AWS Configuration Files Detection
Learn how to detect configuration files in AWS environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for NIST 800-53 compliance and configuration management security.
Why It Matters
The core goal is to identify every configuration file stored within your AWS environment, so you can remediate misconfigurations and secure sensitive settings before they become attack vectors. Scanning for configuration files in AWS is a priority for organizations subject to NIST 800-53, as it helps you prove you've discovered and accounted for all configuration assets—mitigating the risk of misconfiguration and unauthorized access.
A thorough scan delivers immediate visibility into configuration drift, laying the foundation for automated policy enforcement and ongoing compliance.
Prerequisites
Permissions & Roles
- AWS IAM role with Config, S3, and CloudTrail read permissions
- Access to Security Hub and Config service
- Ability to deploy AWS CLI or CloudFormation
External Tools
- AWS CLI
- Cyera DSPM account
- API credentials
Prior Setup
- AWS account with proper billing setup
- AWS Config enabled in target regions
- CLI authenticated
- VPC and security groups configured
Introducing Cyera
Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. By using advanced AI and natural language processing (NLP) techniques, Cyera automatically identifies configuration files containing sensitive parameters, API keys, database connections, and security settings in your AWS environment, ensuring you stay ahead of misconfigurations and meet NIST 800-53 audit requirements in real time.
Step-by-Step Guide
Ensure AWS Config is enabled across all regions and create an IAM role with appropriate permissions for configuration resource discovery.
In the Cyera portal, navigate to Integrations → DSPM → Add new. Select AWS, provide your access keys and role ARN, then define the scan scope to include S3 buckets, ECS containers, Lambda functions, and EC2 instances where configuration files typically reside.
Configure webhooks or streaming exports to push scan results into AWS Security Hub or your SIEM. Link findings to existing ticketing systems like Jira or ServiceNow for configuration management workflows.
Review the initial detection report, prioritize configuration files with hardcoded credentials or sensitive settings, and adjust detection rules to reduce false positives. Schedule recurring scans to maintain configuration visibility.
Architecture & Workflow
AWS Config Service
Source of configuration metadata and resource inventory
Cyera Connector
Pulls configuration data and samples files for analysis
Cyera AI Engine
Applies NLP models and pattern recognition for file classification
Reporting & Remediation
Dashboards, alerts, and configuration management playbooks
Data Flow Summary
Best Practices & Tips
Performance Considerations
- Start with critical AWS services like S3 and Lambda
- Use sampling for large configuration repositories
- Tune scan frequency based on change velocity
Tuning Detection Rules
- Maintain allowlists for known safe configuration patterns
- Adjust sensitivity for different file types
- Match rules to your configuration management policies
Common Pitfalls
- Forgetting configuration files in container images
- Over-scanning temporary or build artifacts
- Neglecting to monitor configuration drift