AWS Config
AWS Config assesses, audits, and evaluates your resource configurations continuously. Track configuration changes and evaluate against desired policies.
What is Config? (Simple Explanation)
Config is an AWS service in the Management category. AWS Config assesses, audits, and evaluates your resource configurations continuously.
When Would You Use Config?
- Continuous compliance monitoring
- Resource configuration history
- Security analysis and audit
- Operational troubleshooting
- Change management and governance
Who Uses Config?
From startups to enterprises, Config powers:
What Makes Config Powerful
Config Pricing & Free Tier
CloudWatch Free Tier: 10 metrics, 5GB log ingestion. Config: $0.003 per configuration item. CloudFormation: free (pay for created resources).
Config Best Practices
- 1Create a multi-account strategy with AWS Organizations from day one
- 2Enable consolidated billing and apply SCPs to restrict risky actions
- 3Use Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation/Terraform) for all production resources
- 4Set budget alerts at 50%, 80%, and 100% of expected monthly spend
- 5Enable AWS Config with conformance packs for continuous compliance monitoring
Getting Started with Config in 5 Minutes
- 1Open the AWS Console and navigate to Config
- 2Click "Create" or "Get started" to begin configuration
- 3Configure the required settings — name, region, and access permissions
- 4Review and create — monitor the initial status in CloudWatch
Config CLI Quick Reference
2 production-ready commands. Full CLI Library (225+ services) →
aws configservice describe-compliance-by-resource --query 'ComplianceByResources[*].{Type:ResourceType,ID:ResourceId,Compliance:Compliance.ComplianceType}' --output tableView compliance status for all resourcesaws configservice get-compliance-details-by-config-rule --config-rule-name REQUIRED_TAGS --query 'EvaluationResults[?ComplianceType!=`COMPLIANT`].EvaluationResultIdentifier.EvaluationResultQualifier.ResourceId'List resources that failed a specific Config rulePros & Cons of Config
Pros
- Managed rules and custom Lambda rules for compliance checks
- Conformance packs for packaged compliance frameworks
- Configuration timeline and snapshots
- Remediation actions for non-compliant resources
- Multi-account, multi-region data aggregation
Cons
- ✕Vendor lock-in — migrating away from AWS requires significant effort
- ✕Costs can be unpredictable without proper monitoring and budgeting
- ✕Learning curve for beginners — AWS has 200+ services with complex IAM policies
Config vs Alternatives
Config vs CloudTrail
Choose Config for Continuous compliance monitoring and Resource configuration history. It excels at managed rules and custom lambda rules for compliance checks.
Choose CloudTrail as an alternative when your requirements differ. Each service in the Management category serves different architectural patterns.
Services That Work with Config
Config is rarely used alone. It is typically combined with:
Compliance & Security
How AWS Config fits into major compliance standards. Browse all 41 frameworks →
Config configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults.
NIST 800-53Config access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families.
PCI DSS 4.0Config encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments.
SOC 2Config security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria.
ISO 27001Config configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
Frequently Asked Questions About Config
What is AWS Config?
AWS Config assesses, audits, and evaluates your resource configurations continuously. Track configuration changes and evaluate against desired policies.
What is Config used for?
Config is commonly used for: Continuous compliance monitoring; Resource configuration history; Security analysis and audit; Operational troubleshooting; Change management and governance. It's a core service in the management category of AWS.
Is Config free?
CloudWatch Free Tier: 10 metrics, 5GB log ingestion. Config: $0.003 per configuration item. CloudFormation: free (pay for created resources).
What are the key features of Config?
Config's most important capabilities include: Managed rules and custom Lambda rules for compliance checks. Conformance packs for packaged compliance frameworks. Configuration timeline and snapshots. Remediation actions for non-compliant resources. Multi-account, multi-region data aggregation. Each of these is designed to help teams continuous compliance monitoring.
How does Config compare to alternatives?
Config competes with both AWS-native alternatives (CloudTrail, SSM, Lambda) and third-party equivalents. The right choice depends on your specific requirements for scalability, cost, and operational overhead. See the comparisons section below for detailed guidance.
Which compliance frameworks apply to Config?
CIS AWS v3.0: Config configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults. NIST 800-53: Config access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families. PCI DSS 4.0: Config encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments. SOC 2: Config security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. ISO 27001: Config configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
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