In complex cloud environments, maintaining a strong security posture begins with understanding what is important. Watchlists provide a strategic approach to monitoring critical infrastructure, allowing security teams to concentrate their efforts on the most sensitive and high-impact assets.

The process begins by identifying critical cloud assets, those essential for operations, compliance, or data integrity. Once these assets are identified, it is vital to assess the potential impact of their compromise to prioritize monitoring efforts effectively.

A well-designed watchlist enables teams to detect changes or issues in real time, helping to prevent misconfigurations and uncover suspicious behavior. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with industry standards by continuously validating the state of monitored assets against established security benchmarks.

To remain effective, watchlists must support continuous improvement, adapting as infrastructure evolves, threats change, and business priorities shift. Understanding what to monitor is key. This includes keeping track of exposure levels, configuration changes, access patterns, and compliance violations.

Finally, a well-maintained watchlist should include servers hosting sensitive data, critical infrastructure components, high-impact resources, etc.

Use Case

Focused Security Monitoring of Critical EC2 Instances in us-west-2

Organizations often have mission-critical EC2 instances that require continuous observation. In this context, the security team needs to monitor a specific set of high-priority instances located in the us-west-2 region.

To simplify this process, the team creates a “Watchlist” by selecting key parameters that isolate and track only these critical EC2 resources. The watchlist serves as a focused tool, displaying only the relevant instances for better visibility and quicker insights.

Once established, this watchlist is tagged and integrated throughout the CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform) environment. This tag becomes a dynamic filter that connects with various modules, allowing:

• Anomaly detection specifically for the watchlisted instances
• Remediation tracking focused solely on these high-value assets
• Visibility of misconfigurations limited to the critical subset

By isolating and tagging these EC2 instances, security teams establish that essential assets receive prioritized protection and do not get overlooked amidst the broader infrastructure monitoring.

This approach demonstrates how a targeted watchlist enhances both operational efficiency and security posture.

Strategic Approach to Watchlist Critical Infrastructure

Flag the assets that need special attention and if ignored, lead to significant security breaches.

Identify the Critical Cloud Assets

Not all cloud assets are equally important or carry the same level of risk, so it is crucial to evaluate each one based on its business value, sensitivity, and regulatory implications. Start by asking if the asset handles sensitive or regulated data, if compromised does it disrupt business operations or weaken customer trust, and if essential does it meet compliance or legal obligations. This evaluation helps organizations prioritize the assets that need enhanced monitoring and protection, ensuring that resources are focused where they are most needed.

Assess Potential Impact of Asset Compromise

Evaluating the potential consequences of a breach or misconfiguration of an asset requires careful consideration of several key factors. These factors include the extent of data loss or exposure, the impact on business continuity and operational efficiency, potential reputational and financial harm, and the likelihood of facing legal and regulatory penalties. By assessing these aspects, organizations can prioritize and rank their assets based on associated risks and determine the urgency of needed monitoring and protection.

Monitor for Changes and Anomalies

Establish clear objectives for detecting unauthorized or unexpected changes to critical infrastructure, focusing on key indicators such as configuration drifts from established security baselines, sudden spikes in access or usage patterns, and the unplanned addition or removal of users, roles, or permissions. These strategies achieve early detection of potential threats, enabling swift response and minimizing the risk of security breaches or operational disruptions.

Ensure Compliance with Industry Standards

To comply with industry standards, organizations should implement strong controls and continuously monitor their cloud assets. Key objectives should include mapping these assets to relevant regulatory frameworks such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.

Where to Look?	Why it Matters?	What to Watch?	How Watchlist Helps?
Identity and Access Management (IAM)	Misconfigured IAM is the cloud equivalent of leaving the front door unlocked. Improper roles, excessive privileges, and weak authentication expose sensitive resources.	Over-permissioned accounts and roles (especially service accounts)Use of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across the boardPrivilege escalation pathsInactive or orphaned accounts	Identity and Access Management (IAM) issues are proactively monitored and addressed by closely watching roles and accounts with excessive permissions, especially service accounts, to detect potential privilege misuse. The state of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adoption is regularly monitored to ensure secure authentication practices. Privilege escalation paths are identified by tracking risky permission changes, while dormant or inactive accounts are detected to enforce least privilege access and reduce the overall attack surface. This approach helps quickly remediate potential security gaps and ensures adherence to IAM best practices.
Configuration Management	Misconfigurations are the leading cause of cloud breaches. From open S3 buckets to insecure API gateways, attackers often exploit configuration gaps.	Publicly accessible storage buckets or servicesUnencrypted data at rest or in transitMissing logging or monitoring configurations	Watchlists play a crucial role in strengthening configuration management by continuously monitoring and flagging critical misconfigurations that could result in cloud breaches. They assist security teams in overseeing publicly accessible storage buckets and services, making sure that sensitive data is not unintentionally exposed. In addition, watchlists help identify unencrypted data, whether at rest or in transit, thereby supporting compliance and data protection initiatives. They also bring attention to missing logging or monitoring configurations, that are vital for maintaining visibility and helping effective incident response. By utilizing watchlists, organizations can swiftly detect and address configuration gaps, thereby reducing the risk of exploitation and ensuring a secure cloud environment.
Network Security	Cloud networks aren’t impenetrable. Just like traditional networks, they can be probed, scanned, and exploited.	Open ports and insecure protocolsFlat network topology with no segmentationPoorly managed firewall/security group rulesUnmonitored ingress and egress traffic	Watchlists play a crucial role in enhancing network security by continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities that could expose cloud environments to threats. They help in detecting open ports and insecure protocols that attackers might exploit to gain unauthorized access. In addition, watchlists monitor flat network topologies and the lack of proper segmentation, that facilitates lateral movement in the event of a breach. By keeping track of misconfigured firewall or security group rules, as well as unmonitored inbound and outbound traffic, watchlists enable the early detection of risky network behavior. This proactive visibility supports timely remediation efforts and strengthens the overall defence of the cloud network.
Logging and Monitoring	You can’t protect what you can’t see. Continuous visibility is key for detecting threats and responding quickly.	Gaps in audit logging (e.g., CloudTrail, Stackdriver, Azure Monitor)Lack of alerts for critical events (e.g., failed logins, config changes)Delayed or missing log delivery to SIEM toolsShadow IT or unmonitored cloud resources	Watchlists play a crucial role in logging and monitoring by providing continuous visibility into critical logging gaps and blind spots within the cloud environment. They help identify missing or misconfigured audit logs across services such as CloudTrail, Stackdriver, or Azure Monitor, making sure that essential activities are recorded. In addition, “Watchlists” monitor the absence of alerts for significant events, such as failed login attempts or unauthorized configuration changes. By highlighting delays or failures in delivering logs to SIEM tools and identifying unmonitored or shadow IT resources, “Watchlists” enhance timely threat detection and response. This makes sure that organizations maintain comprehensive supervision of their cloud infrastructure.
Third-Party and Shadow Services	The cloud’s flexibility can become a disadvantage when unmanaged services are overlooked.	Unsanctioned SaaS applications with access to company dataUse of APIs or services that bypass standard security checksThird-party integrations with excessive permissions	Watchlists are essential tools for reducing risks associated with third-party and shadow services. They continuously identify and monitor unauthorized applications and integrations within a cloud environment. By flagging unsanctioned SaaS applications, watchlists help prevent unauthorized access to sensitive company data that lacks proper oversight.   They also detect the use of APIs or services that avoid standard security controls, which can lead to compliance and security vulnerabilities. Additionally, watchlists track third-party integrations for excessive or unnecessary permissions, making sure that external access adheres to the principle of least privilege. This proactive visibility empowers organizations to regain control over unmanaged services and minimize exposure to hidden threats.
Compliance and Governance	Meeting regulatory standards is not just about ticking boxes, it’s about maintaining trust and avoiding legal risks.	Non-compliant data storage or transfer practicesLack of documentation or audit readinessMisaligned policies between teams or business units	Watchlists are essential for supporting compliance and governance by continuously monitoring cloud activities and configurations against regulatory and organizational standards. They help identify non-compliant practices related to data storage or transfer, ensuring that sensitive information is managed according to legal and industry requirements. In addition, watchlists pinpoint gaps in documentation and audit preparedness, allowing teams to proactively prepare for inspections or assessments. By tracking policy misalignment across teams or business units, watchlists help maintain consistency and enforce governance controls. This ongoing oversight not only reduces legal and compliance risks but also builds trust and accountability within the organization.

Support Continuous Improvement

Supporting continuous improvement means using insights from ongoing monitoring and past incidents to strengthen security strategies and practices. This process involves regularly updating the asset watchlist to address emerging threats and evolving business needs.

Where to Look and What to Watch?

To stay ahead of threats, organizations need to know where to look and what to watch.

Here’s a focused cloud security watchlist, highlighting the critical components you need to monitor closely.

What a Well Maintained Watchlist Must Include?

A well-maintained watchlist is essential for effective cloud and infrastructure security, enabling organizations to focus their monitoring efforts on the most critical assets. To be truly effective, a watchlist must be comprehensive, accurate, and updated regularly. It should include the following key elements:

Servers Hosting Sensitive Data

Any servers that store or process sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial records, health data, intellectual property, or proprietary business information, must be prominently featured. These assets are prime targets for attackers and pose a high risk if compromised.

Critical Infrastructure Components

This includes core systems vital to business operations, such as identity and access management (IAM) services, network configurations, authentication systems, databases, and cloud control planes. Disruptions or breaches in these components can lead to widespread operational failures and increased vulnerability.

High-Impact Resources

Any resource that, if misconfigured or exposed, could lead to significant security incidents, such as public S3 buckets, exposed APIs, open ports, or overly permissive access policies, and needs careful monitoring. These assets may not always appear critical but can serve as entry points for attackers.

These watchlists must be updated regularly to reflect changes in the environment, new threats, and shifts in business priorities. This approach ensures that security teams remain focused in protecting the most impactful assets and are prepared to respond swiftly in the event of an incident.

Start Monitoring by Adding to Your Watchlist

Adding resources to Saner’s Watchlist enables proactive monitoring and ensures that any changes or risks associated with these critical resources are addressed promptly.

Click here to read more on how to setup the watchlist configuration for a resource.

Go Further

Saner Cloud is a comprehensive solution designed to help organizations effectively manage their cloud operations. Key features of the product include asset exposure, posture management, posture anomaly detection, identity and entitlement management, and remediation management.

Documentation is organized to help you quickly and efficiently find the information you need, whether you’re troubleshooting, learning how to use specific tools, or seeking in-depth knowledge about the product suite.

Discover how Saner CSAE is designed to achieve your security goals. Schedule your trial today for a more comprehensive experience!