Ensure encrypted storage is used for VMs that might host a database

Overview

If you have to or choose to host the database on a virtual machine, encrypting the volumes is highly recommended.

The system determines this based on the VM name.

Remediation guidance

AWS remediation

Console

Identify unencrypted attached EBS volumes.
Snapshot each unencrypted volume.
Copy snapshots with encryption enabled.
Create encrypted volumes and replace old volumes in maintenance window.

AWS CLI

aws ec2 enable-ebs-encryption-by-default
aws ec2 create-snapshot --volume-id <volume-id> --description "migrate-to-encrypted"
aws ec2 copy-snapshot --source-region <region> --source-snapshot-id <snapshot-id> --encrypted --kms-key-id <kms-key-id>
aws ec2 create-volume --availability-zone <az> --snapshot-id <encrypted-snapshot-id> --encrypted --kms-key-id <kms-key-id>

References

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/ebs/latest/userguide/ebs-encryption.html
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/ebs/latest/userguide/encryption-by-default.html

Multiple Remediation Paths

AWS

SERVICE-WIDE (RECOMMENDED when many resources are affected): Deploy centralized guardrails and remediation using AWS Config Conformance Packs and (if applicable) AWS Organizations SCPs.

aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml

ASSET-LEVEL: Apply the resource-specific remediation steps above to only the affected assets.

PREVENTIVE: Add CI/CD policy checks (CloudFormation/Terraform validation) before deployment to prevent recurrence.

References for Service-Wide Patterns

AWS Config Conformance Packs: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/config/latest/developerguide/conformance-packs.html
AWS Organizations SCP examples: https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_scps_examples.html

Operational Rollout Workflow

Use this sequence to reduce risk and avoid repeated drift.

1. Contain at Service-Wide Scope First (Recommended)

AWS: deploy/adjust organization conformance packs and policy guardrails.

aws configservice put-organization-conformance-pack --organization-conformance-pack-name <pack-name> --template-s3-uri s3://<bucket>/<template>.yaml

2. Remediate Existing Affected Assets

Execute the control-specific Console/CLI steps documented above for each flagged resource.
Prioritize internet-exposed and production assets first.

3. Validate and Prevent Recurrence

Re-scan after each remediation batch.
Track exceptions with owner and expiry date.
Add preventive checks in IaC/CI pipelines.

Query logic

These are the stored checks tied to this control.

Encrypted storage is used for VMs that might host a database

Connectors

AWS

Covered asset types

Expected check: eq []

{vms(where:{diskAttachments_SOME:{disk:{encrypted:false}},OR:[{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*database.*"},{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*db.*"},{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*mariadb.*"},{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*postgres.*"},{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*oracle.*"},{name_MATCHES:"(?i).*sql.*"}]}){...AssetFragment}}