Back to controls

Ensure RDS instances require all incoming connections to use SSL

It is recommended to enforce all incoming connections to SQL database instance to use SSL.

Category

Controls

Medium

Applies to

Alibaba Cloud

Coverage

1 queries

Asset types

1 covered

Overview

It is recommended to enforce all incoming connections to SQL database instance to use SSL.

SQL database connections if successfully trapped (MITM); can reveal sensitive data like credentials, database queries, query outputs etc. For security, it is recommended to always use SSL encryption when connecting to your instance. This recommendation is applicable for PostgreSQL and MySQL Instances.

Default Value

Encryption is off by default.

Additional Information

You can choose to encrypt the private or public endpoint, but note that you can encrypt only one endpoint.

Remediation guidance

Console

  1. Open the ApsaraDB RDS instance using the "Open in Alibaba" menu option
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Data Security.
  3. Click the SSL Encryption tab.
  4. Click the switch next to Disabled in the SSL Encryption parameter.
  5. In the Configure SSL dialog box, select the endpoint for which you want to enable SSL encryption and then click OK.
  6. Click Download CA Certificate to download an SSL certificate.

The downloaded SSL certificate is a package including the following files:

  • p7b file: is used to import the CA certificate on Windows OS
  • PEM file: is used to import the CA certificate on other systems or for other applications
  • JKS file: is a Java truststore certificate file used for importing CA certificate chains in Java programs

The password is apsaradb.

Service-wide remediation

Recommended when many resources are affected: fix the platform baseline first so new resources inherit the secure setting, then remediate the existing flagged resources in batches.

Alibaba Cloud

Use Resource Directory guardrails, account baselines, and IaC modules so the secure setting is applied consistently across environments.

Operational rollout

  1. Fix the baseline first at the account, subscription, project, cluster, or tenant scope that owns this control.
  2. Remediate the currently affected resources in batches, starting with internet-exposed and production assets.
  3. Re-scan and track approved exceptions with an owner and expiry date.

Query logic

These are the stored checks tied to this control.

RDS instances require all incoming connections to use SSL

Connectors

Alibaba Cloud

Covered asset types

DBInstance

Expected check: eq []

AlibabaRDS2{...AssetFragment}
Cyscale Logo
Cyscale is an agentless cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that automates the contextual analysis of cloud misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, access, and data, to provide an accurate and actionable assessment of risk.

Stay connected

Receive new blog posts and product updates from Cyscale

By clicking Subscribe, I agree to Cyscale’s Privacy Policy


© 2026 Cyscale Limited

LinkedIn icon
Twitter icon
Facebook icon
crunch base icon
angel icon