Can you explain the EBS encryption process, the role of AWS Key Management Service (KMS), and best practices for managing encryption keys?
EBS encryption secures data at rest and in transit using AWS KMS. When creating an encrypted EBS volume, a customer master key (CMK) is used to generate a unique data key for each volume. Data keys are stored with the volume metadata and encrypted by the CMK.
AWS KMS manages CMKs, allowing you to create, rotate, disable, and define access policies. It integrates with CloudTrail for auditing purposes. To enhance security, use separate CMKs per application or environment, enable automatic key rotation, and restrict access through IAM policies.
Best practices for managing encryption keys include :
1. Use alias names for CMKs to simplify management.
2. Regularly review and update IAM policies to ensure least privilege access.
3. Monitor unauthorized access attempts via CloudTrail logs.
4. Implement multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations.
5. Backup unencrypted data keys in secure offsite locations.
6. Test key recovery processes periodically.
7. Decommission unused keys to reduce exposure.
