Securing Your AWS VPC with Network ACLs and Security Groups 🔒🛡️
Rohan Patil
Pursuing Master’s in Business Management |Ex-Amazon| Ex-Oberoi| Data and Cloud (AWS) enthusiast
Hey LinkedIn fam! 👋
As part of my "Learning in Public" series on AWS Cloud, today I’m diving into the essentials of securing your AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) with Network ACLs and Security Groups. Here's what I've learned:
Network ACLs:
A network ACL is a virtual firewall that controls inbound and outbound traffic at the subnet level.
- Example: Think of travelers (packets) going through passport control (network ACL) at an airport. Only those on the approved list can enter or exit.
- Default vs. Custom: Your AWS account comes with a default network ACL allowing all traffic, which you can customize. Custom ACLs deny all traffic until you specify rules.
- Stateless Packet Filtering: Network ACLs check each packet crossing the subnet border without remembering previous decisions.
Security Groups:
A security group is a virtual firewall that controls inbound and outbound traffic for an Amazon EC2 instance.
- Example: Imagine a door attendant (security group) at an apartment building checking if guests (packets) can enter but not checking when they exit.
- Default Settings: By default, security groups deny all inbound traffic and allow all outbound traffic. You can add rules to customize this.
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- Stateful Packet Filtering: Security groups remember previous decisions for incoming packets, allowing responses based on earlier requests.
Key Takeaways:
- Network ACLs: Ideal for broad subnet-level control, with stateless filtering.
- Security Groups: Best for fine-grained instance-level control, with stateful filtering.
- Custom Rules: Both allow you to configure rules tailored to your specific security needs.
Understanding these differences is crucial for designing a secure and efficient AWS infrastructure. 🚀🔐
Your feedback and experiences are invaluable! Share your thoughts below, and let’s continue learning together. 🙌
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