Network security is an important aspect of cloud security because cloud-based systems and services are accessible over the internet, which makes them vulnerable to a wide range of security threats. In addition, many cloud-based systems and services are shared among multiple customers, which can make it harder to control access to sensitive information and maintain the security of the system.
Cloud computing enables organizations to store large amounts of data remotely. However, as this data is stored off-premises, it becomes more susceptible to breaches, loss and leakage.
Standard security mechanisms such as vulnerability scanners may not be enough because vulnerable assets might be ephemeral (only existing or connected to the network for a short time). Network security solutions, as part of a broader cloud security strategy, can provide layers of protection to keep data confidential and prevent unauthorized access.
AWS provides several cloud-based network security solutions, including the
AWS Web Application Firewall. In this article, I’ll focus on the AWS Network Firewall, which acts as a traditional firewall, only within an Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).
What Is AWS Network Firewall?
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Network Firewall is a cloud-based network security solution that allows you to create and manage firewall rules for your VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) network. It is a fully managed service that makes it easy to protect your network from unwanted traffic, while still allowing authorized traffic to flow through.
AWS Network Firewall provides a set of security rules that you can use to control traffic to and from your VPC. These rules can be based on a variety of criteria, such as source IP address, destination IP address, and port number. You can also use AWS Network Firewall to block traffic that is known to be malicious, such as traffic from known malicious IP addresses or traffic that is known to be associated with malware or botnets.
AWS Network Firewall also allows you to create custom rule groups that contain your own security rules. This gives you a high level of control over your network traffic and allows you to create custom security rules that are specific to your organization's needs.
AWS Network Firewall also provides logging and monitoring capabilities, allowing you to track network traffic, analyze network activity, and troubleshoot security issues. It integrates with other AWS services such as Amazon CloudWatch and Amazon S3, so you can easily store, analyze and access your firewall logs.
How AWS Network Firewall Works
AWS Network Firewall filters traffic within the network (between subnets), giving you a high level of control. Here's an overview of how AWS Network Firewall works:
You create a firewall policy that defines the security rules that you want to apply to your network traffic. These rules can be based on a variety of criteria, such as source IP address, destination IP address, and port number.
- You create a firewall and associate it with the firewall policy. This creates the firewall and sets it up to apply the security rules defined in the firewall policy to traffic flowing into and out of your VPC.
- You configure your VPC network to route traffic through the firewall. This can be done by creating a VPC endpoint and routing traffic through it, or by configuring your VPC route tables to route traffic through the firewall.
- Network traffic flowing into and out of your VPC is inspected by the firewall and compared against the security rules defined in the firewall policy.
- If the traffic matches one of the security rules, it is allowed through the firewall and forwarded to its intended destination. If the traffic does not match any of the security rules, it is blocked by the firewall.
The architecture of AWS Network Firewall includes the following components:**
- Firewall policies: A firewall policy defines the security rules that you want to apply to your network traffic.
- Firewalls: A firewall is an instance of the AWS Network Firewall service that is associated with a firewall policy. You can create one or more firewalls and associate them with different firewall policies to suit the specific needs of your organization.
- VPC route tables: You can create one or more VPC route tables and configure them to route traffic through the firewall.
Getting Started with AWS Network Firewall
AWS Network Firewall provides two different deployment options: centralized and distributed. With centralized deployment, a single firewall is created, and all of the traffic flowing into and out of the VPC is routed through it. In this way, it allows you to manage the entire network from a single location. With distributed deployment, you can create multiple firewalls and place them at different points in the VPC network. This approach allows for more granular control over network traffic, as it allows you to apply different security policies in areas.
Getting started with AWS Network Firewall is relatively straightforward, and involves a few key steps:
- Configure VPC subnets: Before you can create a firewall, you will need to have a VPC and at least one subnet configured. You can use the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or the AWS SDKs to create and configure your VPC and subnets.
- Create a firewall policy: Next, you will need to create a firewall policy that defines the security rules that you want to apply to your network traffic.
- Create a firewall: Once you have a firewall policy, you can create a firewall and associate it with the policy.
- Modify VPC route tables: In order to route traffic through the firewall, you will need to modify the VPC route tables to include the firewall. You can use the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or the AWS SDKs to modify the VPC route tables.
- Test your firewall policy: You can test the firewall policy by sending traffic through the firewall and observing if it is blocked or allowed based on the security rules defined in the firewall policy.
Conclusion
Adding a firewall to your AWS servers is a crucial step in securing your network and protecting your data. AWS Network Firewall is a fully managed service that makes it easy to create and manage firewall rules for your VPC network. By implementing a firewall, you can control access to your network and block unwanted traffic, while still allowing authorized traffic to flow through.
Setting up AWS Network Firewall involves configuring your VPC subnets, creating a firewall policy, and modifying your VPC route tables to include the firewall. It's important to test your firewall policy regularly to ensure that it's working as expected and to update and adjust it as necessary to keep your network secure.
AWS Network Firewall also provides logging and monitoring capabilities, allowing you to track network traffic, analyze network activity, and troubleshoot security issues. This, combined with the scalability and cost-effectiveness of the cloud, make AWS Network Firewall an essential security tool for any organization that is using AWS servers.