The use of cloud services is widespread and expected to only continue to increase—by 2020, it is estimated that 41 percent of enterprise workloads will be hosted on public cloud platforms.1 One of the leading platforms in this space, Amazon Web Services (AWS), has the ability to help teams become more agile; however, without proper knowledge of AWS configurations and potential hazards, enterprises may also open themselves to new risks.
With this in mind, ISACA has launched a new audit program, Amazon Web Services ® (AWS ®) Audit Program to support IT auditors in their assessments of AWS deployments—including the use of AWS services, access to the AWS environment, management and interrelationships of AWS services. The program covers AWS applications, functions and containers, and across the domains of governance, network configuration and management, asset configuration and management, logical access control, data encryption controls, logging and event management, security incident response and disaster recovery.
IT audit professionals can follow detailed testing steps outlined for controls across these domains in this audit program spreadsheet to assist in their auditing process, but they are encouraged to customize the document for their unique enterprise needs. The program is free to members, and $25 for non-members.
“ISACA's AWS Audit Program provides IT audit professionals with the essentials for grasping the breadth and depth of AWS deployments as well as to provide them with a solid foundation for building their own customized audit program around these services,” said Adam Kohnke, CISA, CISSP, Senior IT Auditor for Total Administrative Services Corporation, and lead developer of the AWS Audit Program.
Kohnke elaborates on the topic in his ISACA® Journal article, “Auditing Amazon Web Services,” published 1 May, which is available to members. In this feature, Kohnke covers the audit elements related to the eight domains covered in the audit program, while also providing a helpful overview of current AWS service offerings organized by category.
To download the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Audit Program, visit http://www.isaca.org/Knowledge-Center/Research/ResearchDeliverables/Pages/Amazon-Web-Services-AWS-Audit-Program.aspx. To access the ISACA Journal article, "Auditing Amazon Web Services," visit: www.isaca.org/archives. For more information about ISACA's other audit programs, visit http://www.isaca.org/Knowledge-Center/Research/Pages/Audit-Assurance-Programs.aspx.
1 Columbus, Louis; “83 Percent of Enterprise Workloads Will Be In The Cloud by 2020,” Forbes, 7 January 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/louiscolumbus/2018/01/07/83-of-enterprise-workloads-will-be-in-the-cloud-by-2020/#4ee9010d6261
About ISACA
Now in its 50th anniversary year, ISACA® (isaca.org) is a global association helping individuals and enterprises achieve the positive potential of technology. Today’s world is powered by information and technology, and ISACA equips professionals with the knowledge, credentials, education and community to advance their careers and transform their organizations. ISACA leverages the expertise of its 460,000 engaged professionals—including its 140,000 members—in information and cybersecurity, governance, assurance, risk and innovation, as well as its enterprise performance subsidiary, CMMI® Institute, to help advance innovation through technology. ISACA has a presence in more than 188 countries, including more than 220 chapters worldwide and offices in both the United States and China.
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ISACANews
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/isaca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ISACAHQ
Instagram: www.instagram.com/isacanews/
