compliance checks, and receive alerts when non-compliant resources are detected. This continuous compliance capability enhances security and helps you maintain a secure and compliant AWS environment.
5. Scalability with AWS Organizations¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 takes advantage of AWS Organizations to enable scalability and centralized management of your AWS accounts. AWS Organizations provides a hierarchical structure for your accounts, allowing you to manage and apply policies at an organizational level. This scalability ensures that your AWS environment can grow seamlessly while maintaining consistent security and compliance across all accounts.
6. Flexibility with AWS CloudFormation¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 leverages AWS CloudFormation, a service that enables you to define and provision AWS resources using code. With CloudFormation, you can create templates that capture the desired state of your landing zone, automate resource provisioning, and ensure reproducibility in your deployments. This flexibility empowers you to easily modify and update your landing zone configuration, ensuring it aligns with your evolving requirements.
Conclusion¶
AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 brings significant enhancements to managed policies and controls, enabling you to further strengthen the security, scalability, and manageability of your AWS environment. By leveraging the new aws:SourceOrgID condition key and the improved Region Deny control, you can exert granular control over resource access and deployment. The enhanced KMS drift reporting provides better visibility into the security of your encryption keys, while additional technical points, such as centralized logging with AWS CloudTrail and integration with AWS Service Catalog, further enhance the capabilities and usefulness of AWS Control Tower.
As you continue to explore and leverage AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3, remember to prioritize best practices, such as regular monitoring of KMS drift and continuous compliance checks using AWS Config. By adopting and implementing these best practices, you can ensure the security, scalability, and efficiency of your AWS environment.
Now is the time to embrace the power of AWS Control Tower landing zone version 3.3 and take advantage of the latest updates in managed policies and controls. Start optimizing your AWS environment today and unlock the true potential of the cloud.