IaC Security

IaC Security checks Infrastructure as Code for security flaws before the infrastructure is created. This finds errors within the code, not in the live environment.

How it works

Infrastructure as Code describes infrastructure in files using Terraform, Bicep, CloudFormation, or Kubernetes manifests. These files reside in a repository just like standard application code. Automated tools check these files for insecure settings. Typical findings include publicly accessible storage, missing encryption, or overly permissive network rules. The checks run during pull requests and in the deployment pipeline.

A practical example

A developer writes a Terraform file for a new database. They forget to disable public access to it. A scan during the pull request reports this with a recommendation. The developer corrects the line before the database is even created. This avoids a CSPM finding and the need for later remediation.

What to look out for

• Introduce scanning early in the development lifecycle, ideally within pull requests.
• Start with a few critical rules to avoid overwhelming developers.
• Define which types of findings should block a build from proceeding.
• Prevent manual cloud changes that bypass the infrastructure code.
• Scan the code for hardcoded secrets like passwords and API keys.

Benefits

An error in the code is corrected once and then applies to all environments. This is cheaper than fixing it in production. In addition, every change is traceable because it is documented in the repository.

How it differs from CSPM

CSPM tools check the configuration of the running cloud environment. IaC Security checks the code before the infrastructure is deployed. The two approaches complement each other, as not all cloud resources are created from code.

Typical mistakes

A common mistake is granting exceptions too generously after introducing scans. Over time, this significantly reduces the effectiveness of the checks. Another error is drift, where manual changes cause the environment to differ from the code.

Relevance for the SOC

The SOC monitors for changes in the cloud made outside the pipeline. Such changes can indicate an attacker or a process error.

How we implement it

We integrate your environment's cloud logs into the SOC as a log source. We are happy to discuss architecture questions as part of our Security Consulting.