10 AWS Workspaces Security Best Practices

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a managed desktop computing service called Amazon WorkSpaces. Amazon WorkSpaces allows users to access their applications and data from any device with an internet connection.

While Amazon WorkSpaces provides a convenient way for users to access their data, it also introduces some security risks. In this article, we will discuss 10 AWS WorkSpaces security best practices that you can use to mitigate these risks.

1. Use AWS Directory Service to manage your users and groups

When you use AWS Directory Service, you get a managed Active Directory (AD) service that is integrated with AWS. This means that you can use your existing AD credentials to access AWS resources, including Workspaces.

AWS Directory Service also makes it easy to set up granular permissions for users and groups. For example, you can give one group of users permission to launch Workspaces, while another group only has permission to terminate them.

Using AWS Directory Service is the best way to manage users and groups for AWS Workspaces because it provides a single point of control for all your AWS resources.

2. Create a custom IAM policy for each user or group of users

When you create an IAM policy, you specify the permissions that are allowed or denied for a user or group. By creating a custom IAM policy for each user or group, you can be sure that only the necessary permissions are granted. This helps to reduce the risk of accidental or unauthorized access to your AWS resources.

Additionally, by creating separate IAM policies for different types of users, you can more easily control and monitor access to your AWS resources. For example, you could create a policy that allows read-only access to your S3 buckets for your development team, and a separate policy that allows full read/write access for your operations team.

Creating custom IAM policies may seem like extra work, but it’s worth it for the added security and control it provides.

3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all Workspaces

MFA adds an extra layer of security to your AWS account by requiring you to enter a code from a physical device, such as your smartphone, in addition to your username and password. This makes it much more difficult for someone to gain unauthorized access to your account, even if they have your credentials.

Enabling MFA on all Workspaces is a simple process, and we recommend using the Google Authenticator app for generating the codes. Once you have MFA enabled, be sure to keep the codes safe and secure, as they are the only way to access your account if you lose your phone or device.

4. Encrypt data at rest with EBS volumes

EBS volumes are block level storage devices that are used by AWS Workspaces to store the data for your virtual desktop. By default, these volumes are not encrypted, which means that if someone were to gain access to your EBS volume, they would be able to read all of the data stored on it.

Encrypting your EBS volumes ensures that even if someone were to gain access to your volumes, they would not be able to read the data stored on them. To encrypt an EBS volume, you can use either the AWS Management Console or the AWS CLI.

Once you have encrypted your EBS volumes, you will also need to create a snapshot of the volume so that you can create a new volume from the snapshot that is encrypted.

5. Manage access keys securely

If an attacker gets their hands on your access keys, they can use them to gain unauthorized access to your AWS account and wreak havoc. They could delete critical data, launch new instances, or even incur charges that show up on your bill.

To prevent this from happening, it’s important to keep your access keys safe and secure. Here are some tips for doing so:

– Never share your access keys with anyone
– Never hardcode your access keys into applications or scripts
– Rotate your access keys regularly
– Use a tool like AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS) to manage your keys

By following these best practices, you can help ensure that your access keys are always kept safe and secure.

6. Configure security groups to control network traffic

When you create an AWS Workspace, a default security group is created for you. This security group allows all traffic from anywhere (0.0.0.0/0). That’s not very secure.

You should create a new security group that only allows traffic from specific IP addresses or ranges that you trust. For example, you might want to allow traffic only from your office IP address range.

To do this, go to the Amazon VPC console and select Security Groups. Then, create a new security group and add a rule that allows traffic only from the trusted IP addresses or ranges. Finally, assign this new security group to your AWS Workspaces.

7. Monitor usage with Amazon CloudWatch

AWS CloudWatch is a monitoring service that provides metrics and log monitoring for AWS resources. This is important for security because it allows you to see what’s happening with your Workspaces in real-time, so you can quickly identify and respond to any suspicious activity.

To set up CloudWatch for your Workspaces, you’ll first need to create an IAM role that gives CloudWatch permission to access your Workspaces. Then, you’ll need to create a CloudWatch Logs group and specify the types of events that you want to monitor. Finally, you’ll need to create a CloudWatch alarm to notify you of any suspicious activity.

Monitoring your Workspaces with CloudWatch is an important part of keeping them secure, so be sure to set it up as soon as possible.

8. Protect against malware with antivirus software

Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or disable computers and computer systems. It can spread quickly and easily, causing significant harm to an organization.

Antivirus software helps to protect against malware by identifying and removing it from your system. It is important to keep your antivirus software up to date, as new strains of malware are constantly being created.

AWS Workspaces comes with built-in antivirus protection, but you may want to consider adding additional protection, such as Symantec Endpoint Protection, to your workspace.

9. Back up your data regularly

If your data is lost or corrupted, you could lose critical business information or be unable to access important files. By backing up your data regularly, you can minimize the risk of data loss and ensure that you can recover your data if something goes wrong.

There are a few different ways to back up your data in AWS Workspaces, including using the built-in snapshot feature or creating an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). You can also use third-party backup tools, such as EBS Snapshotter.

Whichever method you choose, make sure you test your backups regularly to ensure they are working as expected.

10. Use the latest version of the WorkSpaces client application

The WorkSpaces client application is how users access their virtual desktop, applications, and data. It’s a critical component of the AWS Workspaces service, and it’s constantly being updated with new features and security enhancements.

Using an older version of the WorkSpaces client application puts your deployment at risk because it might contain vulnerabilities that have since been fixed. By always using the latest version of the client, you can be sure you’re getting the best possible security for your AWS Workspaces deployment.