Designing mechanisms to forward traffic over secure connections (for example, by using Systems Manager and EC2 Instance Connect)

Can you describe what AWS Systems Manager is and how it can help in managing EC2 instances securely?

AWS Systems Manager is a management service that provides a unified interface for automating the operational management of your AWS resources. It helps in securely managing EC2 instances by allowing you to automate routine tasks (like patching), monitor compliance with your desired configuration, and store parameters securely using Parameter Store. Systems Manager allows for secure remote access to instances without needing to expose SSH ports to the internet, thereby reducing attack surfaces.

What is EC2 Instance Connect and how does it enhance the security of SSH access?

EC2 Instance Connect provides a simple and secure way to connect to your EC2 instances using Secure Shell (SSH). It enhances security by enabling you to use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies to control SSH access, allowing for the use of short-lived SSH keys rather than permanent keys, and logging connection attempts to CloudTrail for better visibility and auditing.

How does the secure tunneling feature of Systems Manager Session Manager improve traffic security over traditional SSH?

Systems Manager Session Manager’s secure tunneling allows you to create a secure connection to your resources inside your VPC without the need to open inbound ports, use bastion hosts, or manage SSH keys. It provides a secure channel that encrypts traffic between the client and the instance, using IAM-based access control and logging of session activity in CloudTrail for auditability, thereby enhancing overall traffic security.

What role does IAM play in managing access to Systems Manager and EC2 Instance Connect?

IAM plays a critical role in managing access to Systems Manager and EC2 Instance Connect by allowing administrators to define policies that grant or deny various actions to IAM users and roles. With IAM, you can enforce least privilege access, ensuring that users only have the necessary permissions to perform certain actions on EC2 instances, such as starting a session or pushing SSH keys through Instance Connect.

Can you explain the process of setting up an EC2 Instance Connect session?

Setting up an EC2 Instance Connect session involves pushing a one-time use SSH public key to the EC2 instance using the Instance Connect API. Once the key is pushed to the instance metadata, it is available for 60 seconds for the user to initiate an SSH session. The user must authenticate with IAM and have the necessary permissions to push the key and connect to the instance.

How can you integrate AWS Systems Manager with other AWS services to enhance security and operations automation?

AWS Systems Manager can be integrated with various AWS services to enhance security and operation automation. For example, it can be used with CloudWatch for enhanced monitoring and with Lambda for automated remediation tasks. This integration with AWS services can lead to more robust automation, proactive issue resolution, and improved security posture.

Can you enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for EC2 Instance Connect and Systems Manager access? If so, how?

Yes, you can enforce MFA for both EC2 Instance Connect and Systems Manager access by using IAM conditional policies. With these policies, you can require users to authenticate with MFA before they are allowed to perform actions like starting a session or pushing an SSH key.

How does EC2 Instance Connect manage the distribution and lifecycle of SSH keys?

EC2 Instance Connect manages SSH keys by generating a new SSH key for each access request and sending the public key to the instance automatically. This public key is stored only for a short duration (typically 60 seconds), after which it is automatically deleted. This minimizes the risk associated with long-term credential exposure and key management.

How does Systems Manager Session Manager allow for auditable and controllable commands on EC2 instances?

Systems Manager Session Manager provides a logged and audited session directly from the AWS Management Console or CLI, without using SSH. It logs all session activity to S3 and CloudTrail, allowing for detailed audit trails. Session Manager can be configured to require approval to start a session, creating a controlled and monitored environment.

What is the difference between using Systems Manager Session Manager and EC2 Instance Connect in terms of port exposure?

Systems Manager Session Manager does not require any open inbound ports on the instance since it uses a secure channel established by the Systems Manager agent. On the other hand, EC2 Instance Connect requires open SSH port (by default port 22) on the instance, but it limits exposure by using temporary credentials and narrow IAM policies. Both methods help reduce the overall attack surface compared to traditional methods.

Remember that the AWS ecosystem is always evolving, and while the answers provided are correct at the time of writing based on the current best practices and AWS documentation, it is important for candidates to stay updated with any changes or new features released by AWS.