AWS Config for compliance - Step-by-Step Execution

Process Flow - AWS Config for compliance

Start AWS Config Setup

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Define Resource Types to Monitor

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Create Config Rules

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AWS Config Records Resource States

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Evaluate Compliance Against Rules

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Generate Compliance Reports

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Alert or Remediate Non-Compliance

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End

AWS Config tracks your cloud resources, checks if they follow rules, and reports compliance.

Execution Sample

AWS

aws configservice put-config-rule --config-rule file://rule.json
aws configservice describe-compliance-by-config-rule

This sets a compliance rule and then checks compliance status.

Process Table

Step	Action	Input/Condition	AWS Config Behavior	Result
1	Start AWS Config	Enable AWS Config in region	AWS Config service starts recording resource changes	Recording started
2	Define Resources	Select EC2, S3, IAM	AWS Config tracks these resource types	Resources monitored
3	Create Rule	Rule: EC2 instances must have tags	Rule created and active	Rule active
4	Resource Change Detected	New EC2 instance launched	AWS Config records instance state	Instance recorded
5	Evaluate Compliance	Check if instance has required tags	Rule evaluates instance	Instance non-compliant
6	Generate Report	Compliance data collected	AWS Config compiles compliance report	Report shows non-compliance
7	Alert	Non-compliance detected	Send notification or trigger remediation	Alert sent
8	End	No new changes	No further action	Waiting for changes

💡 No new resource changes detected, AWS Config waits for next event

Status Tracker

Variable	Start	After Step 4	After Step 5	After Step 6	Final
Resources Monitored	None	EC2 instance added	EC2 instance evaluated	Compliance report generated	Waiting for changes
Compliance Status	N/A	N/A	Non-compliant	Reported	No new changes

Key Moments - 2 Insights

Why does AWS Config show non-compliance after a new resource is added?

Because the new resource does not meet the rule criteria, as shown in step 5 where the rule evaluates and finds missing tags.

What happens if no resource changes occur after AWS Config is set up?

AWS Config waits and does not generate new reports until it detects changes, as shown in step 8.

Visual Quiz - 3 Questions

Look at the execution table, at which step does AWS Config evaluate resource compliance?

A Step 3

B Step 5

C Step 6

D Step 7

💡 Hint

Check the 'AWS Config Behavior' column for evaluation actions.

According to the variable tracker, what is the compliance status after step 5?

A Non-compliant

B Compliant

C Not evaluated

D Unknown

💡 Hint

Look at the 'Compliance Status' row after step 5.

If a resource change is detected at step 4, what is the immediate AWS Config action?

A Send alert

B Generate report

C Record resource state

D Evaluate compliance

💡 Hint

Refer to the 'AWS Config Behavior' column at step 4.

Concept Snapshot

AWS Config monitors AWS resources continuously.
You define rules to check compliance.
It records resource states and evaluates rules.
Reports show which resources comply or not.
Alerts or fixes can be triggered automatically.

Full Transcript

AWS Config is a service that helps you track your cloud resources and check if they follow your rules. First, you enable AWS Config and choose which resources to watch, like EC2 or S3. Then, you create rules that say what is allowed, for example, EC2 instances must have tags. When a resource changes, AWS Config records its state and checks if it follows the rules. It makes reports showing compliance status. If something is not compliant, it can send alerts or fix the problem automatically. If no changes happen, AWS Config waits for new events.