Cloud computing and software-as-a-service (SaaS) allow your business to access the latest technologies instantly, so you only pay for the services you use. Cloud service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) implement the latest security features to ensure your company benefits from these cloud services with the lowest possible risk. 

Here’s how migrating to AWS helps to modernise your work environment while keeping it secure from the latest threats.

Key Benefits of Migrating to AWS

Whether you operate a small-to-midsize or a larger business, migrating to AWS provides your company with a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance security, including:

• Enhanced Security Across the Board

Migration to AWS means benefitting from Amazon’s comprehensive security features. Security methods include firewalls, data-at-rest and data-in-transit encryption, and high-strength cryptographic algorithms to protect your data from theft and intrusion.

Amazon AWS approaches security from a multi-layered principle as part of its Well-Architected Security pillar. All elements of the cloud stack, from the physical data centres to the software running the network, have their own security systems.

• Decentralisation of Endpoint Device Relevance

Migrating your business data to AWS means that the endpoints (your local devices) no longer need to host critical data and business resources. Everything that matters to your organisation is on the cloud, stored in AWS data centres remotely, reducing the risks associated with device theft or damage. 

The primary benefit of this approach is to reduce the need to invest in security hardware and software locally. Other advantages include mitigating the risks of local IT failures and making it possible to securely access your data from any device, helping support remote, hybrid, and distributed workforces.

• Improved Control and Management

With AWS, you have access to a broad range of tools to control and manage access to your data:

• Identity Access Management (IAM) lets you create user profiles to control which organisation members have access to what data and resources.

• AWS CloudTrail monitors user activity for suspicious behaviour and provides the tools to meet compliance requirements with your industry’s regulatory standards, such as SOC, HIPAA, and FedRamp.

• AWS Config details your AWS resource inventory and helps ensure their configurations comply with your desired security guidelines. It also alerts you if any changes are made, ensuring you can quickly review them and respond accordingly.

Start Your Secure AWS Journey Today

Complete your business’s transition to Amazon Web Services with the cloud experts at WOLK. Contact us today to learn how we can help you build a safe, secure, and efficient work environment with AWS.

Staying Up-to-Date with Evolving Compliance Standards and Regulatory Requirements to Ensure Continued Compliance on AWS

Laws, regulations, and security frameworks constantly evolve to adapt and respond to new cyber threats. Keeping up to date with the latest versions of all applicable standards and regulatory requirements is critical to maintaining a secure and compliant environment on AWS.

How Security Frameworks and Regulations Evolve

Every data security framework and regulatory requirement is designed with the current technology, threats, and industry best practices in mind. As the cyber threat landscape changes, so do these standards, mitigating new risks and securing vulnerabilities.

While Amazon Web Services guarantees comprehensive compliance controls with over 140 security standards and certifications, AWS customers are encouraged to stay proactive on the latest versions and industry recommendations. 

How to Stay Up to Date on the Latest Security Frameworks and Regulations

According to the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, Amazon’s security responsibility only extends to the hardware, infrastructure, and software used to run AWS services. The customer’s responsibility is to ensure data, platforms, applications, OSes, and client-side environments are secure and compliant.

For instance, if your data requires compliance with ISO/IEC 27001:2022, the most current edition of the ISO 27001 ISMS standard, you must review the changes introduced since the previous version. 

Once you have identified these changes, conduct a gap analysis to determine which of your current compliance practices no longer align with the new version’s requirements. Then, update your policies, procedures, and security controls accordingly.

Tools and Services to Ensure Continued Compliance on AWS

Multiple AWS services can help your organisation automate compliance at scale on Amazon Web Services. The following is a breakdown of the most common continued compliance solutions on AWS:

• AWS Config is an AWS service designed to continuously monitor and record your resource configurations. You can use it to enforce compliance through a compliance-as-code framework, automating the process.
• Enhance the effectiveness of AWS Config with AWS Config Conformance Packs. A Conformance Pack is a collection of predefined AWS Config rules and actions intended. They can automatically ensure your AWS environment complies with the latest versions of the most common regulatory frameworks and standards.
• If you have multiple AWS accounts and environments, use AWS Organisations to manage, govern, and ensure the compliance of all your accounts from one place. You can combine the capabilities of AWS Organisations and AWS Config to configure automated compliance at scale.
• You can also use AWS CloudFormation to ensure your AWS services are within the scope of the compliance programs of your choice. Third-party audit reports are available through AWS Artifact.

Ensure the Security and Compliance of Your Business Data with WOLK

As an AWS Well-Architected Review Program Partner, WOLK Technology has the resources to help your organisation build a secure and compliant AWS environment. Schedule a review with us today, and let us help you boost your business’s performance.

Measuring and Reporting on Sustainability Metrics to Track Progress and Drive Continuous Improvement

Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers can use numerous tools to manage and build reports on their organisation’s sustainability metrics. These tools are critical to measuring a company’s carbon footprint, overall greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and compliance with the Sustainability pillar of the AWS Well-Architected Framework.

Track Carbon Footprint and GHG Emissions with the Amazon Customer Carbon Footprint Tool

One of the most important sustainability tools available to AWS customers is the Amazon Customer Carbon Footprint Tool. This AWS service is a data dashboard informing businesses and organisations of their workflows’ environmental impact.

Use the Carbon Footprint Tool dashboard to view your organisation’s overall carbon emissions and build a path to 100% renewable energy usage. The dashboard can also display emissions breakdowns by geographic region, individual services (e.g., Amazon EC2, Amazon S3), and trends over time.

More Visibility into Sustainability Data with the Contino Dashboard

Enhance your organisation’s understanding of its sustainability goals and current performance with the Contino Sustainability Dashboard. 

This new open-source tool provides a detailed view of your organisation’s cloud usage carbon footprint. It complements the Amazon Carbon Footprint Tool, giving AWS customers additional instruments to help meet sustainability objectives.

Contino Dashboard was designed for businesses and organisations seeking actionable data and plans to reduce their carbon footprint. It is purpose-built to increase data visibility with a specific focus on sustainability. The dashboard is also more accurate than previous methods, such as using cost optimisation dashboards and correlating cost savings with resource efficiency.

Report Data with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Solutions

Compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks can help an organisation achieve its sustainability objectives. AWS customers can use ESG reporting and disclosure solutions to gather ESG data and meet reporting requirements efficiently. These solutions are designed to integrate into your AWS workflows. Typical ESG reporting tools continuously read and analyse your data to ensure compliance with standardised sustainability objectives.

After analysing your data, they show reports displaying various metrics and indicators to help you measure your company’s adherence to environmental objectives, progress towards sustainability targets and goals, and comparisons with industry peers.

Many ESG reporting solutions employ advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the accuracy of their data collection, analysis, and validation processes. 

Make Your Organisation More Sustainable with WOLK

At WOLK, part of our role is to ensure your compliance with AWS sustainability principles, regardless of your experience with cloud technology. Whether your organisation is starting its cloud transition or is already familiar with cloud services, our team can provide guidance. Contact WOLK today to learn more.

Conducting regular security assessments and audits to maintain compliance on AWS

While independent third-party auditors frequently conduct audits to ensure compliance with various security frameworks, AWS customers are encouraged to audit their own systems and instances periodically. 

Internal AWS security audits are necessary to ensure your current security controls and configurations continue meeting your business objectives. They are also essential to prepare for third-party audits and comply with your chosen security frameworks.

When is the Best Time to Conduct an AWS Security Audit?

Amazon recommends reviewing your AWS environment’s security configuration periodically and after specific organisational changes.

Each organisation has different needs affecting the best frequency for your internal audits. Generally, the more risk and contractual obligations your organisation faces, such as operating in a high-risk industry or experiencing past security incidents, the more frequently it should conduct internal audits.

Other situations where AWS environment security audits are needed include:

• Changes to organisational structure, such as team members joining or leaving
• After installing new software and applications on your Amazon EC2 instances
• After ceasing the use of an AWS service to ensure relevant permissions have been purged
• If you suspect your Amazon or AWS accounts are compromised

Streamline Security Assessments with AWS Audit Manager

AWS Audit Manager is an AWS service designed to help you map your usage of Amazon Web Services from the scope of risk and compliance assessments. 

This service continuously monitors and assesses your usage of AWS services and tools, collects evidence automatically, and reports potential causes of non-compliance.

You can configure the service to look for evidence of non-compliance with numerous prebuilt security frameworks, such as ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, GDPR, or HIPAA. If none fit your requirements, you can also build a custom framework.

Best Practices to Maintain Security and Compliance

Organisations must follow these best practices during audits to maintain a secure environment and compliance with data security frameworks.

• Avoid using the root access keys you obtained upon creating your AWS account for everyday work. Use temporary credentials, services like AWS IAM Identity Center, and the principle of least privilege.
• When using AWS IAM, regularly check your list of users. Delete unnecessary users and groups, remove users from IAM groups they no longer need to access and rotate access keys periodically.
• Regularly assess your IAM roles and permissions, delete unnecessary roles, and review each role’s trust and policies.
• Use tools like the IAM Policy Simulator to test and troubleshoot policies attached to your users and groups. 

Build Secure and Compliant AWS Environments with WOLK

WOLK Technology is an experienced AWS Well-Architected Partner. We can provide feedback and guidance on how to build an environment that best meets your business goals, security needs, and regulatory compliance requirements. Contact WOLK today to schedule an initial review.

This solution is ideal for delegating administrative permissions to specific groups within the business or organisation. This includes managing individual user accounts and implementing password policies.

Why Your Organisation Should Use AWS Managed Microsoft AD

AWS Microsoft Active Directory (Microsoft AD) is a set of powerful services allowing businesses to manage all devices and users on their network.

This solution is ideal for delegating administrative permissions to specific groups within the business or organisation. This includes managing individual user accounts and implementing password policies.

Why Your Organisation Should Use AWS Managed Microsoft AD

AWS Managed Microsoft AD is the ideal solution for integrating their existing Microsoft Active Directory with the AWS cloud. It gives employees and team members access to all resources and applications with only a single set of credentials.

Using AWS Managed Microsoft AD lets businesses and organisations simplify user management and boost data security. It also integrates with other common AWS services, such as Amazon RDS or Amazon EC2.

AWS Managed Microsoft AD is also fully scalable. You can deploy Microsoft AD over multiple AWS regions and accounts, letting your organisation access AD-aware applications and other AWS services from anywhere in the world.

Use Cases of AWS Managed Microsoft AD
AWS Managed Microsoft AD lets businesses and organisations share an AD directory for multiple use cases. Examples include:

• Signing in to AWS applications and services using your Microsoft AD credentials, such as AWS Client VPN, AWS Management Console, Amazon Connect, Amazon FSx, Amazon WorkMail, and many more.
• Managing your Amazon EC2 instances for Windows or Linux
• Running traditional Microsoft AD-aware workloads in the AWS Cloud, such as Remote Desktop Licensing Manager or Microsoft SharePoint
• Providing Single Sign-On (SSO) to your cloud applications and access Microsoft Office 365 with AD credentials
• If you already have an on-premises Active Directory infrastructure, you can use AWS Managed Microsoft AD to extend it to the AWS cloud. This solution lets your team members sign on to AWS Management Console or Amazon WorkSpaces using their existing AD credentials.
• Sharing your Active Directory across multiple AWS accounts to manage AWS services like Amazon EC2 seamlessly, eliminating the need to operate different directories for each account and virtual private cloud (VPC).

Work with WOLK, a Trustworthy AWS Partner

The WOLK Team is a certified AWS Well-Architected Program partner. We can help your business implement workplace integration and improve operational efficiency through Amazon Web Services. Contact us today to schedule a review.

As a leading cloud services supplier and creator of the Climate Pledge, Amazon is fully invested in building sustainability awareness. The company works with all AWS customers, partners, and suppliers to promote sustainable cloud computing solutions and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

How AWS Engages With Customers for Sustainability
One of the six pillars of the Amazon Well-Architected Framework is sustainability. Customers using Amazon Web Services (AWS) have access to numerous Amazon services and tools to monitor and enhance the sustainability of their workflows.

Commonly used AWS tools for sustainability include the AWS Customer Carbon Footprint Tool, AWS Graviton and EC2 Spot instances, and the availability of carbon-neutral or near-carbon-neutral AWS regions.

While research shows that simply moving to AWS can help a customer reduce its carbon footprint, Amazon also provides many valuable resources and best practices to improve sustainability.

AWS documentation contains tips, pointers, and recommendations to achieve the following sustainability goals:

Choosing the most energy-efficient AWS regions to meet business and sustainability needs
Efficient usage of scalable infrastructure to ensure your organisation only uses the resources it needs, minimising wastage
Software and architecture optimisations to minimise unnecessary hardware load
Changing or developing a sustainability process and culture within your organisation

Amazon Partnerships to Promote Sustainability
Amazon works with multiple organisations to help AWS users find third-party sustainability data through the AWS Data Exchange.

Businesses of all sizes and types can use the Data Exchange to factor climate risks into their organisational portfolio, reduce their carbon footprint, or simply become compliant with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements.

Other Amazon partnerships for sustainability, such as Global Optimism, the Nature Conservancy, and the We Mean Business Coalition, are focused on helping the company reach its stated Climate Pledge goals. These partnerships help Amazon get to net-zero carbon emissions, benefitting AWS users with more sustainable cloud computing.

Responsible and Sustainable Supply Chain Management with AWS
One of Amazon’s major supply chain commitments is an engagement toward environmental protection. Amazon pledges to source products and services from suppliers with a sustainability pledge, ensuring the supply chain is more respectful of the environment.

AWS users benefit from the company’s responsible supply chain management in multiple ways. The energy used to power AWS data centres increasingly comes from renewable sources, helping your organisation reduce its carbon footprint.

Many of the hardware elements in Amazon data centres receive continuous improvements to enhance their performance and energy efficiency, such as the AWS Graviton processors.

Achieve Your Objectives with WOLK
The WOLK team can help your business grow while meeting sustainability objectives. We can help you engage and become compliant with the AWS Sustainability pillar to create responsible, energy-efficient workloads. Contact WOLK today to learn more.

Implementing Security Automation and Continuous Monitoring for a Secure Modern Workplace on AWS

In the modern workplace on AWS, security is a crucial part of your daily operations. Implementing automation and continuous monitoring is vital. This ensures proactive detection and response to potential threats.

Learn how organisations can harness the power of AWS to improve their security posture, protect sensitive data, and maintain a resilient environment.

Understanding Security Automation
Implementing security automation measures improves efficiency and consistency and reduces human error in security tasks. This approach strengthens your company’s security posture, enables swift incident responses, and ensures a secure environment on AWS. Key components of security automation include:

● Identity and Access Management (IAM): Provides fine-grained control over user access to resources.
● Security Groups and Network Access Control: Helps enforce network security measures and control inbound/outbound traffic.
● Automated Threat Detection and Incident Response: Uses automated tools to detect and respond to potential security threats.
● Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Offers centralised monitoring and analysis of security events for proactive security management.

Implementing Security Automation on AWS
Implementing these security automation measures can improve your AWS security. Use the following steps to support a secure modern workplace:

● Set Up a Secure AWS Environment
When setting up a secure AWS environment, follow IAM best practices to manage user identities and permissions. This includes using principles of least privilege, creating individual user accounts, and enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA).

You should also configure security groups and network access controls to add an extra layer of protection. Security groups help control inbound and outbound traffic to instances, while network access controls allow for granular control over network traffic flow within Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

● Leverage AWS Security Services
Use AWS CloudTrail for audit logging and monitoring and AWS Config for tracking and managing resource configurations. Also, try AWS GuardDuty for intelligent threat detection and AWS Security Hub for centralised security visibility and compliance.

Automate Security Tasks with AWS Lambda
Build AWS Lambda functions to automate specific security actions and responses, enabling you to streamline security operations and reduce manual effort.

Lambda functions can be designed to automatically scan and analyse logs for security events, such as detecting suspicious patterns or unauthorised access attempts. These functions can trigger immediate actions like sending notifications, blocking IP addresses, or initiating incident response workflows.

Lambda functions can also be used to perform regular security checks and configuration audits, ensuring compliance with security policies and industry standards. This includes validating SSL certificate expiration dates, verifying access controls, or scanning for known vulnerabilities in application dependencies.

● Implement Continuous Monitoring
Enable real-time monitoring of AWS services and resources using AWS CloudWatch, allowing for automated monitoring and alerting to promptly identify and respond to security incidents.

WOLK’s Network Operations Center (NOC)
At WOLK, we go beyond standard security practices by incorporating our NOC (Network Operations Center) expertise. Our NOC operates around the clock, vigilantly overseeing your AWS environment. We meticulously monitor and manage security parameters, ensuring your system aligns with Well-Architected standards. This proactive stance enables us to address potential issues swiftly and maintain a secure and compliant AWS infrastructure.

Achieve Ironclad Security: Protect Your Modern Workplace on AWS
Achieve ironclad security for your modern workplace on AWS when partnering with WOLK, a trusted long-term AWS partner. Safeguard your valuable assets and ensure a secure future for your organisation. Contact WOLK today for expert guidance and comprehensive security solutions.

Sustainable Procurement Practices for Hardware and Equipment Used on AWS

If you are using the power of AWS for your organisation, it’s time to consider the sustainability of your hardware and equipment procurement. Sustainable procurement practices are vital for environmental, social, and legal reasons.

Explore the significance of sustainable procurement practices for hardware and equipment used on AWS and how they can contribute to greener and more responsible business operations.

Overview of AWS and its Hardware and Equipment
AWS, a leading cloud computing platform, uses various hardware and instruments, including servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. However, the environmental impact of procuring and using these technologies is a concern.

The production and disposal of these devices contribute to carbon emissions, resource depletion, and electronic waste. According to the UN Global E-waste Monitor, 53.6 million metric tonnes of e-waste was generated globally in 2019. Data centres contribute a significant percentage of that waste. However, AWS has begun implementing sustainable hardware usage and disposal practices, including the reverse logistics program.

The reverse logistics program exemplifies Amazon Web Services’ commitment to sustainability by repurposing retired hardware from data centres; they minimise waste and maximise resource utilisation. Functional, sanitised, and retired server racks and components are demanufactured, repaired and tested for reuse in the AWS data centres.

Benefits of Sustainable Procurement Practices for AWS
Sustainable procurement practices for hardware and equipment on AWS offer benefits for your company beyond environmental responsibility, including:

● Reduction in Carbon Footprint
By selecting energy-efficient devices and prioritising renewable energy sources, AWS can minimise its greenhouse gas emissions.

● Cost Savings Through Energy Efficiency
Hardware and equipment with energy-efficient features reduce energy consumption and cost savings for AWS and its customers.

● Enhanced Brand Reputation and Customer Loyalty
Embracing sustainable practices enhances AWS’s brand reputation, attracting customers who value ethical and eco-friendly business practices and fostering increased loyalty and trust.

Key Sustainable Procurement Practices for Hardware and Equipment on AWS
To ensure sustainable procurement of hardware and equipment on AWS, several key practices can be adopted, like:

● Choosing Energy-Efficient Equipment
Opt for devices with high energy efficiency ratings to minimise power consumption and optimise resource utilisation.

● Prioritising Products with Environmentally Friendly Certifications
Select AWS products with certifications like ENERGY STAR or EPEAT, ensuring energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact.

● Considering the Entire Lifecycle of the Product
Evaluate the environmental impact of hardware from manufacturing to disposal. Choose devices with lower environmental footprints for a greener approach.

● Encouraging Suppliers to Adopt Sustainable Practices
Collaborate with suppliers to promote environmentally responsible manufacturing, waste reduction, and energy optimisation.

AWS Initiatives for Sustainable Procurement
AWS prioritises sustainable procurement, aiming for 100% renewable energy usage and collaborating with suppliers for environmentally responsible practices.

Initiatives like the AWS Supplier Code of Conduct and supplier sustainability assessments drive environmental stewardship. AWS promotes a greener future and sustainable procurement industry-wide through collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Tips for Individuals and Organizations Using AWS
Incorporating sustainable procurement practices while using AWS is essential for promoting a positive environmental impact. By prioritising eco-friendly hardware, selecting products with sustainable certifications, and assessing the lifecycle impact of purchases, organisations can harness the full potential of AWS while actively working towards a more sustainable future.

Paving the Way to a Greener Future with Sustainable AWS Procurement
Choose a sustainable path with AWS and make a positive difference today. Contact our team of Amazon Web Services experts at WOLK Technology for guidance and support on your sustainable procurement journey.

Compliance with industry regulations and standards is vital for data protection and maintaining trust in the modern business landscape. AWS is a valuable ally for companies of all sizes, offering a strong infrastructure and comprehensive compliance framework.

Discover how AWS empowers organisations to confidently meet industry-specific requirements, ensuring seamless compliance and strengthening their overall security posture.

Understanding Industry Regulations and Standards
Different industries are bound by specific regulations and standards designed to protect data and ensure privacy.

Examples include the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) for healthcare and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) for handling cardholder data.

Compliance with these regulations is mandatory; failing to meet them can cause severe penalties and reputational damage.

AWS Compliance Framework
AWS provides a comprehensive compliance framework that assists businesses in meeting regulatory requirements.

Under the shared responsibility model, AWS secures the underlying infrastructure, while customers must implement controls to secure their data and applications. This collaborative approach allows organisations to benefit from AWS’s robust security infrastructure while maintaining control over compliance efforts.

Ensuring Security and Privacy on AWS
AWS offers many security features and services to protect data in the cloud. Implementing best practices such as strong encryption, access controls, and network security measures strengthens the security posture.

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) allows you to manage user access and permissions for AWS resources. You can create and manage user accounts, assign permissions, and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.

AWS also provides various encryption options to protect data at rest and in transit. AWS Key Management Service (KMS) enables you to create and manage encryption keys, while services like Amazon S3, Amazon EBS, and Amazon RDS support server-side encryption. AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) enables easy provisioning and management of SSL/TLS certificates.

Auditing and Monitoring on AWS
Continuous auditing and monitoring play a vital role in maintaining compliance. AWS offers services such as AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config, which provide detailed logs and visibility into account activity, resource configurations, and changes.

These services aid in identifying potential compliance issues, enabling prompt responses to security incidents, and facilitating compliance audits.

Compliance Automation and Documentation
AWS offers automation tools and services to streamline compliance processes. AWS Config Rules and AWS Security Hub automate compliance checks and provide real-time alerts.

Additionally, AWS Artifact and AWS Systems Manager assist in documentation and compliance workflow management, simplifying the process of demonstrating adherence to regulations.

Safeguard Your Company on AWS
Secure your company’s future on AWS confidently with WOLK, your trusted AWS partner. Contact us today to fortify your AWS environment and ensure compliance while you focus on your core business objectives.