Ensure Monitoring and Logging is Enabled
Scanned 9/3/2026
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---
name: cis-aws-database-5.6
description: "Ensure Monitoring and Logging is Enabled"
category: cis-database
version: "2.0.0"
author: cyberstrike-official
tags: [cis, aws, database, elasticache, redis, monitoring, logging, cloudwatch]
cis_id: "5.6"
cis_benchmark: "CIS AWS Database Services Benchmark v2.0.0"
tech_stack: [aws]
cwe_ids: []
chains_with: [cis-aws-database-5.9]
prerequisites: []
severity_boost: {}
---
# 5.6 Ensure Monitoring and Logging is Enabled
## Description
Implementing monitoring and logging for Amazon ElastiCache allows you to gain visibility into the performance, health, and behavior of your ElastiCache clusters.
## Rationale
This helps the individual know what is being logged within the activity and determine what next step they should take to address any suspicious activity.
## Impact
If the individual is not monitoring and logging their activity it allows the attacker to attack the system and extract or destroy data.
## Audit Procedure
### Using AWS Console
1. Sign in to the AWS Management Console
- Sign in to the AWS Management Console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/ with your AWS account credentials.
2. Open the ElastiCache Console
- Navigate to the service using the `Find Services` search bar or by directly accessing the console at https://console.aws.amazon.com/elasticache/.
3. Select the ElastiCache Cluster
- Choose the ElastiCache cluster for which you want to implement monitoring and logging.
- Click on the cluster name to access its details page.
4. Enable Enhanced Monitoring
- Click on the `Monitoring` tab on the cluster details page.
- Under the `Monitoring` section, click on the `Enable Enhanced Monitoring` button.
- Select the desired monitoring granularity (1 minute, 5 minutes, or 60 minutes) to capture detailed metrics.
- Choose the desired CloudWatch namespace to store the metrics.
- Click `Save changes` to enable enhanced monitoring for the ElastiCache cluster.
5. Set Up CloudWatch Alarms
- In the CloudWatch console, navigate to `Alarms` in the left-side menu.
- Click `Create alarm` to create a new alarm.
- Select the appropriate ElastiCache metrics from the available options.
- Configure the threshold, conditions, and actions for the alarm.
- Choose the actions to take when the alarm state is triggered (e.g., send notifications, auto-scaling actions, etc.).
- Click `Create alarm` to save the alarm configuration.
6. Configure CloudWatch Logs
- In the CloudWatch console, navigate to `Logs` in the left-side menu.
- Click `Create log group` to create a new one.
- Provide a unique name for the log group and optionally specify a retention period for log data.
- Click `Create log group` to create the log group.
- On the ElastiCache cluster details page, click the `Logging` tab.
- Enable the `CloudWatch Logs` option and select the desired log group from the dropdown menu.
- Click `Save changes` to enable CloudWatch Logs for the ElastiCache cluster.
7. Verify Monitoring and Logging
- Wait a few minutes for the monitoring and logging configurations to take effect.
- Refresh the cluster details page for the updated monitoring and logging status.
- Navigate to the CloudWatch console to view metrics, alarms, and logs related to your ElastiCache cluster.
## Expected Result
Enhanced monitoring is enabled, CloudWatch alarms are configured, and CloudWatch Logs are enabled for all ElastiCache clusters.
## Remediation
The individual can understand the health, performance, and behavior of their clusters which allows them to address any unusual activity that takes place.
### Using AWS Console
Follow the same steps as the audit procedure to enable monitoring and logging for ElastiCache clusters.
## Default Value
By default, basic monitoring is enabled but enhanced monitoring and CloudWatch Logs require manual configuration.
## References
1. https://aws.amazon.com/products/databases/
## CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | ---- | ---- | ---- |
| v8 | 8.1 Establish and Maintain an Audit Log Management Process | x | x | x |
| v7 | 6.2 Activate audit logging | x | x | x |
## Profile
Level 1 | Manual
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