AWS VPC Network Segmentation Break Down

Author

Govardhana M K
December 10, 2024

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🧠 Use Case

  • AWS VPC Network Segmentation Break Down

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🧠 USE CASE

AWS VPC Network Segmentation Break Down

Creating a VPC with default settings is very convenient, and every cloud engineer has likely gone through that straightforward UI based form filling VPC setup process.

However, the default VPC settings, with no proper network segmentation, can lead to potential security risks and inefficiencies in network design.

Can’t believe? Here’s what a default VPC setting brings in:

  • Route table includes 0.0.0.0/0 to internet gateway, which means unrestricted outbound traffic.

  • Default subnets assign public IPs to instances, which means easy external access to instances.

  • CIDR block 172.31.0.0/16 is predictable, which means attackers can map the network.

  • No private subnets by default, which means sensitive workloads lack isolation.

  • Internet gateway is pre attached, which means instances are internet accessible by default.

  • Network ACLs allow broad access, which means limited control over traffic filtering.

Well, this is just a quick snapshot of the devastating impact.

Every cloud engineer should read through and understand the 'Default VPC Components' and 'Default Subnets' guide - this knowledge can make or break your career and the infra you build.

Having said that, here’s what you can do:

You may already understand you shouldn’t use default VPC settings and while defining your VPC adhere to:

Public Subnets:

  • Use for internet-facing resources like Application Load Balancers (ALBs).

  • Attach an Internet Gateway for internet connectivity.

Private Subnets:

  • Use for internal resources like application servers and databases.

  • Configure NAT Gateway to allow secure outbound internet access for updates and patches.

  • Restrict database access to only specific Security Groups (e.g., application server SG).

Security Groups Hygiene (to prevent attacks) :

❌ Never allow unrestricted access (e.g., 0.0.0.0/0) except where absolutely required, like ALBs.

✔️ Open only necessary ports, such as port 443 for HTTPS or specific database ports.

✔️ Always create custom rules with least privilege configurations.

✔️ Combine Security Groups with Network ACLs for better control of traffic at the subnet level.

With this network segmentation guidance, you’re less likely to be compromised.

Check out these guides to sharpen your VPC design knowledge:

VPC Security Best Practices
Learn how to secure your VPC using AWS best practices.

Working with Subnets
Detailed guide on configuring and managing VPC subnets effectively.

VPC Routing
Learn how to configure route tables to manage traffic within your VPC.

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