As a GRC Engineer, you're expected to do more than understand frameworks. You're responsible for operationalizing compliance and ensuring security controls are effectively implemented in the cloud. This Portfolio Template is designed to help you demonstrate hands-on expertise in cloud governance, risk management, and compliance using real code, automation, and scalable AWS solutions.

Why Focus on AWS?

AWS remains the dominant force in the cloud industry, commanding over 30% of global market share and serving organizations across highly regulated sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government. As the most mature and feature-rich cloud platform, AWS provides the broadest set of native security and compliance tools making it the ideal environment for GRC Engineers to build real-world, demonstrable skills.

This template was created by a cloud security leader with deep experience working at the intersection of compliance, automation, and AWS security architecture. It reflects real use cases and industry practices, giving you a portfolio that speaks the language of both auditors and engineers. Because of that deep AWS experience, this portfolio focuses solely on AWS but I recommend others with experience in other cloud providers to contribute to this project and add labs for the other clouds.

Why GRC Engineers Need a Portfolio

AWS certifications and resumes show that you know about cloud security but they rarely prove that you can build and enforce it. A portfolio helps you:

Prove your ability to design and implement AWS-native controls
Demonstrate how you operationalize compliance frameworks like NIST, CIS, and PCI DSS
Showcase real-world automation using Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Align GRC strategy with practical cloud engineering
Stand out in interviews with tangible, working security solutions

Inside the AWS Security Portfolio Template

Each section of this template focuses on a specific GRC-aligned AWS security challenge, with modular labs and detailed documentation that can be customized to reflect your expertise.

Infrastructure as Code for Governance and Compliance

Use AWS CloudFormation to define secure, consistent cloud environments:

VPC architecture with private/public subnet segregation
IAM roles and policies using least privilege principles
Security groups scoped for minimal exposure
KMS-based encryption for S3, RDS, and EBS
Config rules and Service Control Policies (SCPs) as guardrails

Security Testing and Automation Framework

Integrate automated validation and compliance checks using pytest and CI/CD:

Unit testing for AWS Lambda security functions
CloudFormation template validation and linting
Control testing against compliance baselines
CI/CD integration with GitHub Actions
Test coverage reporting for continuous compliance

Documentation Tailored for GRC Context

Every lab includes comprehensive documentation to support both technical and audit-readiness needs:

Step-by-step deployment instructions
Security-focused architecture diagrams
Compliance mappings to frameworks like NIST, CIS, ISO 27001, etc.
Explanations of security decisions and risks addressed
Best practices for real-world implementation

AWS Security Best Practices Baked In

Each lab demonstrates:

Least privilege access control
Encryption in transit and at rest
Secure tagging strategies for asset management
Defense-in-depth design principles
Automated validation and continuous monitoring

How to Use This Portfolio

This template is a foundation you can build upon. GRC Engineers are encouraged to:

Modify existing labs to reflect different compliance frameworks
Add custom labs for AWS services like GuardDuty, Macie, and Security Hub
Extend the portfolio to cover enterprise governance scenarios
Show how you translate policies into working security controls
Use it as a platform to document and showcase your cloud security journey

Skills You'll Showcase as a GRC Engineer

By completing and customizing this portfolio, you'll demonstrate proficiency in:

Python scripting for security automation (Lambda, testing, tooling)
AWS CloudFormation and CDK for infrastructure as code
GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipeline integration
Automated compliance checks using open-source tools
Mapping technical controls to GRC frameworks

Next Steps

Fork the GitHub repo to begin building your personal portfolio

Fork the GitHub repo to begin building your personal portfolio
Explore and understand each lab's purpose and architecture
Customize labs to align with your compliance and security goals
Add your own AWS solutions based on real projects or interests
Document your approach and decisions to showcase your expertise

Creating a strong AWS security portfolio helps bridge the gap between GRC theory and cloud security practice. This template gives you the tools to stand out as a hands-on GRC Engineer who can design, implement, and validate cloud security at scale.

Explore the AWS Security Portfolio Template on GitHub

Build Your Portfolio: A Hands-On Guide for GRC Engineers