Important note
AWS has a policy for penetration testing that allows you to carry out penetration tests against or from resources on your AWS account without needing approval from AWS. Before stress-testing your network, review the AWS policy regarding the use of security assessment tools and services.
In conclusion, AWS WAF provides a robust and flexible framework for protecting your web applications from a variety of common exploits. By carefully configuring your web ACLs and rules, you can ensure that your applications are well-protected against potential threats.
Summary
This chapter delved into the intricacies of infrastructure security, focusing on the design and implementation of secure VPCs in AWS. We began by discussing the importance of VPCs and their role in AWS security, highlighting the shift from on-premises traditional physical networking to SDN in the cloud. Then, we explored the key components of a VPC and best practices for designing secure VPCs, emphasizing the importance of subnet segregation, separate VPCs for different environments, and proper route table configuration. After, we discussed the effective implementation of security groups, NACLs, and AWS Network Firewall, clarifying their roles, interactions, and guidelines for their appropriate use in building a strong security posture for your VPCs. Finally, we focused on the use of AWS Shield and AWS WAF, which both provide advanced protection for your VPC resources.
Having covered network-related access management in the VPC, the next chapter will take us deeper into the cloud-native access management approach using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
Questions
Answer the following questions to test your knowledge of this chapter:
- What is the principle of least privilege and how does it apply to the configuration of route tables in a VPC?
- Why is it recommended to use separate VPCs for different environments?
- You have decided to use a bastion host for EC2 instance management. Can you explain how this enhances your security and what potential weaknesses you should be aware of?