Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a leading cloud service provider that offers a wide range of tools to help businesses manage their infrastructure. One of these tools is AWS Control Tower, designed to make managing multiple AWS accounts easier and more secure. If you’re new to AWS or just curious about how it works, this beginner’s guide will explain what AWS Control Tower is, why it’s useful, and how to get started with it.
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What is AWS Control Tower?
AWS Control Tower is a cloud management service that provides a simple and secure way to set up and manage a multi-account environment on AWS. It acts like a central hub that helps you create and manage multiple AWS accounts while making sure they follow best practices in security and compliance.
Think of AWS Control Tower as a tool that builds a solid foundation for your AWS accounts. It automates the setup of your AWS environment based on well-architected principles, so you don’t have to worry about manual configurations or mistakes.
Key Features of AWS Control Tower
AWS Control Tower comes with several key features that make managing a multi-account AWS environment easier:
1. Landing Zone
The Landing Zone is a pre-configured, secure environment that AWS Control Tower creates for you. It acts as the starting point for setting up your AWS accounts. The Landing Zone includes:
- Guardrails: Pre-configured rules and policies that ensure your accounts are set up securely.
- AWS Organizations: A feature that allows you to manage multiple AWS accounts centrally.
- Account Factory: A tool to create and manage new AWS accounts with a consistent configuration.
2. Guardrails
Guardrails are a set of best practices and security policies that AWS Control Tower applies to your accounts. They help keep your AWS environment secure and compliant with industry standards. There are two types of guardrails:
- Preventive Guardrails: These guardrails enforce rules that prevent users from taking actions that could put your AWS environment at risk.
- Detective Guardrails: These guardrails monitor your accounts for any activities that go against your organization’s security policies.
3. Account Factory
Account Factory is a feature that makes it easy to create and manage new AWS accounts in a consistent manner. It allows you to quickly set up new accounts with the same security settings, policies, and configurations, which saves time and reduces the risk of errors.
4. Dashboard
The AWS Control Tower Dashboard provides a centralized view of your AWS environment. It shows you the status of your guardrails, accounts, and any activities taking place within your AWS setup. This makes it easy to monitor and manage your accounts from a single place.
Benefits of Using AWS Control Tower
AWS Control Tower offers several benefits that make it a great choice for businesses of all sizes:
1. Simplified Setup
AWS Control Tower makes it easy to set up a secure and well-governed multi-account environment. It uses automated processes to ensure that all your accounts are configured consistently with best practices.
2. Enhanced Security
With the built-in guardrails, AWS Control Tower helps you maintain a secure AWS environment by preventing risky actions and detecting any potential security issues. This reduces the chances of data breaches or misconfigurations.
3. Cost-Effective
By automating many of the manual tasks involved in setting up and managing AWS accounts, AWS Control Tower helps you save both time and money. It also reduces the need for specialized knowledge, which means your team can focus on other important tasks.
4. Centralized Management
The AWS Control Tower Dashboard gives you a clear overview of your entire AWS environment. You can monitor your accounts, guardrails, and security status all from one place, which makes managing your infrastructure much easier.
How to Get Started with AWS Control Tower
Now that you know what AWS Control Tower is and its benefits, let’s go through the steps to get started:
Step 1: Sign in to the AWS Management Console
To begin, you need to sign in to the AWS Management Console with your AWS account. If you don’t have an account, you can create one for free.
Step 2: Navigate to AWS Control Tower
Once you’re signed in, go to the AWS Control Tower page by searching for it in the AWS Management Console. Click on it to open the AWS Control Tower setup page.
Step 3: Set Up Your Landing Zone
Follow the guided steps to set up your Landing Zone. AWS Control Tower will automatically create your landing zone using AWS best practices. This process may take some time, as it involves setting up multiple services.
Step 4: Configure Your Guardrails
After the Landing Zone is set up, you can configure your Guardrails. AWS Control Tower will provide a list of recommended guardrails based on security and compliance best practices. You can choose which ones to enable for your accounts.
Step 5: Create New Accounts with Account Factory
Use the Account Factory feature to create new AWS accounts. This feature ensures that all new accounts are set up with the same configurations and security settings, making it easy to manage your multi-account environment.
Step 6: Monitor and Manage Using the Dashboard
Finally, use the Dashboard to monitor your AWS environment. Check the status of your guardrails, accounts, and any activities to ensure everything is running smoothly and securely.
Best Practices for Using AWS Control Tower
Here are some tips to make the most of AWS Control Tower:
- Enable Key Guardrails: Make sure to enable both preventive and detective guardrails to maximize security and compliance.
- Regularly Review Account Activity: Use the dashboard to regularly review the activity in your accounts and ensure that there are no security or compliance issues.
- Use Account Factory for Consistency: Always use Account Factory when creating new accounts to ensure that they follow your organization’s best practices.
Common Use Cases for AWS Control Tower
AWS Control Tower is commonly used in the following scenarios:
- Enterprise Environments: Companies that manage multiple AWS accounts for different teams or departments use Control Tower to maintain consistency and security.
- Startups and Small Businesses: Smaller companies that are just starting with AWS can use Control Tower to quickly set up a secure multi-account environment without needing in-depth AWS knowledge.
- Regulated Industries: Organizations in industries with strict compliance requirements, such as finance and healthcare, benefit from Control Tower’s automated guardrails and monitoring.
Conclusion
AWS Control Tower is a powerful tool for anyone looking to manage multiple AWS accounts securely and efficiently. It simplifies the setup process, enforces security best practices, and provides a centralized view of your entire AWS environment. Whether you are a startup or a large enterprise, AWS Control Tower can help you build a well-governed and secure AWS infrastructure.
By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can easily set up your AWS environment and focus on growing your business without worrying about security and compliance.
