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ECS task definition with a container not marked essential

AWS_OPS_007 HIGH Reliability

What it checks

ECS task definition with a container not marked essential

Where it applies

Terraform: aws_ecs_task_definition

CloudFormation: AWS::ECS::TaskDefinition

How to fix it

  1. If no container in the task definition is essential: mark the container whose exit should stop the task essential = true, or remove its essential = false. AWS requires at least one essential container in every task.
  2. If this is a log or metrics agent sidecar beside an essential application container: keep essential = false when the task should keep running after the sidecar stops. A non-essential container's failure does not affect the other containers in the task.

Frameworks

These mappings are advisory, not an attestation of compliance.

Vendor documentation

All rules