AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate / Question #1793 of 1019

Question #1793

A solutions architect must enforce a compliance policy that prohibits security groups from allowing RDP access from 0.0.0.0/0. The company requires immediate alerts if a security group violates this rule. The solution must be implemented with the LEAST operational overhead.

What should the solutions architect do to meet these requirements?

A

Develop an AWS Lambda function to scan security groups for RDP rules allowing 0.0.0.0/0 and trigger an Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS) alert when such a rule is detected.

B

Enable the restricted-rdp AWS Config managed rule and configure an Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS) topic to send alerts when noncompliant rules are identified.

C

Create an IAM policy that denies permissions to modify security group rules for RDP and link it to an Amazon SNS topic to notify administrators of unauthorized change attempts.

D

Implement a service control policy (SCP) blocking non-administrative users from creating or modifying security groups. Integrate a ticketing system to alert administrators when rule changes are requested.

Explanation

Answer B is correct because AWS Config provides a managed rule called 'restricted-rdp' that automatically checks security groups for RDP access from 0.0.0.0/0. Enabling this rule and linking it to an SNS topic ensures immediate alerts without custom code or infrastructure, aligning with the 'least operational overhead' requirement.

Why other options are incorrect:
- A: Developing a Lambda function introduces operational overhead for coding, deployment, and maintenance.
- C: IAM policies block actions but do not detect existing noncompliant rules or trigger alerts.
- D: SCPs prevent rule changes but do not detect existing violations or provide immediate alerts.

Key Points:
1. AWS Config managed rules automate compliance checks.
2. The 'restricted-rdp' rule specifically targets RDP access from 0.0.0.0/0.
3. SNS integration enables real-time alerts with minimal setup.

Answer

The correct answer is: B