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AWS

Connect your AWS infrastructure to Ciphrix using IAM user credentials for automated compliance monitoring.

Capabilities​

The AWS integration provides the following capabilities:

✅ Compliance Checks​

Automatically verify security configurations and compliance controls across your AWS infrastructure including:

🔄 Import Asset (Coming Soon)​

Automatically import and track AWS resources as assets in your Ciphrix inventory.

How to Connect AWS​

Prerequisites​

Before connecting AWS, ensure you have:

  • AWS account with administrative access
  • Permissions to create IAM users and policies
  • Access to AWS Management Console

Connection Instructions​

Step 1: Create an IAM User in AWS​

  1. Log in to AWS Console

  2. Navigate to IAM Service

    • In the AWS Console, search for "IAM" in the search bar
    • Click on IAM (Identity and Access Management)

  3. Create a New User

    • In the left sidebar, click Users
    • Click the Create user button
    • Enter a username (e.g., ciphrix-integration)
    • Click Next

  4. Set Permissions

    • Select Attach policies directly
    • Search for and select the following policies:
      • ReadOnlyAccess (recommended for read operations for compliance checks)
      • Custom Deny Policy (See below)
    • Click Next

  5. Review and Create

    • Review the user configuration
    • Click Create user

Step 2: Generate Access Keys​

  1. Access the User Details

    • After creating the user, click on the username to view details
    • Or navigate to IAM > Users and click on the user you just created

  2. Create Access Keys

    • Click on the Security credentials tab
    • Scroll down to Access keys section
    • Click Create access key

  3. Select Use Case

    • Choose Third-party service
    • Check the confirmation box
    • Click Next

  4. Add Description (Optional)

    • Add a description tag (e.g., "Ciphrix Integration")
    • Click Create access key

  5. Save Your Credentials

    • Access Key ID: Copy and save this value
    • Secret Access Key: Copy and save this value
    • ⚠️ Important: This is the only time you can view the secret access key. Store it securely.
    • Click Download .csv file (recommended for backup)
    • Click Done

Step 3: Add AWS Integration in Ciphrix​

You have two options to create the AWS connection in Ciphrix:

  1. Navigate to Integration Library

    • Log in to ciphrix.app
    • Go to Integrations in the sidebar
    • Go to the Integration Library tab
    • Click on the Cloud Infrastructure category

  2. Connect AWS

    • Click the Connect button on the AWS integration tile

  3. Fill Integration Form

    • Connection Name: Enter a name for this connection (e.g., "Production AWS Account")
    • Connection Identifier: Enter the 12 digit AWS Account Number (e.g. 123456789123)
    • Credential Identifier: Enter the name of the IAM User (e.g. 'ciphrix-integration')
    • Access Key: Paste the Access Key ID from Step 2
    • Secret Key: Paste the Secret Access Key from Step 2
    • Region: Select the AWS regions you want to monitor
    • Select Items: Select the AWS capabilities in Ciphrix you want to enable. Compliance checks are enabled by default

  4. Create Connection

    • Click Create Connection
    • Wait for the connection to be validated
Option B: From Create Connection​

  1. Navigate to Create Connection

    • Log in to ciphrix.app
    • Go to Integrations in the sidebar
    • Click Create Connection

  2. Select AWS

    • From the connection provider dropdown, select Amazon Web Services

  3. Fill Integration Form

    • Connection Name: Enter a name for this connection (e.g., "Production AWS Account")
    • Connection Identifier: Enter the 12 digit AWS Account Number (e.g. 123456789123)
    • Credential Identifier: Enter the name of the IAM User (e.g. 'ciphrix-integration')
    • Access Key: Paste the Access Key ID from Step 2
    • Secret Key: Paste the Secret Access Key from Step 2
    • Region: Select the AWS regions you want to monitor
    • Select Items: Select the AWS capabilities in Ciphrix you want to enable. Compliance checks are enabled by default

  4. Create Connection

    • Click Create or Save
    • Wait for the connection to be validated

Step 4: Verify Connection​

  1. Check Connection Status

    • After creating the connection, you'll see the integration status
    • Status should show Connected or Active

  2. Initial Scan

    • Ciphrix will automatically begin scanning your AWS infrastructure
    • Ciphrix scans your environment once a week
    • You can contact support@ciphrix.com to know your next scan date
    • Compliance checks will run automatically

  3. View Results

    • Navigate to Monitoring
    • View compliance check results and findings

IAM Policies Applied​

Ciphrix applies the following policies to the IAM user for compliance monitoring. Feel free to add statements to deny certain services based on your requirements:

Managed Policy​

  • ReadOnlyAccess - AWS managed policy providing read-only access to AWS services

Custom Deny Policy​

To ensure data security, Ciphrix also applies a custom policy that explicitly denies access to sensitive data plane operations:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Sid": "DenyS3GetAndList",
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": ["s3:GetObject", "s3:GetObjectVersion", "s3:ListBucket"],
            "Resource": "*"
        },
        {
            "Sid": "DenyDynamoDBRead",
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": ["dynamodb:GetItem", "dynamodb:BatchGetItem", "dynamodb:Query", "dynamodb:Scan"],
            "Resource": "*"
        },
        {
            "Sid": "DenySecretsManagerView",
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": ["secretsmanager:GetSecretValue"],
            "Resource": "*"
        },
        {
            "Sid": "DenyKMSDecrypt",
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": ["kms:Decrypt"],
            "Resource": "*"
        },
        {
            "Sid": "DenyLogsRead",
            "Effect": "Deny",
            "Action": ["logs:GetLogEvents", "logs:FilterLogEvents"],
            "Resource": "*"
        }
    ]
}

This policy ensures that Ciphrix:

  • ✅ Can read resource configurations and metadata for compliance checks
  • ❌ Cannot access actual data stored in S3 buckets
  • ❌ Cannot read data from DynamoDB tables
  • ❌ Cannot view secrets from Secrets Manager
  • ❌ Cannot decrypt KMS-encrypted data
  • ❌ Cannot read CloudWatch log contents

Troubleshooting​

Connection Failed​

Issue: Integration connected but showing permission errors

  • Verify the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key are correct
  • Ensure there are no extra spaces when copying credentials
  • Check that the IAM user has the required policies attached
  • Verify the IAM user is active and not disabled
  • Ensure no Service Control Policies (SCPs) are restricting access

No Data Appearing​

Issue: Integration connected but no compliance data showing for more than 7 days

Access Key Deactivated​

Issue: Integration was working but now fails

  • Check if the access key was deactivated in AWS
  • Verify the IAM user still exists and is active
  • Regenerate access keys if needed and update in Ciphrix

Support​

Need help with AWS integration?