3.1 Design and implement security controls for edge services. - This episode explores Task Statement 3.1 from the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam, focusing on how to design and implement robust security controls for edge services in AWS environments. Listeners will learn why edge services like CloudFront, WAF, Shield, Route 53, and load balancers are the first line of defense against a variety of threats including DDoS attacks, web exploits, and misconfigurations that could compromise backend systems. The discussion covers the critical features of these edge services, typical attack patterns they must defend against, and how to layer them effectively for comprehensive, defense-in-depth architectures. Practical advice is given on strategizing protections based on specific use casesranging from securing public websites to safeguarding serverless and mobile app backendswhile weighing the trade-offs between security, performance, and cost. The episode highlights the importance of granular controls such as geo-restrictions, rate limiting, device fingerprinting, and log activation, which together enable both proactive prevention and detailed monitoring of potential breaches. Listeners will leave with actionable insights on selecting and integrating edge services, building layered defenses, and continuously monitoring for threats to maintain compliance and high availability in distributed cloud applications.
