Policy-as-Code in AWS Serverless

1. Introduction

Policy-as-Code is the practice of defining and managing policies using code, allowing for automated validation and enforcement. In the context of AWS Serverless, it leverages tools like AWS Lambda, AWS CloudFormation, and AWS IAM to automate compliance and security policies.

2. Key Concepts

3. Implementation Steps

3.1 Define Policies

Start by defining your policies. For example, using JSON or YAML formats:

{
    "Version": "2012-10-17",
    "Statement": [
        {
            "Effect": "Allow",
            "Action": "lambda:*",
            "Resource": "*"
        }
    ]
}
        

3.2 Use AWS IAM Policies

Create IAM policies using the defined policy document and attach them to your AWS resources.

3.3 Integrate with CI/CD

Automate policy checks within your CI/CD pipeline using tools like AWS CodePipeline.

3.4 Monitor and Audit

Implement monitoring using AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config to ensure compliance.

3.5 Sample Flowchart

graph TD;
    A[Define Policy] --> B{Is Policy Valid?};
    B -- Yes --> C[Deploy Policy];
    B -- No --> D[Revise Policy];
    C --> E[Monitor Policy];
        

4. Best Practices

• Keep policies simple and easy to understand.
• Regularly review and update policies.
• Implement least privilege principles.
• Use modular policies for scalability.

5. FAQ