A secure AWS foundation is essential for any organization aiming to scale securely in the cloud. As part of building your GRC Security Portfolio, Lab 1: AWS Account Governance focuses on implementing foundational security, compliance automation, and visibility controls using AWS-native services with Infrastructure as Code (IaC).

This hands-on lab empowers GRC Engineers to demonstrate real-world expertise in setting up secure, auditable, and cost-aware AWS environments aligned with best practices and industry frameworks like NIST, CIS, and ISO 27001.

Why Account Governance Matters

Before deploying applications or workloads in AWS, organizations must establish a secure and governed foundation. Poor account configuration is a leading cause of cloud security incidents. This lab helps you prove your ability to:

Enforce secure AWS account configurations
Automate compliance checks and remediation
Centralized logging and monitoring for audit readiness
Control costs while maintaining visibility
Align with industry-recognized governance frameworks

Core Challenges This Lab Addresses

Organizations often struggle with:

Inconsistent account security baselines
Lack of centralized logging and audit trails
Manual compliance tracking
Unmonitored cloud spending
Limited security visibility across accounts

Lab Solution Overview: Secure AWS Account Governance

This lab implements a robust governance foundation through three key pillars:

Identity & Access Management (IAM) Foundations

Enforce strong password policies and MFA

Implement least privilege access
Define role-based access control
Set permission boundaries
Enable regular access reviews

Centralized Logging & Auditability

Enable CloudTrail across all regions

Route logs to centralized S3 buckets
Use CloudWatch for real-time monitoring
Maintain a full audit trail of API activity
Track security-relevant events automatically

Automated Compliance & Monitoring

Deploy AWS Config rules for continuous compliance

Enable Security Hub for centralized security insights
Automate remediation using Lambda functions
Monitor configuration drift
Track and document changes for audits

Technical Architecture

This lab is deployed entirely through CloudFormation templates for reproducibility and version control. Key services include:

IAM: MFA, password policies, permission boundaries
CloudTrail: API logging and audit trails
CloudWatch: Alarms, dashboards, and metric tracking
AWS Config: Rule-based compliance monitoring
Security Hub: Aggregated security posture
AWS Budgets: Cost and usage alerts
S3: Secure centralized log storage

All code is tested and versioned.

Key Benefits for GRC Engineers

By completing this lab, you'll demonstrate:

A secure, compliant AWS account structure
Hands-on implementation of compliance automation
Visibility and auditability across AWS resources
Cost-awareness through proactive budget controls
Real-world knowledge of AWS governance tools

AWS Security & Compliance Best Practices in Action

This lab highlights several AWS-recommended practices:

Security

Defense in depth

Least privilege enforcement
Automated policy enforcement
Continuous monitoring and alerting
Role-based access management

Compliance

Framework-aligned controls (NIST, CIS, ISO, etc.)

Automated evidence collection via logging
Real-time configuration drift detection
Clear documentation for auditors
Ongoing compliance assessments

Cost Optimization

Budget thresholds and alerts

Cost allocation via tagging
Resource usage insights
Prevention of unexpected charges

Opportunities for Extension

To build upon this foundation, consider implementing:

Custom AWS Config rules for your organization
Advanced remediation playbooks
Integration with SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, QRadar)
Multi-account governance with AWS Control Tower
Additional frameworks like FedRAMP, HIPAA, or SOC 2

Start Building Your AWS GRC Portfolio

This lab lays the groundwork for a secure, scalable, and auditable AWS environment. It serves as the foundation for all other labs in your portfolio, showcasing your ability to translate GRC policy into working infrastructure.

Start Lab 1: Building a Secure AWS Foundation

Lab 1: AWS Account Governance Lab for GRC Engineers: Building a Secure and Compliant Foundation