Enhancing Cloud Security and Compliance with CIS Hardened Images

The Problem: Defending Against Cyber Threats

A U.S. government agency faced increasing challenges in securing its Amazon EC2 infrastructure against advanced cybersecurity threats, including distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. With multiple government entities relying on its cybersecurity assessment and management service, the agency needed a comprehensive, automated approach to security and compliance, ensuring sensitive workloads remained protected while meeting strict government regulations.

The Solution: Pre-configured VMs

To address these challenges, the agency adopted AWS GovCloud (US) and leveraged CIS Hardened Images for Amazon EC2 as a secure baseline. These pre-configured, security-optimized machine images, combined with AWS-native tools such as AWS CloudTrail and Amazon GuardDuty, enabled automated inventory management, vulnerability assessments, and continuous monitoring. The agency also used its cybersecurity management service to gain an enterprise-wide view of its security posture, facilitating quick identification and resolution of potential risks.

The Impact: Reduced Risk of Cyber Threats

This solution helped the agency significantly reduce the risk of DDoS attacks while maintaining compliance with federal security regulations. The automated approach streamlined security management by offering real-time visibility into vulnerabilities and an enterprise-wide risk posture, while ongoing technical support ensured swift responses to emerging threats. By leveraging CIS Hardened Images and AWS security tools, the agency successfully enhanced its cloud security framework and safeguarded sensitive data across its infrastructure.