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Don't just learn the cloud—BYTE it!
Byte the Cloud is your go-to, on-the-go, podcast for mastering AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud certifications and exam prep!
Chris 0:00
Hey everyone, and welcome back to the deep dive. Today, we're going to be talking all about AWS security, but more specifically, we're going to taking a deep dive into AWS shield. It's a service that could be a real game changer for all of you out there listening Absolutely, not just in terms of keeping your application safe and sound, but also for potentially conquering those AWS certification exams. Yeah,
Kelly 0:21
that's right. AWS shield is a service. I think a lot of people kind of skip over, but it's absolutely crucial for anyone working in the cloud these days. So
Chris 0:30
let's start with the basics. What exactly is AWS shield? Imagine it's like a, you know, like a super powered bodyguard for your applications. Essentially, it's a managed DDoS Protection Service, meaning AWS handles all the complex stuff in the background, leaving you to focus on what you do best, building and managing those awesome applications. And what's
Kelly 0:50
so important here is that DDoS are actually becoming more and more common these days, and they're not just targeting those huge companies anymore. We're seeing smaller businesses and even individual developers becoming victims. That's
Chris 1:01
a really good point, and the impact of these attacks can be huge. I'm talking websites crashing, users getting frustrated, and you potentially losing a ton of money, you know, because your application is down. Think about it like this. You're running a popular online store, and then suddenly, bam, you get hit with a DDoS attack, your website just slows to a crawl and customers can't check out, and you're left scrambling, trying to figure out what's going on. Not a fun situation to be in.
Kelly 1:28
No not at all. And that's exactly where AWS shield comes in. It's that first line of defense, automatically detecting and mitigating all those malicious attacks so that they don't even reach your application. Okay? So basically,
Chris 1:39
it's like having a super smart security system that not only detects intruders, but also, like kicks them out before they can cause any damage, exactly. Pretty cool, huh? Now, before we jump into some exam style questions, I want to break down the different flavors of AWS shield. It comes in two main tiers, standard and advanced, each offering a different level of protection, right?
Kelly 1:58
So shield standard is like your basic security system you know, always on and automatically protecting all AWS customers from common attacks, like having a safety net to catch all those everyday security hiccups. Gotcha.
Chris 2:10
But for those who need a more robust security posture, think mission critical applications or maybe those handling sensitive data, there's AWS shield advanced, it's like upgrading to that top of the line security system with all the bells and whistles. Exactly,
Kelly 2:27
with shield advanced, you get that enhanced protection against more sophisticated attacks. You also get 24/7 access to the AWS DDoS Response Team, that's a group of experts that can help you navigate even the most complex of attacks, plus, you get something called cost protection, which can be a lifesaver, especially if you get hit with one of those massive attacks, you know, the ones that generate a ton of traffic.
Chris 2:49
Okay, hold on a second, cost protection sounds interesting. Could you break that down a bit more? What exactly does it protect against?
Kelly 2:56
Sure. So think about it like this, when a DDoS attack happens, the attacker is flooding your systems with tons of bogus requests, and this can lead to massive data transfer charges, even if your application is successfully defended. So shield, advanced cost protection absorbs all those extra charges so you don't get hit with a surprise bill after an attack. That
Chris 3:16
makes sense. So it's not just about protecting your application, yeah, but also protecting your budget exactly all right. So I know we're eager to get into those exam prep questions, but I want to quickly touch on how shield fits into the bigger picture of AWS. Sure,
Kelly 3:28
AWS shield is not a standalone solution. It works best when combined with other AWS services. Think of it like assembling a team of superheroes, each with their own special powers, coming together to protect your application. I love that
Chris 3:42
analogy. So who are some of these superhero partners for shield? Well, you've got
Kelly 3:47
the web application firewall or WF, which acts like a bodyguard that's specifically trained to protect your applications from all those web based attacks. And then there's route 53 our DNS superhero, which is capable of redirecting traffic away from trouble spots during an attack, and let's not forget cloud front that can help absorb some of that attack traffic at the edge.
Chris 4:08
So it's like having a multi layered defense strategy using the best tools for each type of threat Exactly. That's really important to remember, security is not a one size fits all thing. All right. I think we've laid a pretty solid foundation here. Ready to jump into some exam style questions? Absolutely.
Kelly 4:24
Let's see how you'd handle these tricky scenarios. Okay, first
Chris 4:28
question, imagine you're a cloud engineer responsible for a website that's suddenly experiencing a surge in traffic from all over the world, and the website is starting to slow down, and you suspect it might be a DDoS attack. What's your first move?
Kelly 4:43
This is where knowing those different tiers of AWS shield comes in handy. If the website isn't mission critical and the slowdown is manageable, you might be okay sticking with shield standard, which is automatically enabled for all AWS customers. It provides that basic protection against. Common volumetric DDoS attacks, which is often enough to handle these situations. Okay,
Chris 5:05
that makes sense, okay. But what if the website is critical, like an E commerce platform during a peach shopping season, would you still stick with the standard tier?
Kelly 5:14
That's a great question. In that scenario, you definitely want to consider upgrading to shield advanced remember, it offers enhanced protection against more sophisticated attacks and gives you access to that DDoS response team who can help you fine tune your defenses and show that your site stays online.
Chris 5:30
Ah, I got it. So it's about choosing the level of protection that aligns with the importance of the application, yeah, and the potential impact of downtime. Okay, let's try another one. This time you're working for a company that's super concerned about attacks targeting specific IP addresses, maybe from like a known competitor or a region known for malicious activity. What would you recommend they do? This is
Kelly 5:54
where shield advanced really shines, because it allows you to create custom rules, including ones that target specific IP addresses or ranges. You can literally tell shield, hey, block all traffic coming from this particular IP, and it'll do it. Wow,
Chris 6:09
that's pretty granular control. So it's not just about protecting against like generic attacks. You can actually customize it to address very specific threats precisely,
Kelly 6:17
and that level of customization can be crucial for businesses operating in highly competitive or security sensitive environments.
Chris 6:25
Okay, I'm starting to see how knowing all these details could really help me ace those AWS exams. Let's make this a bit more challenging. What if a company is using shield advanced but during a massive attack, they notice some legitimate traffic is being blocked as well. It's like the security system is little teal, good at its job.
Kelly 6:42
That's a classic example of collateral damage in DDoS mitigation, and it's something the exams might test you on. The key here is understanding that shield advanced, while powerful, is not perfect. It can sometimes block legitimate traffic along with the bad stuff. The good news is that shield advanced allows you to work with the DDoS response team to analyze the attack patterns and fine tune the rules so
Chris 7:04
it's not a set it and forget it kind of thing. You need to be actively involved and adjust those rules as needed, exactly,
Kelly 7:09
especially during those large scale attacks. It's a collaborative process, working with the experts to strike that delicate balance between protection and accessibility. Gotcha.
Chris 7:19
All right, let's tackle a scenario that often pops up in exams. A company has applications deployed across multiple AWS accounts and wants centralized DDoS protection management. How can they achieve this? This
Kelly 7:32
is where AWS organizations comes into play. Think of it as a master control panel for managing multiple AWS accounts. They can create a dedicated security account within their organization and enable shield advanced at the organization level. That way, all accounts under that umbrella benefit from centralized protection and management. So it's
Chris 7:52
like having a single security policy that applies to all their accounts makes management much easier.
Kelly 7:57
Exactly. It's a great solution for organizations with complex multi account setups, which is something you see a lot in real world AWS environments. Okay, let's
Chris 8:06
try a curveball. A company wants to use AWS shield to protect their on premises applications. Possible or not?
Kelly 8:13
This is a bit of a trick question. Remember, AWS shield is designed to protect applications running on AWS it can't directly protect applications running on servers sitting in a company's own data center. They need to look into other DDoS protection solutions that cater specifically to on premises environments. So
Chris 8:30
it's all about knowing the scope of the service and understanding what it can and cannot do absolutely
Kelly 8:35
and speaking of understanding the scope, let's talk about something that's often a key focus in AWS exams cost optimization. So let's say you're tasked with minimizing costs associated with AWS shield. What strategies would you recommend?
Chris 8:51
That's a practical one. I'm all ears. Well, the
Kelly 8:54
first thing is to carefully evaluate whether shield advanced is truly necessary for many applications, the basic protection offered by shield standard might be sufficient. Remember, it's free and automatically enabled. Upgrading to advanced should be a strategic decision based on the application's criticality and potential risk.
Chris 9:10
So start with the basics and only upgrade if it's truly justified. Makes sense, and
Kelly 9:15
if they do opt for shield advanced, make sure to take advantage of that cost protection feature. It can be a lifesaver in terms of preventing those unexpected bills during large scale attacks. It's like having insurance specifically for DDoS events. I
Chris 9:28
like that analogy. Okay, one final exam prep question before we wrap things up, how do you actually monitor and analyze DDS attacks using AWS shield?
Kelly 9:36
Good one. AWS shield offers different levels of monitoring and analysis, depending on the tier you choose, with sheet standard, you get basic attack metrics through CloudWatch, that's AWS monitoring and observability service. It's like having a basic security log tells you when attacks happened and how intense they were, but for more granular insights, shield advanced is the way to go. It provides. Detailed attack analytics, including attack vectors, source IPs and traffic volumes.
Chris 10:05
So it's like having a security camera that not only records the incident, yeah, but also analyzes it to help you understand the attackers tactics and methods Exactly.
Kelly 10:12
And you can see all of this information in real time through the AWS shield console. I can see how understanding
Chris 10:17
these details would be incredibly helpful during an active attack. You know exactly what you're dealing with, and could and could make informed decisions about how to respond exactly. Well, we really went deep on that one. I feel like I just got a crash course in AWS shield. And more importantly, I think I'm actually ready to answer those tricky exam questions.
Kelly 10:35
It's amazing how much ground we covered, right from those real world attack scenarios to the nitty gritty of cost optimization and monitoring, we really hit all the key points, and it
Chris 10:45
all comes back to this. As a cloud engineer, you're not just building and managing applications anymore. You're also responsible for protecting them. It's a whole new world of skills and knowledge
Kelly 10:56
that's so true, and with DDoS attacks on the rise, understanding AWS shield is becoming essential. Think about it, your applications could be handling sensitive user data, processing financial transactions or even supporting critical infrastructure. Stakes are high,
Chris 11:12
absolutely and while those AWS certifications can definitely boost your career, the real win is knowing that you can confidently defend your applications against these threats. Remember
Kelly 11:21
that e commerce website example we discussed. Imagine the impact if it went down during a big sale, you'd have frustrated customers, lost revenue and potentially even damage to the company's reputation. With AWS shield in place, you can sleep a little easier knowing you have a solid defense against those kinds of attacks. Okay, so before
Chris 11:38
we wrap up, I want to leave you with a challenge. Think about the applications you manage. What are the unique challenges they face? What kind of data do they handle? Who are your users? What would be the consequences if those applications were to go down
Kelly 11:52
once you've considered those factors, think about how you would leverage AWS shield to protect your applications. Would you stick with the basic protection of shield, standard, or would you opt for the enhanced security of SHIELD advanced? Remember, it's not just about choosing a tier. It's about creating a comprehensive security strategy.
Chris 12:11
Exactly, think about how you could integrate shield with other services like WAF route 53 and CloudFront to create a multi layered defense. Remember, it's all about having the right tools in place and knowing how to use them effectively.
Kelly 12:24
The cloud landscape is constantly evolving, and security threats are becoming more sophisticated every day. Staying ahead of the curve requires continuous learning, experimentation and adaptation. So
Chris 12:34
keep diving deep, keep asking questions, and, most importantly, keep your applications safe. That's all for this episode of The Deep Dive. We'll catch you next time with another deep dive into the world of AWS. So it's like having a multi layered defense strategy using the best tools for each type of threat, exactly. That's really important to remember, security is not a one size fits all thing. All right. I think we've laid a pretty solid foundation here. Ready to jump into some exam style questions? Absolutely.
Kelly 13:02
Let's see how you'd handled these tricky scenarios. Okay.
Chris 13:05
First question, imagine you're a cloud engineer responsible for a website, and suddenly it's experiencing a surge in traffic from all over the world. The website's starting to slow down, and you suspect it might be a DDoS attack. What's your first move? Hmm,
Kelly 13:19
this is where knowing the different tiers of AWS shield comes in handy. If the website isn't mission critical and the slowdown is manageable, you might be okay, sticking with shield standard, which, like we said, is automatically enabled for all AWS customers. It provides basic protection against common volumetric DDoS attacks, which is often enough to handle these situations. Okay,
Chris 13:39
that makes sense. But what if the website is mission critical, like, let's say, an E commerce platform during a peak shopping season, would you still stick with the standard tier? That's
Kelly 13:51
a great question. In that scenario, you definitely want to consider upgrading to shield advanced remember, it offers that enhanced protection against more sophisticated attacks, and it gives you access to the DDoS response team who can help you fine tune your defenses and ensure that your site stays online no matter what
Chris 14:08
Ah, I got it. So it's about choosing the right level of protection based on how important the application is and the potential impact of any downtime, exactly. Okay, let's try another one this time you're working for a company that's super concerned about attacks targeting specific IP addresses, maybe from a known competitor or a region that's known for malicious activity. What would you recommend they
Kelly 14:28
do? This is where shield advanced really shines, because it allows you to create custom rules, including ones that target specific IP addresses or even ranges. You can literally tell shield, hey, block all traffic coming from this particular IP and it'll do it. Wow,
Chris 14:42
that's pretty granular control. So it's not just about protecting against like those generic attacks. You can actually customize it to address very specific threats
Kelly 14:51
precisely, and that level of customization can be crucial for businesses, especially ones that are operating in highly competitive or security sensitive environments. Hmm,
Chris 15:00
okay, I'm starting to see how knowing all these details could really help me ace those AWS exams. Let's make this a bit more challenging. What if a company is using shield advanced but during a massive attack, they notice that some legitimate traffic is being blocked as well. It's like the security system is a little too Oh, good at its job. That's
Kelly 15:20
a classic example of what we call collateral damage in DDoS mitigation. It's something the exams might try to test you on. The key here is understanding that shield advanced, while very powerful, is not perfect. It can sometimes accidentally block legitimate traffic, along with the bad stuff, the good news that shield advance allows you to work with the DDoS response team to analyze the attack patterns and fine tune the rules so
Chris 15:43
it's not just the set it and forget it kind of thing. You need to be actively involved, yeah, and adjust those rules as needed, exactly,
Kelly 15:50
especially during large scale attacks. It's a collaborative process. You're working with the experts to strike that balance between protection and accessibility. Gotcha.
Chris 15:59
All right, let's tackle a scenario that often pops up in the exams. A company has applications deployed across multiple AWS accounts, and they want centralized DDoS protection management. How would they achieve this? This
Kelly 16:13
is where AWS organizations comes into play. Think of it as a master control panel for managing all those multiple AWS accounts, they can create a dedicated security account within their organization and enable shield advanced at the organization level. That way, all the accounts under that umbrella benefit from centralized protection and management. So
Chris 16:32
it's like having a single security policy that applies to all their accounts, making management much easier.
Kelly 16:37
Exactly. It's a great solution for organizations with complex multi account setups, which is something you see a lot in real world AWS environments. Okay, let's
Chris 16:46
try a curveball. A company wants to use AWS shield to protect their on premises applications. Possible or not? This is
Kelly 16:54
a bit of a trick question. Remember, AWS shield is designed to protect applications running on AWS it can't directly protect applications running on servers that are sitting in a company's own data center. They would need to look into other DDoS protection solutions, ones that cater specifically to on premises environments. So
Chris 17:12
it's all about knowing the scope of the service and understanding what it can and cannot do
Kelly 17:16
absolutely and speaking of understanding the scope, let's talk about something that's often a key focus in AWS exams, cost optimization. So let's say you're tasked with minimizing costs that are associated with AWS shield. What strategies would you recommend that's
Chris 17:31
a practical one? I'm all ears. Well, the
Kelly 17:33
first thing is to carefully evaluate whether shield advanced is truly necessary for many applications, the basic protection offered by shield standard might be sufficient. Remember, it's free and automatically enabled. Upgrading to advanced should be a strategic decision based on the application's criticality and potential risk. So start
Chris 17:49
with the basics and only upgrade if it's truly justified. Makes sense,
Kelly 17:55
and if they do opt for shield advanced, make sure to take advantage of that cost protection feature. It can be a lifesaver, especially in terms of preventing those unexpected bills during large scale attacks. It's like having insurance specifically for DDoS events.
Chris 18:08
I like that analogy. Yeah. Okay, one final exam prep question before we wrap things up, how do you actually monitor and analyze DDoS attacks using AWS shield?
Kelly 18:18
Good one. AWS shield offers different levels of monitoring and analysis, depending on which tier you choose. With shield standard, you get basic attack metrics through CloudWatch, that's AWS monitoring and observability service. It's like having a basic security log. It'll tell you when attacks happen and how intense they were, but for more granular insights, shield advanced is the way to go. It provides detailed attack analytics, including things like attack vectors, source IPs and traffic volumes. So
Chris 18:45
it's like having a security camera that not only records the incident, but also analyzes it to help you understand the attacker's tactics and methods Exactly.
Kelly 18:53
And you can see all of this information in real time through the AWS shield console. I
Chris 18:59
can see how understanding these details would be incredibly helpful during an active attack. You'd know exactly what you're dealing with, and could make informed decisions about how to respond exactly. Wow, we really went deep on that one. I feel like I just got a crash course in AWS shield. And more importantly, I think I'm actually ready to answer those tricky exam questions now. Yeah, me
Kelly 19:18
too. It's amazing how much ground we covered, right from those real world attack scenarios to the nitty gritty of cost optimization and monitoring, I think we hit all the key points. Yeah,
Chris 19:29
for sure. And it all comes back to this. As a cloud engineer these days, you're not just building and managing applications anymore, you're also responsible for protecting them. It's a whole new world of skills and knowledge we need to master that's
Kelly 19:41
so true, and with the DDoS attacks on the rise, understanding AWS shield is becoming absolutely essential. I mean, think about it, the applications you're managing could be handling sensitive user data, processing financial transactions, or even supporting critical infrastructure. The stakes are high,
Chris 19:57
absolutely and while those. AWS certifications can definitely boost your career. The real win is knowing that you can confidently defend your applications against these threats, right? Remember that
Kelly 20:09
e commerce website example we talked about earlier. Imagine the impact if it went down during a big sale. You'd have frustrated customers, lost revenue and potentially even some serious damage to the company's reputation. But with AWS shield in place, you can sleep a little easier knowing you have a solid defense against those kinds of attacks.
Chris 20:25
Okay, so before we wrap up, I want to leave all of you with a challenge. Think about the applications you manage. What are some of the unique challenges they face? What kind of data do they handle? Who are your users, and what would be the consequences if those applications suddenly went down.
Kelly 20:42
Once you've considered those factors, think about how you could leverage AWS shield to protect your applications. Would you stick with that basic protection offered by shield standard, or would you opt for the enhanced security of SHIELD advanced and remember, it's not just about choosing a tier. It's about creating a comprehensive security strategy Exactly.
Chris 21:01
Think about how you could integrate shield with other AWS services, services like way route 53 and CloudFront to create that multi layered defense. Remember, it's all about having the right tools in place and knowing how to use them effectively.
Kelly 21:16
The Cloud landscape is constantly evolving, and security threats are becoming more and more sophisticated every day, so staying ahead of the curve requires continuous learning, experimentation
Chris 21:25
and adaptation. Couldn't have said it better myself. So keep diving deep, keep asking questions, and most importantly, keep your application safe. That's all for this episode of The Deep Dive. We'll catch you next time with another deep dive into the world of AWS.