Concepts
The AWS Shared Responsibility Model is a crucial concept for anyone preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) exam. This model outlines how security and compliance duties are shared between AWS and the customer. Understanding this division of responsibilities is essential for designing systems that are secure, resilient, and compliant with various regulations.
Security “of” the Cloud – AWS Responsibilities:
AWS is responsible for protecting the infrastructure that runs all of the services offered in the AWS Cloud. This infrastructure comprises the hardware, software, networking, and facilities that run AWS Cloud services.
Responsibilities handled by AWS include:
- Protecting the global infrastructure that runs all of the services offered in the AWS cloud. This covers data center facilities, servers, networking equipment, and the physical security of those resources.
- Managing components like compute, storage, database, and networking (e.g., Amazon EC2, Amazon RDS, Amazon S3).
- Configuring the infrastructure’s security, which includes but is not limited to physical security, server hardware security, and virtualization layer security.
Security “in” the Cloud – Customer Responsibilities:
On the other side of the model, customers are responsible for security inside the Cloud. This refers to the security of the customer content and applications that run in AWS, as well as certain configuration tasks.
Responsibilities customers typically manage include:
- Customer data security, including encryption, integrity authentication, and data retention.
- Platform, application, identity and access management, and the operating system’s security configuration.
- Network and firewall configuration.
- Patch management on EC2 instances and all applications.
- Ensuring that AWS services are used in compliance with industry standards and legislations.
Shared Controls:
Within the Shared Responsibility Model, there are controls that apply to both AWS and its customers. These shared controls include:
- Patch Management: AWS is responsible for patching and fixing flaws within the infrastructure, but customers are responsible for patching their guest OS and applications.
- Configuration Management: AWS maintains the configuration of its infrastructure devices, but customers are responsible for configuring their own guest operating systems, databases, and applications.
Example: Amazon EC2 Responsibility Breakdown:
AWS:
- Physical security of hardware
- Network infrastructure
- Virtualization infrastructure
Customer:
- Management of the guest OS (including updates and security patches)
- Installation and management of a firewall on the guest OS
- Control over AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) users and roles within the AWS account
Visualization of the Shared Responsibility Model:
————————————————-
AWS Responsibilities |
————————————————-|
| Protecting Global Infrastructure |
| Physical Security of Data Centers |
| Network and Virtualization Infrastructure |
————————————————-
————————————————-
Customer Responsibilities |
————————————————-|
| Secure Operating System & Network Configuration|
| Installing & Maintaining Application Software |
| Setting up IAM Permissions & Roles |
| Data Encryption & Security |
————————————————-
Understanding this model helps when designing systems on AWS because it clarifies what aspects of security are handled by AWS and what aspects must be addressed by the customer. This ensures that nothing is overlooked when deploying applications on AWS. By correctly applying the Shared Responsibility Model, a Solutions Architect can assure that the system is secure, reliable, and efficient, thus aligning with AWS best practices.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
Question: The responsibility of managing the underlying infrastructure of AWS services lies with the customer.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: AWS is responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure of its cloud services. This includes hardware, software, networking, and facilities that run AWS Cloud services.
Question: Who is responsible for setting up and managing network controls, such as firewall rules, in an AWS environment?
- AWS
- Customer
- Both AWS and the customer
Answer: Customer
Explanation: Customers are responsible for setting up and managing network controls, such as firewall rules, within their AWS environment.
Question: Patch management for the EC2 instance operating system is whose responsibility?
- AWS
- Customer
Answer: Customer
Explanation: The customer is responsible for managing patches for the operating system and any applications running on EC2 instances.
Question: In the AWS shared responsibility model, which of the following is AWS responsible for? (Select TWO)
- Encryption of data on the client-side
- Protection of the AWS infrastructure
- Customer data
- Physical security of data centers
- Secure disposal of storage devices
Answer: Protection of the AWS infrastructure, Physical security of data centers
Explanation: AWS is responsible for protecting the infrastructure that runs all of the services offered in the AWS Cloud. This includes the physical security of data centers and the secure disposal of storage devices.
Question: The AWS Shared Responsibility Model implies shared control of resources.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The AWS Shared Responsibility Model doesn’t imply shared control of resources but rather a clear delineation of responsibilities. AWS manages the cloud infrastructure and services, while customers are responsible for their data, operating systems, and applications.
Question: Ensuring that IAM policies are applied to grant the least privilege necessary is under whose responsibility?
- AWS
- Customer
- Third-party auditors
Answer: Customer
Explanation: It is the customer’s responsibility to manage access control and permissions by applying IAM policies following the principle of least privilege.
Question: Which one of the following is a customer’s responsibility under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model?
- Maintaining data center facility access controls
- Hardware lifecycle management
- Environmental risk management
- Configuration management of their own guest operating system and applications
Answer: Configuration management of their own guest operating system and applications
Explanation: Customers are responsible for the management of the guest operating systems (including updates and security patches), as well as for the configuration management of the software applications.
Question: The AWS shared responsibility model outlines that compliance assurance is solely AWS’s responsibility.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Compliance is a shared responsibility. AWS is responsible for ensuring the cloud is compliant with various certifications and regulations, while customers are responsible for compliance related to their content, platform, applications, and data.
Question: Which of the following are considered part of a customer’s responsibility in the AWS Shared Responsibility Model? (Select TWO)
- Managing physical hardware
- Server-side encryption
- Managing guest operating system
- Data center security
- Constructing buildings for data centers
Answer: Server-side encryption, Managing guest operating system
Explanation: Customers are responsible for managing server-side encryption (if not managed by AWS services) and the guest operating system, including updates and security patches.
Question: AWS is responsible for the security of which of the following aspects in their cloud environment?
- Operating system on EC2 instances
- Physical security of facilities
- Security Group configurations
- User data
Answer: Physical security of facilities
Explanation: AWS is responsible for the physical security of the facilities that host AWS services, as this is part of the cloud infrastructure.
Question: In the Shared Responsibility Model, who is responsible for the disposal of storage devices?
- AWS always
- The customer always
- It depends on the service
Answer: It depends on the service
Explanation: When it comes to physical storage devices, AWS is responsible for their disposal. However, if customers use certain services, like EC2 instances with ephemeral storage or RDS, managing the data lifecycle including secure deletion is their responsibility.
Question: Is ensuring data encryption at rest within an AWS database service like RDS or DynamoDB the customer’s responsibility?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While customers can manage data encryption at rest within AWS database services like RDS or DynamoDB, these services also offer options where AWS manages encryption at rest, with keys managed through AWS Key Management Service (KMS).
Great explanation of the AWS shared responsibility model! Helped clarify a lot for the SAA-C03 exam.
This blog post really helped me understand the customer vs AWS responsibilities in securing cloud workloads.
I think the shared responsibility model can be quite confusing at times, especially for beginners.
How does this model affect compliance in heavily regulated industries?
The blog’s explanation on the division of responsibilities between AWS and the customer is spot on. Definitely useful for exam prep.
Could someone explain how the shared responsibility model impacts IAM policies and roles?
The article is good, but more emphasis on real-world examples would be beneficial.
Thanks for the helpful information!