Use case
Securing Private File Distribution with Zero Public Exposure Using AWS
- Bisman Singh
About the Customer
Virora offers a comprehensive guest management platform tailored for hotels worldwide, streamlining operations such as room reservations, customer support, and guest experiences. Trusted by properties in over 60 countries and integrating with more than 70 PMS and CM systems, Virora enhances profitability and operational efficiency by digitizing hotel processes and creating intuitive guest interactions.
Customer Challenge
Virora sought to bolster the security of their static file distribution by moving away from traditional public hosting methods. The primary challenge was to provide a robust solution for private file access that mitigates exposure risks, ensures controlled access, and safeguards sensitive data. The need for controlled, private access to files was critical in maintaining data security and complying with stringent industry regulations. Failing to address these concerns could have led to potential data leaks, reduced customer trust, and increased exposure to cyber threats.
Solution
IAMOPS collaborated with Virora to architect a secure and private file distribution solution using AWS services. The implementation focused on ensuring secure access within a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and eliminating public exposure. The key components of the solution included:
1. File Storage :
- Utilized Amazon S3 for storing static files, with access restricted to a private VPC endpoint. This configuration ensured that all access requests were contained within the AWS network, minimizing external vulnerabilities.
2. File Access Control :
- Implemented a private API Gateway that acted as a secure intermediary for accessing files stored in Amazon S3. API calls were routed through a Lambda function, providing precise control over file access and preventing direct S3 bucket exposure.
3. Security :
- Restricted API Gateway access using VPC Endpoints, ensuring all traffic remained isolated within the private network. This approach significantly minimized exposure risks.
4. Automated Deployment :
- Leveraged the Serverless Framework for deploying resources with automation, allowing for scalable, repeatable deployments while maintaining secure configurations.
The following diagram illustrates the architecture, emphasizing the use of VPC Endpoints, API Gateway, and Lambda for controlled, private access to S3 files.
Results & Benefits
Zero Public Exposure: All API and S3 traffic was routed exclusively through private endpoints, eliminating public access to sensitive data.
Improved Security: Reduced the attack surface by isolating file access to the internal AWS network. The configuration enforced the principle of least privilege, minimizing access rights.
Operational Efficiency: Automated deployments and configuration management reduced manual intervention, thereby lowering potential security risks and errors.
Cost Optimization: A Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis revealed that the solution led to a marginal infrastructure cost increase but provided substantial security benefits, reduced operational costs, and minimized potential incidents due to enhanced security.
About IAMOPS
IAMOPS is a full DevOps suite company that supports technology companies to achieve intense production readiness.
Our mission is to ensure that our clients’ infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines are scalable, mitigate failure points, optimize performance, ensure uptime, and minimize costs.
Our DevOps suite includes DevOps Core, NOC 24/7, FinOps, QA Automation, and DevSecOps to accelerate overall exponential growth.
As an AWS Advanced Tier Partner and Reseller, we focus on two key pillars: Professionalism by adhering to best practices and utilizing advanced technologies, Customer Experience with responsiveness, availability, clear project management, and transparency to provide an exceptional experience for our clients.
