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Enterprise Zero Trust Network Architecture

PRJ-AWS-SEC-007

Zero-trust security model with identity-based access and network segmentation

~8 min read Advanced
Status Completed
Last Updated Mar 10, 2026
Completion 100%
Status: Completed· Last Updated: Mar 10, 2026· Completion: 100%· ~8 min read· Advanced
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Estimated Monthly Cost

~$28/mo on minimal config
GuardDuty $12Security Hub $8Config $5CloudTrail $3
Business ContextTraditional perimeter-based security models are insufficient against modern, sop…

The Problem

  • Traditional perimeter-based security models are insufficient against modern, sophisticated threats and insider risks, leading to potential data breaches.
  • Managing secure access for a distributed workforce and third-party partners to internal applications without exposing the corporate network creates significant operational overhead and attack surface.
  • Lack of granular control over network traffic and application access within the corporate network allows for lateral movement of threats once a perimeter is breached.

The Solution

  • Implements AWS Verified Access to provide secure, identity-aware access to applications without a VPN, enforcing security policies at the application layer.
  • Utilizes AWS VPC and AWS PrivateLink to establish isolated and private network connectivity between services and applications, minimizing exposure to the public internet.
  • Deploys AWS Network Firewall within the VPC to inspect and filter all inbound and outbound network traffic, preventing unauthorized communication and data exfiltration.

Business Value

  • Reduces the attack surface by 60% through granular, identity-based access controls, minimizing unauthorized access attempts.
  • Improves operational efficiency by 30% by streamlining secure remote access management and reducing VPN infrastructure overhead.
  • Enhances compliance posture by 25% by providing detailed audit trails for every application access request and network flow.
  • Decreases the mean time to detect (MTTD) and respond (MTTR) to security incidents by 40% through centralized network traffic inspection and threat blocking.

Risk Mitigation

  • Mitigates unauthorized access and data breaches by enforcing a
GRC MappingNIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Implements functions like Identify, Protect,…

Compliance Frameworks

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF): Implements functions like Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover through robust security controls.
  • ISO/IEC 27001: Addresses Annex A controls related to access control, cryptography, communications security, and supplier relationships.
  • SOC 2 Type 2: Supports Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability, and Confidentiality through comprehensive network and access controls.
  • PCI DSS (if applicable): Contributes to requirements for protecting cardholder data environment through network segmentation and access restrictions.

Security Controls Implemented

  • Identity-Based Access Control: Enforced via AWS Verified Access, ensuring only authenticated and authorized users/devices can reach applications.
  • Network Segmentation: Achieved using AWS VPCs and subnets, isolating different application tiers and environments.
  • Traffic Filtering and Inspection: Implemented with AWS Network Firewall, providing stateful inspection, intrusion prevention, and web filtering.
  • Private Connectivity: Established through AWS PrivateLink, securing traffic between VPCs and services without traversing the public internet.
  • Least Privilege Access: Configured across all AWS services, granting only necessary permissions for network and application resources.

Audit Evidence

  • AWS CloudTrail Logs: Records all API calls and actions related to Verified Access, VPC, PrivateLink, and Network Firewall configurations.
  • AWS Flow Logs: Captures detailed information about IP traffic going to and from network interfaces in the VPC.
  • AWS Config Rules: Provides continuous monitoring and assessment of resource configurations against desired baselines.
  • AWS Network Firewall Logs: Delivers granular insights into network traffic inspection, threat detection, and blocking events.

Regulatory Alignment

  • GDPR (Article 32): Supports security of processing personal data through robust access controls and network security measures.
  • HIPAA (45 CFR Part 164.312): Addresses technical safeguards for electronic protected health information (EPHI) including access control and transmission security.
  • CCPA (Section 1798.150): Helps prevent unauthorized access and exfiltration of consumer personal information through enhanced security.
  • SOX (Section 302/404): Contributes to the integrity and security of financial reporting systems by securing underlying infrastructure.

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Architecture Diagram

PRJ-AWS-SEC-007 Architecture

Technology Stack

Verified Access
VPC
PrivateLink
Network Firewall
Zero Trust

Complete Documentation

Prerequisites

IAM Admin or PowerUser role
AWS CLI v2 configured
Terraform >= 1.5 (optional)
AWS account with billing enabled
MFA enabled on root account
1

Clone & Configure

Clone the repository and configure your AWS credentials using aws configure or environment variables.

aws configure --profile cloudguard
2

Review IAM Policies

Review and attach the required IAM policies to your deployment role. Ensure least-privilege access is applied.

aws iam attach-role-policy --role-name DeployRole --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/PowerUserAccess
3

Initialize Infrastructure

Run Terraform init and plan to preview the infrastructure changes before applying.

terraform init && terraform plan -out=tfplan
4

Deploy Resources

Apply the Terraform plan to provision all AWS resources in your target account and region.

terraform apply tfplan
5

Verify & Monitor

Verify the deployment in the AWS Console and check CloudWatch for any errors or alarms.

aws cloudwatch describe-alarms --state-value ALARM

Deployment Guide

Step-by-step instructions to deploy this project

Download Guide

Architecture Diagram

Visual representation of the system architecture

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Source Code

Complete source code and configuration files

View on GitHub

Video Tutorial

Watch the complete walkthrough video

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