Fix AWS VPC config, then explain the incident and fix in plain language. Simulation Details: Vertex Technologies is a global leader in cloud-based solutions, serving thousands of enterprise customers worldwide. The company’s infrastructure is built entirely on Amazon Web Services (AWS), leveraging EC2, S3, Lambda, and RDS to deliver scalable SaaS platforms and data-analytics tools. With a daily data volume of hundreds of terabytes and thousands of cloud instances, robust security is essential to protect sensitive customer data and comply with regulations like GDPR and SOC II. Vertex uses advanced tools such as Terraform, AWS CloudTrail, and AWS Security Hub to maintain a centralized security framework, enforce secure defaults, and respond swiftly to incidents. Security is a core part of Vertex’s reputation, supported by dedicated teams and automated workflows that continuously monitor and safeguard the environment. Following a recent AWS region migration, a critical misconfiguration was introduced in the VPC template, unintentionally exposing private subnets to the public internet. These subnets host sensitive resources subject to strict compliance requirements, putting customer data at risk and threatening regulatory penalties and reputational harm. With an external audit approaching, the urgency to resolve the issue is high. You must analyze and remediate the VPC configuration, ensuring private subnets are securely isolated while maintaining necessary internal connectivity. After fixing the technical flaw, you will brief the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), explaining the incident, risks, and your remediation steps in clear, non-technical language. Step into the role of Security Engineer at Vertex Technologies. Your mission is to review and correct the AWS VPC configuration using the simulation’s editor, eliminating unintended public access and restoring secure boundaries in line with best practices. Once the technical remediation is complete, you will engage in a one-on-one voice call with Claire Wilson, the CISO. Your task is to clearly explain what went wrong, the business risks involved, the actions you took to resolve the issue, and your recommendations for future safeguards. Claire will ask questions to ensure she understands the impact and is confident in the resolution. - Review and edit the AWS VPC configuration in the simulation editor to resolve security flaws. - Communicate directly with the CISO via voice call, providing a clear, non-technical summary of the incident and your remediation. - Demonstrate your ability to diagnose and fix cloud security issues, and translate technical solutions into business-aligned risk mitigation. - Address the CISO’s questions to confirm stakeholder confidence and support Vertex’s reputation for security and compliance.