> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.dsalta.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# AWS EBS volumes should be encrypted

> Checks that AWS EBS volumes are encrypted at rest.

Checks that AWS EBS volumes are encrypted at rest.

## About

When you connect Amazon Web Services (AWS) to DSALTA, the platform retrieves the list of resources in your environment using read-only API access. DSALTA then checks whether this configuration is in place. If it is not, DSALTA activates this check so you can remediate it.

## Why This Matters

Data stored without encryption can be read by anyone who gains access to the underlying storage — through a misconfiguration, a stolen disk, or improper decommissioning. Encryption at rest renders that data useless without the key and is required by SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

## How to Fix

**Before you begin**

* Ensure you have **Admin** access to the AWS account.

**Encrypt the EBS volume**

1. Sign in to the [AWS Console](https://console.aws.amazon.com/) and navigate to **EC2 → Elastic Block Store → Volumes**.
2. Select the unencrypted volume and choose **Actions → Create snapshot**.
3. Select the snapshot, then **Actions → Copy snapshot**, and enable **Encrypt this snapshot** with your KMS key.
4. From the encrypted snapshot, choose **Actions → Create volume** to create an encrypted volume.
5. Detach the old volume and attach the encrypted volume to your instance.
6. To prevent this in future, enable **EBS encryption by default** under **EC2 → Settings**.

Once the volume is encrypted, DSALTA retrieves the change on the next sync and sets the check status to **Passing**.

## Frequently Asked Questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="How often does this check run?">
    This check runs automatically every 24 hours while the Amazon Web Services (AWS) integration is connected. You can also trigger a manual sync from **Integrations** in the sidebar.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens if it keeps failing?">
    A failing check appears in your **Data Library → Tests** dashboard. Work through the steps above; once the underlying configuration is fixed, the status updates automatically on the next sync.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I exclude this check?">
    Yes. If it does not apply to your environment, mark it as **Not Applicable** with a justification. The exclusion is documented for auditors.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does DSALTA change my Amazon Web Services (AWS) configuration?">
    No. DSALTA uses **read-only API access** and never modifies, creates, or deletes resources. All remediation is performed by your team directly in Amazon Web Services (AWS).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>