AWS Shield Advanced is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service designed to safeguard applications running on AWS. It provides advanced detection and mitigation capabilities against DDoS attacks, ensuring high availability and improved resilience for your applications. This knowledge base will cover the configuration and management of AWS Shield Advanced, highlighting best practices, integration with other AWS services, and troubleshooting common issues.

Understanding AWS Shield Advanced

What is AWS Shield?

AWS Shield is a DDoS protection service that offers two tiers:

1. AWS Shield Standard: Automatically provides protection for all AWS customers against common and most frequently observed DDoS attacks. No configuration is needed.

2. AWS Shield Advanced: Offers additional protections against larger and more sophisticated DDoS attacks. It includes enhanced detection, 24/7 access to the AWS DDoS Response Team (DRT), and detailed attack diagnostics.

Key Features of AWS Shield Advanced

• DDoS Attack Mitigation: Protects against layer 3 (network) and layer 4 (transport) attacks.
• Application Layer Protection: Offers protections against layer 7 (application) attacks when integrated with AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF).
• Attack Visibility: Provides detailed attack diagnostics and real-time visibility into ongoing DDoS attacks through AWS CloudWatch metrics and AWS Shield dashboards.
• Cost Protection: Includes a cost protection feature to safeguard against scaling charges that result from DDoS attacks.
• Integration with AWS WAF: Enhanced security when used in conjunction with AWS WAF for application layer protection.

Getting Started with AWS Shield Advanced

Enabling AWS Shield Advanced

To get started with AWS Shield Advanced, follow these steps:

1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the AWS Shield service from the services menu.
3. Select Get started under AWS Shield Advanced.

Creating a Shield Advanced Protection

1. Click on Add protection.
2. Select the resources you want to protect. Shield Advanced can protect:
   • Amazon CloudFront distributions
   • Amazon Route 53 hosted zones
   • Application Load Balancers (ALB)
   • Amazon Elastic IP addresses
   • AWS Global Accelerator endpoints
3. After selecting the resources, click Next.

Configuring Protection Settings

1. Set up protection settings:
   • Enable DDoS cost protection: Protect against scaling charges during DDoS attacks.
   • Add custom mitigations: If necessary, configure custom mitigation settings based on your application’s needs.
2. Review your settings and click Add protection to finalize.

Confirming Protection

Once protection is added, AWS Shield Advanced will automatically monitor your resources for DDoS threats. You can view the status and metrics from the AWS Shield console.

Integrating AWS Shield Advanced with AWS WAF

AWS Shield Advanced works best when integrated with AWS WAF to provide comprehensive security for your applications.

Creating a Web ACL in AWS WAF

1. Navigate to the AWS WAF console.
2. Click on Web ACLs and then Create web ACL.
3. Specify a name, region, and resource type for your Web ACL.
4. Set rules for your Web ACL:
   • Add managed rule groups (e.g., AWS Managed Rules).
   • Create custom rules based on your application’s requirements.

Associating the Web ACL with Resources

1. Associate the Web ACL with the resources protected by AWS Shield Advanced (e.g., CloudFront distributions, ALBs).
2. Review and save your configuration.

Monitoring and Managing Rules

1. Regularly monitor the performance of your WAF rules through the AWS WAF console.
2. Adjust rules as necessary based on traffic patterns and potential threats.

Configuring DDoS Response Team (DRT)

AWS Shield Advanced customers have access to the DDoS Response Team (DRT) for support during attacks.

Contacting DRT

If you suspect a DDoS attack or if your application experiences performance degradation, you can contact the DRT through:

1. AWS Support Center: Create a support case with high priority.
2. AWS Console: Use the Shield console to initiate contact.

Preparing for DRT Engagement

When contacting DRT, provide the following information:

• Detailed description of the incident.
• Time of the incident and any observed symptoms.
• AWS resources impacted by the attack.

The DRT can assist with:

• Incident response planning.
• Attack traffic analysis.
• Configuring additional mitigations.

Monitoring AWS Shield Advanced

AWS Shield Advanced provides several tools for monitoring and analyzing attack data.

Using CloudWatch Metrics

1. Navigate to the Amazon CloudWatch console.
2. Create a new dashboard to visualize key metrics such as:
   • Incoming request rate
   • Number of blocked requests
   • Attack duration and volume

Configuring CloudWatch Alarms

1. Set up alarms for important metrics to receive notifications during potential DDoS attacks.
2. For instance, create an alarm for unusual spikes in incoming traffic or requests.

Reviewing Attack Analytics

1. Use the AWS Shield console to view real-time attack information and historical attack data.
2. Analyze patterns to improve your DDoS response strategy.

Cost Protection with AWS Shield Advanced

One of the significant benefits of AWS Shield Advanced is its cost protection feature.

Understanding Cost Protection

AWS Shield Advanced provides automatic protection against scaling charges that can result from DDoS attacks.

• If your resource scales due to an attack, AWS will automatically apply credits to your AWS account to offset the costs.
• Protection applies only to resources protected by AWS Shield Advanced.

Monitoring Cost Impact

1. Use AWS Cost Explorer to monitor your AWS spending.
2. Set up budgets to keep track of potential spending increases during DDoS attacks.

Best Practices for AWS Shield Advanced Configuration

To ensure optimal DDoS protection, consider the following best practices:

1. Enable DDoS Cost Protection: Always enable cost protection when setting up Shield Advanced.
2. Integrate with AWS WAF: Use AWS WAF to create a multi-layered security strategy, protecting against both DDoS and application layer attacks.
3. Regularly Review and Update WAF Rules: Continuously monitor and refine your WAF rules based on the traffic patterns and threat landscape.
4. Use CloudWatch Alarms: Set alarms to notify you of potential DDoS attacks, allowing you to take proactive measures.
5. Engage DRT: Don't hesitate to involve the DRT for guidance during a DDoS incident, as their expertise can significantly help mitigate risks.
6. Educate Your Team: Ensure that your security and operations teams understand AWS Shield Advanced and the processes for managing DDoS incidents.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

 Shield Advanced Protection Not Working

If you experience issues with AWS Shield Advanced protection not functioning as expected, check the following:

• Resource Association: Ensure that the resource is correctly associated with Shield Advanced.
• WAF Configuration: Verify that the Web ACL rules in AWS WAF do not conflict with Shield settings.

 Unexpected Costs During an Attack

If you see unexpected charges during a DDoS attack, investigate the following:

• Cost Protection Status: Confirm that DDoS cost protection is enabled for your resources.
• CloudWatch Metrics: Review your CloudWatch metrics to understand the traffic patterns during the attack.

Performance Degradation

If you notice performance issues during an attack:

• Check for Mitigation Events: Review the Shield console for any ongoing mitigation activities.
• Contact DRT: If problems persist, contact the DRT for assistance.

AWS Shield Advanced is a powerful tool that provides essential protection against DDoS attacks for your applications running on AWS. By following the steps outlined in this knowledge base, you can effectively configure and manage AWS Shield Advanced to enhance the security of your resources.

Understanding the features and capabilities of AWS Shield Advanced, integrating it with AWS WAF, and regularly monitoring for potential threats are crucial for maintaining a robust security posture. By implementing best practices and utilizing the support of the DDoS Response Team, you can significantly mitigate the risks associated with DDoS attacks and ensure high availability for your applications.