Security in the Cloud: A Guide to Secure Migration and Modernization with AWS

Migrating enterprise applications to the Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud offers significant security advantages, though it requires collaboration with AWS and adherence to its best practices. As cloud security has advanced, many IT leaders now recognize that top-tier providers like AWS offer unmatched expertise, suggesting organizations should leverage AWS's guidance and tools. "Lift-and-shift" migrations, which involve moving applications to the cloud with minimal changes, are common but present security risks that can be mitigated by using AWS-specific tools such as Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). These migrations benefit from adopting AWS security features, including fine-grained access controls and encryption, without necessarily refactoring applications. Key security fundamentals like the principle of least privilege, thorough logging, and layered security are critical during and after migration. For cloud modernization and application refactoring, the AWS Well-Architected Framework serves as a comprehensive guide, emphasizing security principles and automation. Additionally, maintaining visibility through monitoring tools like New Relic One is essential to ensure that cloud applications perform securely and efficiently.