Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security

Best practices to secure automated cloud and infrastructure deployments.

Understanding Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Security

focuses on securing automated infrastructure deployment through tools like Terraform, Ansible, and AWS CloudFormation. IaC allows scalable and repeatable provisioning of cloud and on-premise resources but introduces security risks like misconfigurations, exposed secrets, and privilege escalation.

Common Applications and Use Cases

Automated Cloud Deployment – IaC is used for deploying and managing AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud infrastructures.
DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines – Securing continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines with automated infrastructure provisioning.
Network Security Enforcement – Managing firewall rules, VPN configurations, and cloud security groups through IaC.
Compliance and Policy Enforcement – Ensuring regulatory compliance (NIST, CIS, ISO 27001) through automated security checks.

Best Practices and Security Considerations

Implement Least Privilege Access – Use role-based access control (RBAC) and identity and access management (IAM) for infrastructure permissions.
Scan IaC for Misconfigurations – Use IaC security tools like Checkov, TFSec, and KICS to identify vulnerabilities.
Use Secrets Management – Store API keys, credentials, and encryption keys securely in tools like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault.
Enable Immutable Infrastructure – Prevent unauthorized modifications by enforcing infrastructure immutability.
Perform Regular Compliance Audits – Continuously validate IaC deployments against security benchmarks.