Habitat3 helps organisations assess, improve and continuously manage the security and compliance posture of their Amazon Web Services environments.
We work with CTOs, technical managers, engineering teams and business leaders to identify security gaps, establish stronger AWS foundations, prepare for technical reviews and maintain visibility as cloud
environments grow.
Our approach connects the complete security lifecycle:
Assess → Prioritise → Secure → Govern → Monitor → Improve
For many prospective customers, that journey begins with a Complimentary AWS Security Review. The findings provide a practical roadmap for improvement, which may include deploying or remediating an AWS Landing Zone, strengthening governance controls, preparing for AWS reviews, or introducing ongoing Cloud Operations supported by the Habitat3 Security Command Centre.
AWS security is an ongoing operational responsibility
AWS environments rarely remain static.
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New applications are deployed. Team members join and leave. Permissions change. Additional accounts and regions are introduced. Customer security requirements become more demanding, and compliance obligations evolve.
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Even an environment that was initially designed well can gradually drift away from security best practice.
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Habitat3 helps organisations move beyond one-off security remediation by combining technical assessment, secure AWS foundations, governance automation, continuous compliance and ongoing operational oversight.
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This provides a clearer answer to three important questions:
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What security risks exist today?
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What should we fix first?
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How do we keep the AWS environment secure as it changes?
Start with a Complimentary AWS Security Review
Understand your current AWS security posture
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Habitat3 offers a Complimentary AWS Security Review as part of our discovery and pre-sales engagement process.
The review allows our engineers to understand your existing AWS environment, identify material risks and provide practical recommendations before you commit to a larger project.
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We use expert engineering analysis together with AWS-native security information and read-only assessment tools to review areas such as:
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identity and access management
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MFA adoption
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publicly exposed resources
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security groups and network controls
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logging and monitoring
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threat detection services
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AWS Security Hub findings
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backup and recovery controls
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multi-account governance
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alignment with recognised AWS security practices
The outcome is a clear summary of findings covering:
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identified risks and misconfigurations
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recommended remediation actions
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priority areas for improvement
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areas that are already operating effectively
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opportunities to strengthen the AWS foundation
The review is designed to add value regardless of whether you proceed with further work.
From security findings to a practical improvement roadmap
A security report is only useful when the findings are understood and prioritised.
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Habitat3 does not simply provide a list of technical issues.
We work through the results with your team and explain:
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which findings represent the greatest risk
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which items can be addressed quickly
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which changes require architectural work
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which findings may be acceptable business risks
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where governance or operational processes need improvement
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how the environment can be strengthened over time
This creates a practical remediation roadmap rather than an overwhelming list of alerts.
Depending on the findings, the next step may involve:
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deploying a new AWS Landing Zone
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assessing or improving an existing Landing Zone
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introducing AWS Control Tower and guardrails
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strengthening IAM and account access
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enabling additional logging and threat detection
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improving backup and disaster recovery controls
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preparing for an AWS technical review
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implementing ongoing Cloud Operations and continuous compliance
AWS Landing Zone services
Establish a secure AWS foundation
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Many security issues originate in the way the AWS environment was originally structured.
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A secure AWS Landing Zone provides the account, identity, logging, networking and governance foundations required to support production workloads safely.
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Habitat3 helps organisations establish and improve Landing Zones designed around their applications, operational needs and growth plans.
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A Landing Zone may include:
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AWS Organisations and multi-account structures
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AWS Control Tower
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centralised identity and access controls
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MFA and least-privilege access
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centralised logging
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AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config
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Amazon GuardDuty
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AWS Security Hub
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network and account separation
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Service Control Policies
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security guardrails
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backup and recovery controls
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monitoring and operational readiness
AWS Landing Zone Assessments
If you already have an AWS Landing Zone, Habitat3 can assess whether it remains aligned with your current workloads, security requirements and operating model.
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The assessment can identify:
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missing controls
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inconsistent account structures
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identity and permission risks
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incomplete logging
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guardrail gaps
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security-service coverage
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configuration drift
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operational readiness issues
AWS Control Tower and guardrail automation
For multi-account AWS environments, AWS Control Tower and automated guardrails can help establish consistent governance.
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Habitat3 helps design and implement controls that reduce manual administration and make security expectations easier to enforce across AWS accounts.
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This may include:
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account provisioning standards
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preventive guardrails
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detective controls
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Service Control Policies
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logging requirements
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security-service enablement
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automated governance workflows
Security, compliance and AWS technical reviews
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Security and compliance are closely connected, but they are not the same thing.
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Security focuses on reducing technical and operational risk. Compliance focuses on demonstrating that appropriate controls, processes and evidence are in place.
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Habitat3 has built a security and compliance portal to complete security and compliance reviews.
AWS Well-Architected Framework Review
An AWS Well-Architected Framework Review evaluates workloads against AWS architectural best practices across key areas including security, reliability, operational excellence, performance efficiency, cost optimisation and sustainability.
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The review helps identify architectural risks and create a prioritised improvement plan.
AWS Foundational Technical Review
The AWS Foundational Technical Review helps software businesses demonstrate that their AWS-hosted solution follows key AWS security, reliability and operational practices.
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Habitat3 can help assess the environment, identify gaps, implement required improvements and prepare supporting evidence.
Continuous Compliance on AWS
Compliance should not depend on a spreadsheet that is updated once before an audit.
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Habitat3 helps organisations introduce continuous compliance practices that monitor controls, track changes, retain evidence and identify drift over time.
This can reduce the effort involved in recurring reviews and make security posture easier to demonstrate to customers, auditors and internal stakeholders.
Continuous visibility through the Habitat3 Security Command Centre
See your AWS security posture in one place
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Customers using Habitat3 Cloud Operations can gain access to the Habitat3 Security Command Centre.
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The platform provides a centralised view of AWS security findings, compliance posture, approved exceptions, audit history and reporting across connected AWS accounts and regions.
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Instead of reviewing raw findings across multiple AWS consoles, customers can use a single management view to understand:
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current security findings
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priority issues
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compliance status
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changes over time
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accepted risks and exceptions
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remediation progress
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audit history
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executive reporting
The Habitat3 Security Command Centre enhances AWS-native services such as AWS Security Hub. It does not replace them.
AWS services generate the security signals. The Habitat3 Security Command Centre helps turn those signals into clearer governance, reporting and action.​
Secure read-only access
Habitat3 uses controlled access methods when assessing and monitoring customer AWS environments.
For the Complimentary AWS Security Review, we typically request read-only access so our engineers can analyse configuration and security information without making changes.
Read-only access means Habitat3 cannot:
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modify AWS resources
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delete infrastructure
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deploy new services
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change customer configuration
Where the Habitat3 Security Command Centre is introduced, secure cross-account IAM roles and AWS STS can be used to provide controlled read-only visibility.
This helps keep onboarding safe, transparent and operationally lightweight.
How Habitat3 approaches AWS security
1. Assess
We review the AWS environment, identify risks and understand the organisation’s technical and business priorities.
This may begin with a Complimentary AWS Security Review, Landing Zone Assessment or Well-Architected Review.
4. Govern
We introduce account structures, guardrails, policies and repeatable processes that make security easier to maintain.
2. Prioritise
We separate high-impact risks from lower-priority findings and develop a practical remediation roadmap.
5. Monitor
Through Habitat3 Cloud Operations and the Habitat3 Security Command Centre, customers can maintain ongoing visibility across their AWS environment.
3. Secure
Our engineers help implement the required improvements across identity, networking, logging, monitoring, backup, governance and AWS architecture.
6. Improve
Security posture is reviewed and strengthened over time as workloads, teams and compliance requirements evolve.
Common reasons organisations engage Habitat3
“We have never had our AWS environment reviewed”
A Complimentary AWS Security Review can help identify obvious gaps and provide a practical starting point.
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Learn More: Complimentary AWS Security Review
“Our AWS environment has grown quickly”
As accounts, applications and users increase, governance and security controls can become inconsistent.
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Learn More: AWS Landing Zone Assessment
“We are preparing for enterprise customers”
Prospective customers may request evidence of security controls, backup processes, access management and operational governance.
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Learn More: Continuous Compliance on AWS
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“We need a secure multi-account structure”
Habitat3 can design and implement an AWS Landing Zone with account separation, centralised logging and governance controls.
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Learn More: AWS Landing Zone Deployments
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“We need to prepare for an AWS review”
We can help assess and remediate the environment before a Well-Architected Review or Foundational Technical Review.
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Learn More: AWS Foundational Technical Review
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“We need ongoing security visibility”
Habitat3 Cloud Operations and the Habitat3 Security Command Centre can provide continuous oversight after initial remediation is complete.
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Learn More: Habitat3 Security Command Centre
Security connected to Cloud Operations
AWS security cannot be separated from the day-to-day operation of the cloud environment.
Security posture is influenced by:
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monitoring
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patch management
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backup success
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incident response
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infrastructure changes
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identity administration
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cost and resource visibility
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configuration drift
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documentation and operational processes
For this reason, security improvements often lead naturally into Habitat3 Cloud Operations.
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CloudOps can help customers maintain the controls introduced during a security or Landing Zone project and reduce the risk of the environment drifting back into an unmanaged state.
Habitat3 Cloud Operations may include:
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monitoring and alerting
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security visibility
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patch management
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backup monitoring
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incident response
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cost optimisation
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operational reporting
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continuous improvement
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access to the Habitat3 Security Command Centre
Explore: Reliability & Operations
Business Outcomes
A structured AWS security and compliance program can help organisations achieve:
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clearer visibility of AWS risk
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stronger identity and access controls
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more consistent governance
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reduced configuration drift
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improved audit readiness
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faster response to customer security questions
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more effective compliance reporting
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improved backup and recovery confidence
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reduced manual reporting effort
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stronger executive oversight
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better preparation for growth
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increased trust with customers and partners
Who we help
Habitat3’s AWS security and compliance services are particularly suited to:
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SaaS providers
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software and digital platforms
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AI and data businesses
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web and mobile application teams
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startups and scaleups
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organisations with multiple AWS accounts
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businesses preparing for enterprise customers
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organisations pursuing AWS technical validation
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teams without a dedicated internal cloud-security function
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organisations using Habitat3 Cloud Operations
We work with technical leaders and business stakeholders to ensure security controls are technically sound, operationally practical and aligned with the organisation’s wider objectives.
Explore AWS security and compliance services
Complimentary AWS Security Review
Identify security gaps and receive a practical improvement roadmap as part of an initial discovery engagement.
AWS Security Expertise, Backed by Real-World Delivery
Habitat3 combines recognised AWS Partner status, independently validated technical certifications and hands-on experience securing and governing production AWS environments.
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Our security work spans AWS security reviews, Landing Zones, identity and access controls, logging and monitoring, security remediation, governance automation, technical-review readiness and ongoing Cloud Operations.
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These capabilities have been applied across SaaS, software, healthcare, ecommerce and data-platform environments where security, governance and operational visibility are critical.
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Independently validated security and cloud expertise
Habitat3 is an AWS Partner in Australia with technical capability across AWS architecture, DevOps, Infrastructure as Code, containers, security and cloud operations.
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Certifications held across the Habitat3 team include:
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AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
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AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional
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HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
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Certified Kubernetes Administrator
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Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
These credentials support the practical engineering skills required to assess AWS environments, implement stronger controls and maintain secure cloud platforms over time.
AWS security capability demonstrated in customer environments
SafeMate
Securing and modernising a production AWS environment
SafeMate needed to strengthen the security of an established AWS environment while also addressing ageing infrastructure components and unsupported software.
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Habitat3 began with a detailed review of the AWS environment, identifying security and technical risks across the database, Linux web server, VPN, proxy services and wider AWS configuration. A new AWS Landing Zone was then deployed and workloads were migrated into the more secure environment.
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The engagement also included database re-architecture, operating-system upgrades, security monitoring, alerting and patch management.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Security Review · Landing Zones · IAM · Migration · Security Monitoring · Patch Management · Architecture Modernisation · Cloud Operations
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Outcome: SafeMate gained a more secure, current and supportable AWS environment with ongoing monitoring and remediation capability.
OrderArt
Security built into SaaS architecture
OrderArt needed to strengthen and modernise the AWS architecture supporting its SaaS platform.
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As part of the re-architecture, Habitat3 introduced a new Landing Zone and stronger application-delivery and security controls, including Application Load Balancers, AWS WAF, AWS Shield and AWS Certificate Manager.
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The environment was designed to reduce unnecessary direct exposure of application resources while providing a stronger foundation for future scale.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Architecture · Landing Zones · AWS WAF · AWS Shield · ACM · SaaS Security · Network Security · Platform Modernisation
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Outcome: A more secure and scalable AWS platform with security controls integrated into the architecture rather than added as an afterthought.
Location IQ
Governance and security for a modern AWS foundation
Location iQ needed to replace ageing on-premises infrastructure with a more secure and governable AWS environment.
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Habitat3 designed and deployed a multi-account AWS Landing Zone incorporating VPCs, IAM guardrails, centralised logging, AWS Backup, AWS CloudTrail, AWS Config and Amazon GuardDuty. The new environment also introduced managed identity and secure remote connectivity.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Landing Zones · IAM · Guardrails · CloudTrail · AWS Config · GuardDuty · Backup · Network Security · Multi-Account Governance
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Outcome: Location iQ gained stronger security, governance and operational visibility while replacing ageing infrastructure with a modern AWS platform.
AWS security capability in practice
Landing Zone and governance remediation
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Customer challenge: An AWS customer had accumulated security and governance gaps across root access, backup alerting, IAM, server exposure and operational monitoring.
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Habitat3 solution: Habitat3 completed Landing Zone and Cloud Operations enablement work, including a root block policy, production alerts, backup alerting, CloudWatch agent configuration, ingress and port auditing, IAM validation, CloudFront and WAF planning, and recommendations for more secure administrative access.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Landing Zones · Service Control Policies · IAM · CloudWatch · AWS Backup · WAF · Secure Access · Governance
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Outcome: A more secure and supportable AWS environment with stronger operational controls and a clearer governance model.
Security findings and remediation
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Customer challenge: A customer needed help cutting through AWS security findings, CloudWatch alert noise and backup concerns while developing a practical improvement roadmap.
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Habitat3 solution: Habitat3 reviewed AWS Inspector and Security Hub findings, improved CloudWatch alarm clarity, strengthened AWS Backup configuration and prepared architecture and remediation recommendations.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Security Hub · AWS Inspector · CloudWatch · AWS Backup · Security Remediation · Architecture Review
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Outcome: Clearer monitoring, improved backup posture and a prioritised path for strengthening the reliability and security of the AWS environment.
Security assessment and operational handover
Customer challenge: An established AWS environment needed a clearer view of security risks, platform health and the improvements required before ongoing Cloud Operations could begin.
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Habitat3 solution: Habitat3 completed a Landing Zone review, cloud enablement audit, monitoring setup and cost review, including S3 governance, Service Control Policies restricting root access, endpoint monitoring and a documented remediation plan.
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Capabilities demonstrated:
AWS Security Assessment · Landing Zone Review · SCPs · S3 Governance · Monitoring · Remediation Planning · Cloud Operations
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Outcome: Improved visibility of AWS health and security risk, together with a practical operating model for ongoing management.
Security capability across the AWS lifecycle
Habitat3’s security delivery experience extends across the major areas represented on this page.
Security assessment
We review AWS environments to identify material risks across identity, public exposure, networking, logging, threat detection, backup, account structure and governance.
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This may begin with a Complimentary AWS Security Review, Landing Zone Assessment or AWS technical review.
Customer evidence: SafeMate, Vsure and multiple Cloud Operations onboarding engagements.
AWS Landing Zones
We design, deploy and improve secure AWS foundations using account separation, identity controls, centralised logging, governance policies and security services.
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Customer evidence: SafeMate, Location iQ, OrderArt, Cloud Concepts and Commonfolk.
Identity and access governance
Our engagements include IAM review, root-account controls, MFA, account access validation, Service Control Policies and secure administrative-access recommendations.
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Customer evidence: Cloud Concepts, ChekRite, Location iQ and SafeMate.
Security monitoring and threat visibility
Habitat3 works with AWS-native security and monitoring services to improve visibility into risks and operational changes.
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Our customer work includes AWS Security Hub, Amazon GuardDuty, AWS Inspector, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS Config and centralised logging.
Customer evidence: Vsure, SafeMate and Location iQ.
Network and application security
We design controls that reduce unnecessary exposure and protect customer-facing applications.
Our work has included AWS WAF, AWS Shield, Application Load Balancers, security groups, private subnets, CloudFront and secure administrative access.
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Customer evidence: OrderArt, Cloud Concepts, Pulsewash and Location iQ.
Governance and continuous compliance
Security controls need to remain effective as environments evolve.
Habitat3 combines AWS governance controls with Cloud Operations and the Habitat3 Security Command Centre to help customers maintain visibility into findings, exceptions, remediation and compliance posture over time.
From security assessment to ongoing oversight
Habitat3’s security approach is designed to connect one-off assessment with practical remediation and ongoing governance.
A customer may begin with a security review and progress through:
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Assess
Understand the current AWS security posture.
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Prioritise
Separate material risks from lower-priority findings.
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Secure
Implement improvements across identity, networking, logging, backup and architecture.
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Govern
Introduce Landing Zones, guardrails, policies and repeatable controls.
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Monitor
Maintain visibility through AWS-native services, Cloud Operations and the Habitat3 Security Command Centre.
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Improve
Review and strengthen the environment as applications, users and compliance requirements change.
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The result is AWS security capability demonstrated through both independently validated expertise and practical delivery in production customer environments.
Understand your AWS security posture
Start with a Complimentary AWS Security Review and receive a clear view of your current risks, priorities and opportunities for improvement.
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There is no obligation to proceed with further work. The review is designed to help your team understand the environment and make more informed security decisions.
FAQ's
What are AWS security and compliance services?
AWS security and compliance services help organisations protect cloud environments, establish governance controls and demonstrate that appropriate practices are operating effectively.
This may include security reviews, Landing Zones, IAM improvements, logging, threat detection, backup, compliance monitoring, AWS technical reviews and ongoing security reporting.
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What is included in a Complimentary AWS Security Review?
The review assesses key areas of your AWS security posture, such as IAM, MFA, public exposure, network controls, logging, monitoring, threat detection and AWS Security Hub findings.
Habitat3 provides a summary of identified risks, recommended actions and priority areas for improvement.
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Learn more: Complimentary AWS Security Review
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Will Habitat3 change anything during the complimentary review?
No. The review is normally performed using read-only access.
Our engineers can view relevant configuration and security information but cannot modify or delete AWS resources.
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Is the Complimentary AWS Security Review a formal security audit?
No. It is a practical initial assessment designed to identify material risks and improvement opportunities.
It does not replace a formal compliance audit, penetration test or certification process where one is required
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What is an AWS Landing Zone?
An AWS Landing Zone is a structured cloud foundation that establishes account organisation, identity controls, logging, security monitoring, network design and governance standards.
It helps organisations run multiple AWS workloads and accounts more securely and consistently.
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Learn more: AWS Landing Zone Deployments
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What is the Habitat3 Security Command Centre?
The Habitat3 Security Command Centre is a centralised AWS security and compliance platform available to Habitat3 CloudOps customers.
It consolidates security findings, compliance status, exceptions, audit history and reporting across connected AWS environments.
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Learn more: Habitat3 Security Command Centre
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Can Habitat3 help us prepare for an AWS Foundational Technical Review?
Yes. Habitat3 can assess the environment against FTR requirements, identify gaps, implement remediation and help prepare the supporting evidence required for review.
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Learn more: AWS Foundational Technical Review
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Can Habitat3 provide ongoing AWS security monitoring?
Yes. Habitat3 provides ongoing security visibility as part of its Cloud Operations service.
This may include monitoring AWS-native security services, reviewing findings, reporting, exception management and continuous improvement through the Habitat3 Security Command Centre.
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Learn more: Cloud Operations Service
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Can Habitat3 help with ISO 27001 or SOC 2 readiness?
Habitat3 can help strengthen the AWS technical controls and evidence that contribute to broader compliance initiatives.
We do not replace a certification body or formal auditor, but we can help improve AWS security, governance, monitoring and reporting in support of frameworks such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2.
Continue Reading
Security assessment
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Complimentary AWS Security Review
AWS foundations and governance
Continuous security and compliance