When a company hosts its databases on Amazon EC2 instances, AWS and the customer share the responsibility for the security and management of the database environment. According to the AWS shared responsibility model, AWS is responsible for the security of the cloud, while the customer is responsible for the security in the cloud. This means that AWS is responsible for protecting the infrastructure that runs the EC2 instances, such as the hardware, software, networking, and facilities. The customer is responsible for properly configuring the security of the provided service, such as the guest operating system, the database software, the data, and the network traffic12.
One of the tasks that belongs to AWS when a company hosts its databases on Amazon EC2 instances is operating system patches. AWS provides regular updates and patches to the operating system of the EC2 instances, which are applied automatically by default. The customer can also choose to manually apply the patches or schedule them for a specific time window3. Operating system patches are important for maintaining the security and performance of the EC2 instances and the databases running on them.
The other tasks that belong to AWS when a company hosts its databases on Amazon EC2 instances are:
Operating system installations: AWS provides a variety of operating system options for the EC2 instances, such as Linux, Windows, and Amazon Linux. The customer can choose the operating system that best suits their database needs and AWS will install it on the EC2 instances4.
Server maintenance: AWS performs regular maintenance and repairs on the physical servers that host the EC2 instances, ensuring that they are in optimal condition and have adequate power, cooling, and network connectivity5.
Hardware lifecycle: AWS manages the lifecycle of the hardware that supports the EC2 instances, such as replacing faulty components, upgrading equipment, and decommissioning old servers.
The tasks that do not belong to AWS when a company hosts its databases on Amazon EC2 instances are:
Database backups: The customer is responsible for backing up their data and databases on the EC2 instances, using tools such as Amazon S3, Amazon EBS snapshots, or AWS Backup. Database backups are essential for data protection and recovery in case of failures or disasters.
Database software patches: The customer is responsible for applying patches and updates to the database software on the EC2 instances, such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, or SQL Server. Database software patches are important for fixing bugs, improving features, and addressing security vulnerabilities.
Database software install: The customer is responsible for installing the database software on the EC2 instances, choosing the version and configuration that meets their requirements. AWS provides some preconfigured AMIs (Amazon Machine Images) that include common database software, or the customer can use their own custom AMIs.
Shared Responsibility Model - Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Shared responsibility model - Amazon Web Services: Risk and Compliance
Patching Amazon EC2 instances - AWS Systems Manager
Amazon EC2 FAQs - Amazon Web Services
Maintenance and Retirements - Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud
[Hardware Lifecycle - Amazon Web Services (AWS)]
[Backing Up Your Data - Amazon Web Services (AWS)]
[Database Patching - Amazon Web Services (AWS)]
[Installing Database Software on Amazon EC2 Instances - Amazon Web Services (AWS)]
