AWS Password Exposure Prevention

Learn how to prevent password exposure in AWS environments. Follow step-by-step guidance for PCI-DSS compliance and secure credential management.

unencrypted sensitive data

PCI-DSS

aws

Why It Matters

The core goal is to proactively secure all password storage and transmission mechanisms within your AWS environment, preventing credential exposure before it occurs. Implementing comprehensive password protection across AWS services is critical for organizations subject to PCI-DSS, as it helps you maintain secure payment processing systems and protect cardholder data environments.

Primary Risk: Unencrypted sensitive data exposure

Relevant Regulation: PCI-DSS Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard

A robust password protection strategy delivers immediate security improvements, establishing encrypted credential management and ongoing compliance monitoring.

Prerequisites

Permissions & Roles

  • AWS admin or security engineer role
  • IAM policies for Secrets Manager and Systems Manager
  • KMS key management permissions

External Tools

  • AWS CLI or SDK
  • Cyera DSPM account
  • CloudFormation or Terraform

Prior Setup

  • AWS account with proper regions
  • KMS keys configured
  • VPC and security groups defined
  • Audit logging enabled

Introducing Cyera

Cyera is a modern Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) platform that discovers, classifies, and continuously monitors your sensitive data across cloud services. Using advanced AI-powered pattern recognition and natural language processing (NLP), Cyera automatically identifies hardcoded passwords, API keys, and other credentials in your AWS environment, ensuring comprehensive protection against password exposure risks in real time.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Configure AWS Secrets Manager

Set up AWS Secrets Manager to store and rotate passwords automatically. Create KMS keys for encryption and establish proper IAM policies for least-privilege access.

aws secretsmanager create-secret --name "MySecret" --description "Database password" --secret-string "MySecretPassword"

2
Implement Systems Manager Parameter Store

Use Parameter Store for application configuration and non-rotating secrets. Configure SecureString parameters with proper encryption and access controls.

3
Enable Cyera credential scanning

In the Cyera portal, navigate to Integrations → AWS → Add Connection. Configure cross-account roles to scan for hardcoded credentials in EC2 instances, Lambda functions, and container images.

4
Establish IAM password policies

Configure strong password policies for IAM users, enable MFA requirements, and set up automated compliance monitoring. Review and remediate any policy violations identified by Cyera's AI engine.

Architecture & Workflow

AWS Secrets Manager

Centralized secret storage with automatic rotation

Systems Manager Parameter Store

Configuration management and simple secrets

Cyera AI Engine

Continuous scanning and credential detection

KMS & Encryption

Encryption at rest and in transit

Security Flow Summary

Scan Resources → Detect Credentials → Encrypt & Store → Monitor Access

Best Practices & Tips

Encryption Standards

  • Use customer-managed KMS keys
  • Enable encryption in transit and at rest
  • Implement proper key rotation policies

Access Control

  • Apply principle of least privilege
  • Use resource-based policies
  • Enable detailed CloudTrail logging

Common Pitfalls

  • Hardcoding passwords in application code
  • Using weak IAM password policies
  • Neglecting to rotate secrets regularly

References & Further Reading

Next Steps

🔍 Detect: Scan for existing password exposures 🔧 Fix: Remediate exposed credentials