Safeguarding data exchange in government using AWS

In the intricate web of government agencies, the smooth exchange of data is paramount to provide citizens seamless access to digital services. However, this exchange poses significant challenges, particularly concerning citizen-centric data. Multiple agencies need to manage data sensitivity and confidentiality, which, if leaked or stolen, can be detrimental to both the citizen and the reputation of the government.

Disparate government agencies are required to share data to provide citizen-centric outcomes in a digital landscape. When government agencies choose Amazon Web Service (AWS) to store data, they choose to take advantage of inheriting the strictest security controls and standards. In addition, AWS services offer a unique opportunity to enhance networking and security approaches, ensuring safe and resilient data transfer mechanisms. This blog post provides guidance towards data sharing among government agencies, offering prescriptive approaches and best practices for implementing secure data exchange solutions using AWS services.

Considerations for technical solutions

To craft an effective technical solution, public sector entities must consider the specific requirements of the use case. This post aims to provide recommendations that prioritize data integrity, security, compliance, and resilience while aligning with the Well-Architected Framework pillars. While this post focuses on public sector customers, the guidance of best practices is applicable to any organization with a data exchange use case.

However, it’s important to note that the guidance primarily targets inter-agency data exchange patterns and supports most intra-agency patterns. It supports AWS to AWS integrations and AWS to other integrations, such as other cloud providers or customer on-premises data centers. It does not factor in the current technology landscape and will not address any data validation or transformation requirements. The guidance ends once the data has reached its intended destination, irrespective of its use case or storage technology.

Figure 1. Inter-agency data exchange patterns.

Key considerations

Before diving into technical solutions, you need to consider key data properties such as classification, velocity, consumption, volume, and type. These factors influence the choice of AWS services and the establishment of appropriate data exchange patterns. Understanding the nuances of data attributes is essential for designing robust data-sharing mechanisms.

Underpinning your data transfer requirements are key components, including:

• Data classification: The class of data concerning the level of sensitivity, the risks it presents and the compliance regulations that protect it (for example, public, sensitive).
• Data velocity: How quickly you need to share the data (for example, real-time, batch, streaming).
• Data consumption: The approach to how the data is consumed for processing (for example, push, pull).
• Data volume: The amount of data that is being shared (for example, KM, MB, TB,).
• Data type: The type and format of the data being transferred (for example, text, image, blob).

Choosing the right solution

This post provides decision tables to summarize recommendations based on data attributes and use case requirements. This enables organizations to select the most suitable AWS services for secure data sharing to provide confidentiality, integrity, and resilience while also maintaining the ability to withstand cyberattacks. It is assumed that the data being exchanged is encrypted in transit using up-to-date encryption protocols.

For instance, organizations aiming to securely transfer small data payloads hosted on AWS to other organizations also hosted on AWS in an on-demand scenario may opt for the recommended AWS services, such as Amazon API Gateway using AWS PrivateLink.

Conversely, organizations transferring large volumes (gigabytes) of streaming data between systems hosted on AWS or third parties may opt to use the recommended AWS service Amazon Managed Streaming for Apache Kafka (Amazon MSK) or Amazon Kinesis as a robust solution.

Data exchange recommendations for on-demand use cases

The data will not traverse the public internet where possible.

Data exchange recommendations for batch use cases

Data exchange recommendations for streaming use cases

Conclusion

In an era where data is a prized asset, safeguarding its sharing is imperative for maintaining trust and confidentiality. By using AWS services and adhering to best practices, government agencies can establish secure and resilient data transfer mechanisms. This proactive approach not only mitigates the risk of breaches but also fosters confidence among citizens in the government’s commitment to data privacy and security. Through careful consideration of data attributes and thoughtful implementation of technical solutions, the path to secure data sharing in the government sector becomes clearer, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of shared information.

How can AWS help?

AWS offers in-person training, free online training, and certification programs. AWS has a number of partners and the AWS Professional Services team who can help you with your secure data transfer use cases.

To learn more about how you can use AWS to support your agency’s unique use case, contact the AWS Public Sector team.

AWS contributors: Andrew Hammett, Basheer Sheriff, Freddy Hartono, and Mehmet Akyuz.