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πŸ›‘οΈ AWS CloudWatch Metric Alarm does not have any actions configured🟒

  • Contextual name: πŸ›‘οΈ Metric Alarm does not have any actions configured🟒
  • ID: /ce/ca/aws/cloudwatch/metric-alarm-without-actions
  • Tags:
  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Categories: RELIABILITY, SECURITY

Logic​

Similar Policies​

Description​

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Description​

This policy identifies AWS CloudWatch Metric Alarms that do not have at least one action configured for any of the following states: ALARM, INSUFFICIENT_DATA, or OK.

AWS CloudWatch alarms monitor a single metric over a defined time period and can trigger one or more actions based on the metric’s value relative to a specified threshold. Actions typically include sending notifications (for example, to an Amazon SNS topic) or initiating automated responses (such as an EC2 Auto Scaling policy).

Rationale​

Alarms without configured actions are ineffective because they do not generate notifications or trigger automated responses when their state changes. This increases the risk of critical performance issues, security events, or system failures going undetected, potentially resulting in prolonged downtime or security breaches.

Impact​

Without actions, there is an increased risk of critical performance issues, security events, or system failures going undetected, potentially resulting in prolonged downtime or security breaches.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

To remediate this issue, configure at least one action for your CloudWatch alarm. The most common action is to send a notification to an Amazon SNS topic.

Configure an Action​

From Command Line​

Each action is specified as an Amazon Resource Name (ARN).

aws cloudwatch put-metric-alarm 
--alarm-name cpu-mon
--alarm-description "{{alarm-description}}"
--actions-enabled
[--ok-actions {{list-of-actions}}]
[--alarm-actions {{list-of-actions}}]
[--insufficient-data-actions {{list-of-actions}}]
--evaluation-periods 2
--comparison-operator {{GreaterThanOrEqualToThreshold | LessThanLowerOrGreaterThanUpperThreshold }}

Valid Actions​

EC2 actions​
  • arn:aws:automate:*region* :ec2:stop
  • arn:aws:automate:*region* :ec2:terminate
  • arn:aws:automate:*region* :ec2:reboot
  • arn:aws:automate:*region* :ec2:recover
  • arn:aws:swf:*region* :*account-id* :action/actions/AWS_EC2.InstanceId.Stop/1.0
  • arn:aws:swf:*region* :*account-id* :action/actions/AWS_EC2.InstanceId.Terminate/1.0

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policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
πŸ’Ό AWS Well-Architected β†’ πŸ’Ό OPS04-BP05 Implement distributed tracing1no data
πŸ’Ό AWS Well-Architected β†’ πŸ’Ό OPS09-BP02 Communicate status and trends to ensure visibility into operation1no data
πŸ’Ό AWS Well-Architected β†’ πŸ’Ό REL11-BP06 Send notifications when events impact availability1no data
πŸ’Ό Cloudaware Framework β†’ πŸ’Ό Alerting and Notification27no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό AU-6(1) Automated Process Integration (M)(H)4no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό AU-6(5) Integrated Analysis of Audit Records (H)3no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)227no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό IR-4(1) Automated Incident Handling Processes (M)(H)1no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-2 Flaw Remediation (L)(M)(H)2723no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-4(5) System-generated Alerts (M)(H)3no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP High Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-4(12) Automated Organization-generated Alerts (H)1no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Low Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)127no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Low Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-2 Flaw Remediation (L)(M)(H)23no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό AU-6(1) Automated Process Integration (M)(H)4no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό CA-7 Continuous Monitoring (L)(M)(H)227no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό IR-4(1) Automated Incident Handling Processes (M)(H)1no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-2 Flaw Remediation (L)(M)(H)223no data
πŸ’Ό FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-4(5) System-generated Alerts (M)(H)3no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.AE-02: Potentially adverse events are analyzed to better understand associated activities50no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.AE-03: Information is correlated from multiple sources65no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.CM-01: Networks and network services are monitored to find potentially adverse events180no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.CM-02: The physical environment is monitored to find potentially adverse events27no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.CM-03: Personnel activity and technology usage are monitored to find potentially adverse events100no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.CM-06: External service provider activities and services are monitored to find potentially adverse events50no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό DE.CM-09: Computing hardware and software, runtime environments, and their data are monitored to find potentially adverse events181no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό ID.IM-01: Improvements are identified from evaluations45no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό ID.IM-02: Improvements are identified from security tests and exercises, including those done in coordination with suppliers and relevant third parties59no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό ID.IM-03: Improvements are identified from execution of operational processes, procedures, and activities60no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό ID.RA-01: Vulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recorded46no data
πŸ’Ό NIST CSF v2.0 β†’ πŸ’Ό ID.RA-07: Changes and exceptions are managed, assessed for risk impact, recorded, and tracked49no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό AU-6(1) Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting _ Automated Process Integration14no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό AU-6(5) Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting _ Integrated Analysis of Audit Records3no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό CA-7 Continuous Monitoring627no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό IR-4(1) Incident Handling _ Automated Incident Handling Processes1no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό IR-4(5) Incident Handling _ Automatic Disabling of System1no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-2 Flaw Remediation6620no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-4(5) System Monitoring _ System-generated Alerts3no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-4(12) System Monitoring _ Automated Organization-generated Alerts1no data
πŸ’Ό NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 β†’ πŸ’Ό SI-20 Tainting3no data