EC2 Instance with Public IP

Overview

The EC2 Instance with Public IP widget identifies EC2 instances in the environment that are assigned public IP addresses. This insight is essential for IT Operations (IT Ops) and Security Operations (Sec Ops) engineers to manage network exposure, ensure secure configurations, and reduce the risk of unauthorized access to critical infrastructure.

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Why It Matters

For IT Engineers:

1. Network Visibility:

   • Highlights EC2 instances accessible over the internet, providing clear visibility into network exposure.

   • Supports decisions on whether public IPs are necessary or if private networking alternatives can be employed.

2. Operational Optimization:

   • Helps maintain efficient use of public-facing resources to avoid unnecessary cloud costs associated with public IPs.

   • Assists in managing load balancers and NAT gateways for instances that require internet access.

3. Compliance and Governance:

   • Ensures that public IP assignments adhere to organizational policies and regulatory requirements.

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For Security Engineers:

1. Risk Reduction:

   • Flags EC2 instances with public IPs that could be targets for unauthorized access or attacks.

2. Threat Prevention:

   • Identifies instances at risk of brute force or DDoS attacks due to public exposure, enabling timely remediation.

3. Policy Enforcement:

   • Ensures compliance with network security best practices, such as limiting public IP usage and employing secure access methods (e.g., VPNs or bastion hosts).

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Practical Applications

• Security Audits: Regularly assess instances with public IPs to ensure they are necessary and securely configured.

• Incident Response: Quickly identify publicly accessible instances during a security breach to focus remediation efforts.

• Network Architecture Review: Optimize public and private IP allocation to balance functionality, performance, and security.

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