AWS Cloud Security Checklist for HIPAA, SOC2 & PCI DSS

Nitin Yadav
December 12, 2025
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Audit-ready AWS security checklist: enforce least-privilege IAM, encryption everywhere, GuardDuty, Config rules, S3 protections, and DR tests.

AWS cloud security 2025, AWS compliance automation, AWS compliance checklist, AWS Config rules, AWS encryption checklist, AWS governance checklist, AWS GuardDuty monitoring, AWS IAM security, AWS Inspector scanning, AWS network security, AWS S3 security best practices, AWS security audit checklist, AWS security best practices, AWS security checklist, AWS Security Hub compliance, AWS vulnerability management, HIPAA AWS security, PCI DSS AWS compliance, secure AWS architecture, SOC2 AWS security

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As more US companies migrate sensitive workloads to AWS patient data, financial transactions, cardholder information, user credentials the pressure to maintain airtight cloud security has never been higher. Regulatory frameworks such as SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS now expect businesses to implement continuous monitoring, enforce strict access controls, secure data end-to-end, and document every change across their cloud environment.

AWS provides a robust security foundation, but misconfigurations remain the #1 cause of cloud breaches. Overly permissive IAM roles, unencrypted S3 buckets, public databases, missing audit logs, and weak identity governance are common gaps that lead to compliance violations and expensive incident response cycles.

This is why companies need a clear, practical, and compliance-ready AWS security checklist – a single source of truth that helps engineering, DevOps, and compliance teams work together without confusion. This checklist is designed for:

SaaS companies preparing for SOC2 audits
Healthcare platforms handling HIPAA-regulated data
Fintech and payment organizations subject to PCI DSS
Startups scaling rapidly across multiple AWS accounts

In the sections ahead, you’ll find a streamlined, audit-aligned checklist plus a downloadable version you can use internally for ongoing compliance and security reviews.

Understanding AWS Compliance Requirements (SOC2, HIPAA & PCI DSS)

Before implementing a cloud security checklist, US companies must understand how AWS aligns with compliance mandates. AWS follows a shared responsibility model, meaning AWS secures the infrastructure, but you are responsible for securing access, data, configurations, monitoring, and compliance controls inside your account.

SOC2 (Service Organizations Control 2)

SOC2 focuses on the Trust Service Criteria:

Security
Availability
Confidentiality
Processing integrity
Privacy

SOC2 expects companies to prove they enforce least privilege, encryption, monitoring, logging, change control, and incident response. AWS services like IAM, CloudTrail, Security Hub, and Config help meet these expectations.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

HIPAA governs PHI (Protected Health Information) and requires organizations to implement:

Access controls
Audit controls
Integrity checks
Transmission security
Backup & disaster recovery

AWS provides a HIPAA-eligible service list, but compliance is achieved only when your architecture enforces those safeguards.

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)

PCI DSS applies to companies handling credit card data. It requires:

Network segmentation
Strong encryption
Continuous logging
Vulnerability scans
File integrity monitoring

AWS supports PCI DSS workloads, but companies must secure all workloads touching cardholder data.

This checklist simplifies these frameworks into practical AWS-specific actions.

Identity & Access Management (IAM) Checklist

Identity is the backbone of AWS security. Most breaches happen because of weak access controls, exposed credentials, or overly permissive IAM policies. A compliant and secure AWS environment begins with enforcing strict, least-privilege identity practices.

Enforce MFA Everywhere

Enable MFA for the root account, administrators, DevOps engineers, and any user with elevated privileges. SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS all require strong authentication controls.

Use IAM Identity Center (AWS SSO)

Centralize access using Identity Center and connect it with Okta, Azure AD, or Google Workspace. This reduces identity sprawl and ensures clean provisioning and de-provisioning.

Remove Long-Lived Access Keys

Replace static IAM user keys with IAM roles + STS short-term credentials.
Many cloud breaches originate from leaked access keys in GitHub or CI pipelines.

Apply Least-Privilege Policies

Grant permissions narrowly: service-specific, action-specific, and resource-specific.
Avoid policies like “s3:*” or “*:*” unless absolutely necessary.

Use Permission Boundaries & IAM Policy Guardrails

Limit what developers and automation tools can do, even with admin-level access.

Monitor Access With IAM Access Analyzer

Detect unintended public access, cross-account sharing, or overly permissive roles.

These IAM practices align directly with SOC2 CC6, HIPAA Access Control (§164.312), and PCI DSS Requirements 7–8.

AWS Account Governance & Organization Setup

Strong cloud governance prevents configuration drift, accidental exposures, and non-compliant deployments. For regulated US companies, AWS governance is not optional—it is foundational.

Use AWS Organizations for Multi-Account Structure

Separate workloads into dedicated accounts:

Security (logging, monitoring)
Production
Staging / QA
Development
Sandbox

This limits blast radius and supports SOC2 and PCI DSS segmentation requirements.

Apply Service Control Policies (SCPs)

SCPs act as global guardrails. You can enforce:

No disabling CloudTrail
No public S3 buckets
No IAM user creation
No deployments outside approved regions

SCPs ensure governance even if a privileged user misconfigures something.

Centralize Logging & Monitoring Accounts

Aggregate all CloudTrail, Config, and Security Hub findings into a central security account.
This makes audits smoother and satisfies SOC2 CC7 and HIPAA audit requirements.

Use Tagging Standards for Compliance & Cost Allocation

Tags for Environment, Owner, Data-Class, and Compliance-Level help track asset exposure and cost.

Enforce Region Restrictions

Prevent resource creation in unapproved regions to avoid compliance risks for regulated data.

A structured organization is the backbone of any AWS compliance program.

Encryption & Key Management Checklist

Encryption is mandatory for HIPAA, SOC2, and PCI DSS compliance. AWS makes encryption straightforward, but companies must enable and manage it correctly across all services.

Encrypt All Data at Rest Using AWS KMS

Enable encryption for:

S3 (SSE-KMS)
EBS volumes
RDS / Aurora
DynamoDB
EFS / FSx
Redshift

Customer-managed KMS keys (CMKs) provide audit logs, rotation policies, and granular access control- ideal for compliance-heavy workloads.

Enforce TLS 1.2+ for All Data in Transit

Use ACM certificates, ALBs, and API Gateway to ensure encrypted communication.
This satisfies HIPAA Transmission Security (164.312(e)(1)) and PCI DSS Requirement 4.

Restrict KMS Key Access

Limit who can use, rotate, or disable encryption keys.
Overly broad KMS permissions can expose encrypted data.

Enable Automatic Key Rotation

Annual rotation is required for many auditors, especially under SOC2 and PCI DSS.

Log Every Key Usage Event With CloudTrail

CloudTrail records all encryption and decryption calls, essential for:

SOC2 audits
HIPAA security logs
PCI DSS validation

Block Unencrypted Object Uploads to S3

Use bucket policies to enforce encryption at upload time.

With encryption established, the next critical layer is network-level protection.

Network Security Checklist

A secure AWS network architecture prevents unauthorized access, limits lateral movement, and ensures sensitive workloads remain isolated. PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOC2 all require strict network segmentation and controlled inbound/outbound access.

Use Private Subnets for Sensitive Workloads

Databases, internal APIs, EKS nodes, and caching layers must run in private subnets with no public IPs.
This supports PCI DSS segmentation and HIPAA isolation requirements.

Restrict Traffic With Security Groups & NACLs

Follow a deny-by-default approach:

Security Groups for micro-segmentation
NACLs for subnet-level filtering
Limit inbound rules to specific IPs and ports

Avoid “0.0.0.0/0” unless absolutely required.

Use VPC Endpoints to Access AWS Services Privately

Access S3, DynamoDB, Secrets Manager, and other services without exposing traffic to the public internet.
This enhances HIPAA transmission security and PCI DSS network controls.

Disable Public Access to Databases & Compute

Ensure RDS, Redshift, EC2, and EKS clusters are not publicly accessible unless intentionally exposed.

Enable Flow Logs & Network Monitoring

VPC Flow Logs + GuardDuty provide:

Suspicious IP detection
Data exfiltration alerts
Real-time anomaly responses

Use AWS WAF & Shield for External Applications

WAF blocks OWASP Top 10 threats, while Shield Standard defends against DDoS attacks.

With network boundaries set, the next priority is visibility and monitoring.

Logging, Monitoring & Detection Checklist

Continuous monitoring is a mandatory requirement for SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. AWS provides powerful tools that detect threats, record activity, and alert security teams before an incident escalates.

Enable CloudTrail in All Regions

CloudTrail logs every API call and configuration change.
For compliance:

SOC2 requires auditability (CC7)
HIPAA requires access tracking (164.312(b))
PCI DSS requires centralized log collection (Req. 10)

Enable CloudTrail organization-wide and store logs in a dedicated security account.

Turn On AWS GuardDuty

GuardDuty detects:

Unauthorized API attempts
Unusual network traffic
Compromised IAM credentials
Malware or crypto-mining activity

It provides continuous threat detection with no agent installation.

Use AWS Security Hub for Centralized Findings

Security Hub aggregates alerts from:

GuardDuty
Inspector
Macie
IAM Analyzer
Firewall Manager

It provides compliance posture summaries for CIS, PCI DSS, NIST, and foundational best practices.

Automatically Classify Sensitive Data With Macie

Macie scans S3 to detect:

PII
PHI
Financial data
Unsecured buckets

This is critical for HIPAA & PCI DSS readiness.

Monitor System Health With CloudWatch

Configure alarms for CPU, error rates, failed logins, unusual spikes, and resource anomalies.

With visibility established, the next step is keeping workloads patched and vulnerability-free.

Vulnerability Management & Patch Controls

Vulnerability management is one of the most scrutinized areas in SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS audits. AWS provides automated tools to detect weaknesses, patch systems, and enforce secure configurations – reducing the window of exposure.

Use Amazon Inspector for Continuous Scanning

Inspector automatically scans:

EC2 instances
Container images in ECR
Lambda functions

It identifies package vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and CVEs.
Inspector reports directly feed into Security Hub for compliance visibility.

Enable ECR Image Scanning

Before deploying containers to EKS or ECS, ensure:

Base images are trusted
No critical vulnerabilities exist
CI/CD pipelines block unsafe images

This satisfies PCI DSS vulnerability requirements and SOC2 CC7 controls.

Automate Patching With Systems Manager (SSM)

Use SSM Patch Manager to:

Apply OS updates to EC2
Enforce scheduled patch windows
Track compliance across instances

HIPAA and PCI DSS both require timely patching of security updates.

Harden Compute Resources

Enforce:

IMDSv2 on EC2
No root login
No public SSH access (use SSM Session Manager instead)
Minimal IAM roles for instances

Maintain a Vulnerability Remediation SLA

Most compliance frameworks require remediation in:

30 days for high-risk findings
90 days for medium-risk findings

This ensures vulnerabilities never accumulate into major risks.

S3 & Data Protection Checklist

S3 is one of the most widely used services in AWS – and one of the biggest compliance risks when misconfigured. PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOC2 require strict controls over storage, access, and data retention. This checklist ensures S3 is secure by default.

Enable S3 Block Public Access (Account-Level)

This prevents accidental exposure of PHI, PII, or cardholder data.
All regulated workloads should enforce no public access unless explicitly required.

Enforce Encryption Using SSE-KMS

Use KMS-managed keys for every object.
This ensures key-level auditing and aligns with:

HIPAA §164.312(a)(2)
SOC2 CC5, CC6
PCI DSS Req. 3

Apply Least-Privilege Bucket Policies

Restrict access using IAM roles, bucket policies with conditions, and Access Points for multi-team environments.
Avoid wildcard policies like “Resource”: “*”.

Use S3 Object Lock for Compliance Retention (WORM)

Object Lock ensures logs and records cannot be deleted or modified before their retention period.
Essential for:

SOC2 evidence retention
HIPAA integrity checks
PCI DSS log preservation

Scan Buckets for Sensitive Data With Macie

Macie identifies exposed PII, PHI, credentials, and financial data across buckets – critical for avoiding accidental compliance violations.

Monitor Access With CloudTrail & Access Analyzer

These tools reveal:

Unexpected access attempts
Cross-account exposures
Unusual download patterns

With S3 protected, the next phase is securing compute workloads.

Compute Security (EC2, EKS, Lambda) Checklist

Compute workloads – whether virtual machines, containers, or serverless functions – represent one of the largest attack surfaces in AWS. SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS all require strong configuration management, isolation, and continuous scrutiny of running workloads.

Enforce Secure EC2 Configurations

Enable IMDSv2 to prevent metadata theft
Disable SSH on the public internet; use SSM Session Manager
Apply least-privilege IAM roles
Encrypt all EBS volumes
Run CIS-hardened AMIs or golden images

These controls satisfy SOC2 CC7 and PCI DSS secure configuration requirements.

Secure EKS & Containers

For Kubernetes-based workloads:

Use IRSA for identity-based pod access
Block images with critical CVEs via ECR scanning
Enforce network policies to limit pod-to-pod communication
Restrict access to the EKS control plane (private endpoint preferred)

This supports HIPAA technical safeguards and PCI DSS segmentation.

Harden Lambda Functions

Remove environment variables containing secrets
Use AWS Secrets Manager for credentials
Assign minimal IAM policies
Scan dependencies for vulnerabilities

Implement Runtime Security Monitoring

Use GuardDuty EKS Runtime Monitoring or integrated third-party tools to detect:

Privilege escalations
Suspicious container behavior
Lateral movement attempts

Automate Configuration Drift Detection

AWS Config rules help ensure EC2, EKS, and Lambda stay compliant continuously.

Backup, Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Checklist

Compliance frameworks such as SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS all require proof that data can be recovered, systems can be restored, and business operations can continue during failures or attacks. AWS offers powerful built-in tools to automate resilience.

Centralize Backups With AWS Backup

Use AWS Backup to enforce organization-wide policies for:

RDS & Aurora
DynamoDB
EFS / FSx
EC2 snapshots
S3 backup plans (if required)

Retention policies support SOC2 Availability and HIPAA contingency planning.

Implement Disaster Recovery Strategies Based on RTO & RPO

Choose the right AWS DR model:

Backup & Restore – cost-efficient, slower recovery
Pilot Light – minimal standby environment
Warm Standby – partially active environment
Multi-Region Active/Active – highest resilience

Map each workload to the appropriate recovery expectations.

Encrypt, Version, and Replicate Critical Data

Ensure all backups are:

Encrypted with KMS
Versioned (especially S3)
Replicated across regions when required

This meets PCI DSS and HIPAA integrity and availability standards.

Test Disaster Recovery at Least Annually

Auditors expect evidence of:

Recovery drills
Documentation of failover steps
Validation that backups restore correctly

Testing is often the most overlooked compliance requirement.

Change Management & Continuous Compliance Checklist

Modern compliance frameworks expect companies to monitor every configuration change, automatically detect drift, and maintain continuous evidence not just prepare for annual audits. AWS provides native services that make continuous compliance achievable, even for rapidly scaling teams.

Use AWS Config to Track Every Resource Configuration

AWS Config records changes to:

Security groups
IAM roles & policies
S3 bucket settings
Network configurations
Encryption states
RDS/EKS/EBS configurations

Pair Config Rules with auto-remediation to fix violations immediately (e.g., block unencrypted S3 uploads).
This directly supports SOC2 CC8, HIPAA §164.308(a)(1), and PCI DSS change tracking (Req. 6).

Use AWS Security Hub for Ongoing Compliance Checks

Security Hub includes automated checks for:

CIS AWS Benchmarks
PCI DSS
NIST 800-53
Foundational security best practices

This gives auditors clear evidence of continuous compliance monitoring.

Use Audit Manager for SOC2, HIPAA & PCI DSS Documentation

Audit Manager automatically collects:

Control evidence
Configuration snapshots
Access logs
Encryption status
Change history

It dramatically reduces manual audit preparation time.

Enforce Change Control Policies

Use:

CodePipeline or GitOps for infrastructure updates
Mandatory code reviews
Version-controlled IaC (Terraform, CDK, CloudFormation)

This satisfies SOC2 change management and PCI DSS Req. 6.

Compliance Mapping Table (SOC2, HIPAA, PCI DSS)

AWS security controls map cleanly to major US compliance frameworks. The table below summarizes how the core areas of this checklist align with mandatory regulatory requirements. Use it during audits, gap assessments, and internal readiness reviews.

Compliance Mapping Summary

Security Domain	AWS Control / Service	SOC2	HIPAA	PCI DSS
Identity & Access	IAM, MFA, Identity Center	CC6	164.308(a)(4)	7, 8
Logging & Monitoring	CloudTrail, GuardDuty, CloudWatch	CC7	164.312(b)	10
Encryption	KMS, SSE-KMS, TLS	CC5, CC6	164.312(a)(2), 164.312(e)	3, 4
Network Security	VPC, SGs, NACLs, PrivateLink	CC6	164.312(a)(1)	1.1–1.3
Vulnerability Management	Inspector, Patch Manager	CC7.1	164.308(a)(8)	6
Data Protection	S3 Block Public Access, Macie, Object Lock	CC8	164.312(c)	3, 12
Configuration Management	AWS Config, SCPs, GitOps	CC8.1	164.308(a)(1)	6.4
Backup & DR	AWS Backup, Replication	CC5.4	164.308(a)(7)	12
Incident Response	GuardDuty → Security Hub workflows	CC7, CC4	164.308(a)(6)	12.1

Why This Mapping Matters

SOC2 auditors look for evidence of continuous monitoring and least privilege.
HIPAA auditors expect encryption, access tracking, and integrity controls.
PCI DSS assessors require segmentation, vulnerability scans, and strict logging.

This mapping helps engineering and compliance teams speak the same language and verify that each AWS security control directly supports an audit requirement.

Final Summary - Your AWS Compliance Journey Starts With the Right Checklist

Securing AWS environments for HIPAA, SOC2, and PCI DSS isn’t just about passing an audit—it’s about building a resilient, well-governed cloud foundation that protects customer trust and keeps your business safe. The checklist you’ve just gone through provides every core control required by modern compliance frameworks: strong IAM governance, encryption everywhere, secure networking, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, S3 protection, hardened compute, disaster recovery, and automated compliance auditing.

AWS offers powerful native tools, but the real challenge lies in configuring them correctly, monitoring them continuously, and proving compliance with evidence during audits. As environments grow, teams scale, and architectures become more complex, maintaining this security posture becomes increasingly difficult without expert help.

That’s where SquareOps comes in.

Achieve SOC2, HIPAA & PCI DSS Compliance Faster With SquareOps

SquareOps specializes in building secure, compliant, automated AWS environments for US companies. Whether you’re preparing for your first SOC2 audit, handling HIPAA-regulated patient data, or processing payments under PCI DSS, SquareOps helps you implement every control in this checklist—efficiently and correctly.

SquareOps Security & Compliance Services

End-to-end AWS security architecture
SOC2, HIPAA & PCI DSS compliance readiness
24×7 monitoring, threat detection & incident response
Automated logging, drift detection & evidence collection
IAM hardening, S3 security, and KMS encryption setup
Config + Security Hub + Audit Manager automation
Cloud cost optimization with security-first DevOps

If you want your AWS environment to be secure, compliant, and audit-ready year-round

Request a Free AWS Security & Compliance Assessment from SquareOps

Let SquareOps help you build a cloud environment that auditors trust and attackers can’t break.

Frequently asked questions

What is an AWS security checklist and why do I need one?

An AWS security checklist is a practical list of controls (IAM, encryption, logging, network, backups) that ensures secure, compliant cloud operations and reduces misconfiguration risk

What are the must-do items on an AWS security checklist for 2025?

Must-dos: enforce MFA & least-privilege IAM, enable CloudTrail org-wide, enable GuardDuty & Security Hub, encrypt with KMS, block public S3, enable Config rules, and run Inspector scans.

How does an AWS security checklist help with SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS audits?

A checklist maps AWS controls (CloudTrail, KMS, Config, Security Hub) to audit requirements, producing repeatable evidence and continuous compliance for SOC2, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Which IAM controls should be on every AWS security checklist?

Include: no long-lived access keys, IAM Identity Center (SSO), MFA for all privileged users, permission boundaries, least-privilege policies, and IAM Access Analyzer monitoring.

How should S3 be protected in an AWS security checklist?

S3 controls: enable Account-level Block Public Access, enforce SSE-KMS, use bucket policies with explicit deny, enable Object Lock for WORM needs, and scan buckets with Macie.

What logging and monitoring items belong in an AWS security checklist?

Enable CloudTrail in all regions, centralize logs to a security account, enable GuardDuty, ingest findings into Security Hub, use CloudWatch alarms, and configure S3 Storage Lens for access trends.

How does encryption fit into an AWS security checklis

Encrypt all data at rest (SSE-KMS for S3, EBS, RDS), enforce TLS 1.2+ in transit, use CMKs when auditors require control, enable key rotation, and log KMS usage in CloudTrail.

What network protections should be included in an AWS security checklist?

Use private subnets for sensitive workloads, enforce security groups/NACL deny-by-default, use VPC endpoints (PrivateLink), enable Flow Logs, and block public database access.

Which automated controls should be on an AWS security checklist to prevent drift?

Include AWS Config rules with auto-remediation, Security Hub compliance packs, Audit Manager evidence collection, and CI/CD gated IaC to prevent insecure changes.

How often should I run or review the AWS security checklist?

Review and test the checklist continuously; perform full audits quarterly, run automated scans weekly, and validate DR & recovery annually to meet compliance expectations.

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