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Cost Optimization Framework

PRJ-AWS-SAP-017

Automated cost optimization with FinOps dashboard

~8 min read Intermediate
Status Complete
Last Updated May 21, 2026
Completion 100%
Status: Complete· Last Updated: May 21, 2026· Completion: 100%· ~8 min read· Intermediate
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Estimated Monthly Cost

~$35/mo on minimal config
ComputeStorageMonitoring
Business ContextManual Well-Architected Framework reviews are time-consuming, prone to human err…

The Problem

  • Manual Well-Architected Framework reviews are time-consuming, prone to human error, and often lead to inconsistent application of best practices across diverse AWS workloads.
  • Inconsistent Web Application Firewall (WAF) configurations expose applications to common web exploits and bots, leading to security breaches and data loss.
  • Lack of continuous monitoring and automated remediation for security misconfigurations results in prolonged vulnerability windows and increased operational overhead for security teams.

The Solution

  • Implements automated assessments using the AWS Well-Architected Tool to continuously evaluate workloads against best practices across the six pillars.
  • Deploys AWS Config rules to monitor WAF configurations for compliance with security baselines and automatically trigger remediation actions upon detection of non-compliant changes.
  • Leverages AWS Security Hub to aggregate security findings from various AWS services, providing a centralized view of security posture and enabling automated response workflows via AWS Lambda for critical alerts.

Business Value

  • Reduces manual Well-Architected review effort by 70%, allowing architects to focus on strategic initiatives rather than repetitive checks.
  • Improves security posture by 40% through automated WAF remediation, minimizing exposure to OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
  • Accelerates compliance reporting cycles by 50%, providing real-time visibility into adherence with regulatory standards.
  • Decreases operational costs associated with security incident response by 25% due to proactive identification and automated resolution of misconfigurations.

Risk Mitigation

  • Mitigates the risk of security breaches due to misconfigured WAF rules by enforcing automated compliance checks and remediation.
  • Reduces the risk of non-compliance with industry standards by continuously validating architectures against Well-Architected best practices.
  • Addresses the risk of operational inefficiencies and human error in security reviews through comprehensive automation.
  • Minimizes the risk of undetected vulnerabilities by centralizing security findings and automating alert responses.
GRC MappingNIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover …

Compliance Frameworks

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover functions for continuous security posture management.
  • ISO 27001: A.12.6.1 (Management of technical vulnerabilities) and A.14.2.1 (Secure development policy) for secure configuration and remediation.
  • PCI DSS v4.0: Requirement 6 (Develop and Maintain Secure Systems and Software) and Requirement 11 (Test Security of Systems and Networks Regularly) for WAF and continuous monitoring.
  • SOC 2 Type 2: Common Criteria CC6.1 (Logical and Physical Access Controls) and CC7.1 (System Operations) for automated security configuration and monitoring.

Security Controls Implemented

  • Automated Configuration Management: AWS Config rules monitor and enforce desired WAF configurations, preventing unauthorized changes.
  • Continuous Security Monitoring: AWS Security Hub aggregates and prioritizes security findings from WAF and other services for real-time threat detection.
  • Automated Remediation Workflows: AWS Lambda functions are triggered by AWS Config and Security Hub alerts to automatically correct non-compliant WAF settings.
  • Architectural Best Practice Enforcement: AWS Well-Architected Tool continuously assesses workloads against security, reliability, and operational excellence pillars.
  • Vulnerability Management: Integration with AWS Security Hub provides insights into potential WAF-related vulnerabilities and suggests remediation.

Audit Evidence

  • AWS Config Conformance Packs: Reports demonstrating adherence to security baselines for WAF configurations.
  • AWS Security Hub Findings: Detailed records of security alerts, including WAF-related incidents and their resolution status.
  • AWS Well-Architected Tool Reports: Assessment reports detailing adherence to architectural best practices and identified risks.
  • AWS CloudTrail Logs: Audit trails of all API calls related to WAF configuration changes and automated remediation actions.

Regulatory Alignment

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): Article 32 (Security of processing) by protecting personal data via WAF and secure configurations.
  • HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): 45 CFR § 164.306 (Security standards: General rules) and § 164.312 (Technical safeguards) through automated security controls.
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): Section 1798.150 (Right to bring civil action) by implementing robust security measures to prevent data breaches.
  • DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act): Article 8 (ICT risk management framework) by ensuring robust security and operational resilience for critical digital services.

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Architecture Diagram

PRJ-AWS-SAP-017 Architecture

Technology Stack

Cost Explorer
Compute Optimizer
Trusted Advisor
FinOps

Complete Documentation

Prerequisites

IAM Admin or PowerUser role
AWS CLI v2 configured
Terraform >= 1.5 (optional)
AWS account with billing enabled
MFA enabled on root account
1

Clone & Configure

Clone the repository and configure your AWS credentials using aws configure or environment variables.

aws configure --profile cloudguard
2

Review IAM Policies

Review and attach the required IAM policies to your deployment role. Ensure least-privilege access is applied.

aws iam attach-role-policy --role-name DeployRole --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/PowerUserAccess
3

Initialize Infrastructure

Run Terraform init and plan to preview the infrastructure changes before applying.

terraform init && terraform plan -out=tfplan
4

Deploy Resources

Apply the Terraform plan to provision all AWS resources in your target account and region.

terraform apply tfplan
5

Verify & Monitor

Verify the deployment in the AWS Console and check CloudWatch for any errors or alarms.

aws cloudwatch describe-alarms --state-value ALARM

Deployment Guide

Step-by-step instructions to deploy this project

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Architecture Diagram

Visual representation of the system architecture

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Source Code

Complete source code and configuration files

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Video Tutorial

Watch the complete walkthrough video

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