Overview

AWS Config provides a detailed view of how AWS resources are configured and how these configurations change over time. It's like having a continuous recording of your AWS account that shows what resources exist, how they're set up, and how they're connected to each other.

The service can alert you when configurations drift from your expected settings. For example, if someone accidentally changes a security setting or removes a required tag from a resource, AWS Config can notify you immediately. This helps prevent security issues and ensures your resources stay properly configured.

One of Config's key features is its ability to evaluate resources against rules you define. These rules can check things like whether all your storage volumes are encrypted, if your security groups are too permissive, or if resources have required tags. You can use AWS's pre-built rules or create custom ones.

The service also maintains a configuration history, allowing you to see how your resources have changed over time. This is particularly useful for troubleshooting issues, security investigations, or demonstrating compliance to auditors.

Example uses

Security Monitoring: Track changes to security groups, network access controls, and encryption settings.
Compliance Auditing: Ensure resources meet your organization's compliance requirements and standards.
Resource Tracking: Monitor resource configurations and relationships across your AWS account.
Change Management: Review and audit configuration changes to understand who changed what and when.

Integration with other AWS services

AWS Config works with many AWS services:

Amazon SNS: Receive notifications about configuration changes
AWS CloudTrail: Track who made changes to your resources
AWS Lambda: Automatically respond to configuration changes
Amazon S3: Store configuration history and audit reports

Think of AWS Config as your AWS environment's security system that continuously monitors and records configurations, helping ensure everything stays secure and compliant with your requirements.