Cis GCP Foundations 2.16

2.16 Ensure Logging is enabled for HTTP(S) Load Balancer (Automated)

Profile Applicability

• Level 2

Description

Logging enabled on a HTTPS Load Balancer will show all network traffic and its destination.

Rationale

Logging will allow you to view HTTPS network traffic to your web applications.

Impact

On high use systems with a high percentage sample rate, the logging file may grow to high capacity in a short amount of time. Ensure that the sample rate is set appropriately so that storage costs are not exorbitant.

Audit

From Google Cloud Console

1. From Google Cloud home open the Navigation Menu in the top left.
2. Under the Networking heading select Network services.
3. Select the HTTPS load-balancer you wish to audit.
4. Select Edit then Backend Configuration.
5. Select Edit on the corresponding backend service.
6. Ensure that Enable Logging is selected. Also ensure that Sample Rate is set to an appropriate level for your needs.

From Google Cloud CLI

1. Run the following command:

gcloud compute backend-services describe <serviceName>

2. Ensure that enable-logging is enabled and sample rate is set to your desired level.

Remediation

From Google Cloud Console

1. From Google Cloud home open the Navigation Menu in the top left.
2. Under the Networking heading select Network services.
3. Select the HTTPS load-balancer you wish to audit.
4. Select Edit then Backend Configuration.
5. Select Edit on the corresponding backend service.
6. Click Enable Logging.
7. Set Sample Rate to a desired value. This is a percentage as a decimal point. 1.0 is 100%.

From Google Cloud CLI

1. Run the following command:

gcloud compute backend-services update <serviceName> --region=REGION --enable-logging --logging-sample-rate=<percentageAsADecimal>

Default Value

By default logging for https load balancing is disabled. When logging is enabled it sets the default sample rate as 1.0 or 100%. Ensure this value fits the need of your organization to avoid high storage costs.

References

1. https://cloud.google.com/load-balancing/
2. https://cloud.google.com/load-balancing/docs/https/https-logging-monitoring#gcloud:-global-mode
3. https://cloud.google.com/sdk/gcloud/reference/compute/backend-services/

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