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🛡️ AWS RDS Instance is not configured to copy all tags to snapshots🟢

  • Contextual name: 🛡️ Instance is not configured to copy all tags to snapshots🟢
  • ID: /ce/ca/aws/rds/instance-copy-tags-to-snapshot
  • Tags:
  • Policy Type: COMPLIANCE_POLICY
  • Policy Categories: RELIABILITY

Logic​

Similar Policies​

Description​

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Description​

This policy identifies AWS RDS Instances that are not configured to copy instance tags to their snapshots. When this setting is enabled, snapshots automatically inherit the tags applied to their parent RDS database instances.

Rationale​

RDS snapshots incur ongoing storage costs. If snapshots do not inherit key tags such as Department or Project, it becomes difficult to accurately allocate and track these costs in billing and cost-management reports.

Many organizations rely on tags to classify and protect sensitive data (for example, DataClassification: Restricted). When tags are not copied to snapshots, backups may be excluded from automated security controls, monitoring processes, or retention policies.

In addition, IAM policies often use tag-based conditions (for example, aws:ResourceTag/...) to enforce access controls. Ensuring that tags are copied to snapshots helps maintain consistent security permissions between the primary database instance and its backups.

Audit​

This policy flags an AWS RDS Instance as INCOMPLIANT when the Copy Tags to Snapshot checkbox is set to false.

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Remediation​

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Remediation​

Enable Copy Tags to Snapshot for an RDS Instance​

To ensure that RDS snapshots inherit the same tags as their parent database instances, enable the Copy Tags to Snapshot setting. This ensures consistent cost allocation, security classification, and access control across both live databases and their backups.

From Command Line​

Use the following AWS CLI command to enable tag propagation to snapshots for the specified RDS instance:

aws rds modify-db-instance \
    --db-instance-identifier {{db-instance-id}} \
    --copy-tags-to-snapshot \
    --apply-immediately
Considerations​
  • Enabling this setting does not affect existing snapshots; it applies only to snapshots created after the change.
  • The modification does not require downtime and can be applied immediately.

policy.yaml​

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Linked Framework Sections​

SectionSub SectionsInternal RulesPoliciesFlagsCompliance
💼 AWS Foundational Security Best Practices v1.0.0 → 💼 [RDS.17] RDS DB instances should be configured to copy tags to snapshots1no data
💼 Cloudaware Framework → 💼 System Configuration69no data
💼 FedRAMP High Security Controls → 💼 CM-2(2) Automation Support for Accuracy and Currency (M)(H)22no data
💼 FedRAMP Moderate Security Controls → 💼 CM-2(2) Automation Support for Accuracy and Currency (M)(H)22no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 CA-9(1) Internal System Connections _ Compliance Checks54no data
💼 NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 → 💼 CM-2(2) Baseline Configuration _ Automation Support for Accuracy and Currency22no data