AWS Audit Manager

AWS Audit Manager addresses the complex challenge of continuous compliance and risk assessment in AWS environments by automating the evidence collection and audit processes. At its core, Audit Manager uses prebuilt and customizable frameworks to map compliance requirements to AWS usage data. These frameworks include a structured collection of controls, each with descriptions and testing procedures, aligned with various compliance standards and regulations.

The technical architecture of Audit Manager relies on automated evidence collection, which eliminates the need for manual collection, review, and management of evidence. This automation is achieved through integration with AWS services, allowing for real-time monitoring and assessment of compliance posture. The service supports both prebuilt frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, PCI-DSS) and custom frameworks tailored to specific internal audit requirements.

Operationally, Audit Manager requires minimal setup but has several key considerations. Users must onboard the necessary IAM roles, specify S3 buckets for report storage, and optionally configure KMS encryption and SNS notifications. For multi-account environments, Audit Manager can be integrated with AWS Organizations, enabling a centralized approach to compliance management across multiple accounts.

From a technical standpoint, Audit Manager's automated evidence collection reduces the manual effort significantly, allowing for more frequent and comprehensive audits. However, the service's effectiveness can be influenced by the complexity of the compliance frameworks and the volume of resources being audited. For instance, managing large-scale assessments may require careful planning to avoid performance impacts, and the cost of storing and managing audit reports can add up, especially in multi-account setups.