On the CodeBuild Dashboard, click on Build projects in the left-hand menu to see a list of all CodeBuild projects.
Select a build project to explore its settings, including Environment, Source, Buildspec, and Artifacts.
Build History:
Under Build history, you can view past build runs, including their statuses, duration, and logs. This information provides insight into the project's recent activity and potential issues.
Environment:
In the selected build project’s details, review the Environment settings to see the build environment’s configuration, including the runtime, image, compute type, and environment variables.
3. Exploring the AWS Well-Architected Framework Pillars
In the selected build project’s details, explore the Environment section to understand the runtime, compute resources, and operating system used. Ensuring that the environment aligns with your application's requirements supports operational consistency.
Buildspec File:
Review the Buildspec section of the project. The buildspec file defines the build commands and settings. Properly structured buildspec files improve operational efficiency by standardizing build processes.
Logs and Monitoring:
Under Build history, select a build run and click on View logs. Reviewing build logs helps you identify errors, warnings, and areas for optimization in the build process, enhancing operational excellence.
Artifacts:
Explore the Artifacts section to verify that build outputs are stored in a central location (e.g., S3) and that naming conventions are consistently applied. Proper artifact management ensures smooth operational workflows.
In the build project’s details, review the Service role to ensure it follows the principle of least privilege. The role should only have the necessary permissions to perform the build tasks.
Environment Variables:
Under the Environment section, check for Environment variables. Verify that sensitive information (e.g., API keys, credentials) is not stored in plaintext. For sensitive data, ensure that it is managed securely using AWS Secrets Manager or Parameter Store.
Encryption:
Check the Artifacts and Cache sections to see if build artifacts and cached dependencies are encrypted (e.g., S3 encryption). This helps secure the data produced and used by the build process.
Network Configuration:
If the build project uses a VPC, review the VPC settings in the Environment section to ensure the network configuration complies with your security requirements (e.g., using private subnets for sensitive operations).
In the Environment section, review the Compute type (e.g., BUILD_GENERAL1_SMALL, BUILD_GENERAL1_LARGE). Ensure that the compute resources are appropriate for the build’s complexity, avoiding failures due to insufficient resources.
Buildspec File:
Explore the Buildspec section to check for any post-build actions like notifications, cleanup, or artifact storage. Including cleanup steps (e.g., deleting temporary files) in the buildspec helps maintain a reliable build environment by preventing resource exhaustion.
Monitoring and Alerts:
While read-only access does not allow changes, ensure that CloudWatch alarms and SNS notifications are set up to alert you of build failures. Timely monitoring of build statuses improves overall reliability.
Under the Environment section, examine the Compute type used for the build. Ensure that the selected compute type matches the project requirements. Using larger instances than necessary can lead to higher costs.
Build Timeout:
Review the Build timeout settings to ensure the maximum build duration is set appropriately. Preventing long-running or hung builds helps reduce unnecessary costs.
Artifact Storage:
In the Artifacts section, check where the build artifacts are stored (e.g., S3). Ensure that lifecycle policies are set up for S3 buckets to move artifacts to cost-effective storage classes like S3 Glacier or to delete them after a certain period.
Caching:
Under the Cache section, see if caching is enabled to speed up subsequent builds and reduce costs associated with downloading dependencies during every build.
Explore the Buildspec configuration to ensure it uses optimized commands for faster build times. For example, leveraging caching mechanisms and parallel execution can significantly enhance build performance.
Caching:
In the Cache section, check if caching is enabled (e.g., caching dependencies). Caching helps speed up build processes by reusing previously downloaded dependencies, improving performance efficiency.
Build Duration and Logs:
In the Build history, review the Duration of recent builds. Long build times can indicate inefficiencies in the buildspec or environment settings. Use build logs to identify potential performance bottlenecks and optimize the build process.
Explore the Monitoring section in CloudWatch (if integrated with CodeBuild) to gain insights into build performance, failures, and resource usage. CloudWatch Logs and metrics provide a comprehensive view of build health and performance.
Log in to the AWS Management Console of security tooling account.
AWS Config and Security Hub:
If AWS Config and Security Hub are enabled, review compliance findings related to CodeBuild projects, such as ensuring IAM roles adhere to least privilege or that environment variables do not contain sensitive information in plaintext.