Security Checklist for New AWS Accounts

Throughout my years working with AWS customers, I've seen firsthand how crucial those first security steps are when setting up a new AWS account. Many customers ask me, "Where do I start?" After helping numerous organizations establish their AWS presence securely, I've put together this streamlined checklist of the most critical security steps you need to take right away.

First things first: for most organizations starting their AWS journey, we strongly recommend using AWS Control Tower to set up and govern your AWS environment. Control Tower provides automated security, operations, and compliance best practices right from the start. But if AWS Control Tower doesn't meet your need, then at least follow these.

1. Secure Your Root Account

• Enable MFA on your root account immediately
• Create a strong, unique password
• Store root credentials securely
• Set up alternate contacts for the account

2. Set Up IAM Users and Groups

• Create an IAM admin user for daily operations
• Enable MFA for all IAM users
• Create groups for different access levels (admin, developer, readonly)
• Follow the principle of least privilege for permissions

3. Enable Core Security Services

• Turn on CloudTrail in all regions
• Enable AWS Config for resource tracking
• Set up GuardDuty for threat detection
• Configure default encryption for S3 buckets

4. Implement Billing Controls

• Set up billing alerts and budgets
• Configure AWS Cost Explorer
• Set billing notification email

5. Network Security Basics

• Use VPC with private subnets for resources
• Configure security groups restrictively
• Enable VPC Flow Logs for network monitoring

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Let Us Help You Get Started

Our team of AWS experts can guide you through each step and ensure your account is properly secured from day one. Whether you need help with initial setup or want a security assessment of your existing configuration, we're here to help.

Reach out to our team, and we'll handle the heavy lifting for you.

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