Enhancing AWS Security & Scalability for Insurance Giant
The Challenge
A major insurance provider was facing severe security risks due to an outdated AWS environment. The platform exposed application servers directly to the internet, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. Furthermore, the lack of centralized access management made traffic monitoring impossible, while the absence of redundancy meant that any surge or failure could cause service outages.
Our Strategic Approach
Skynats undertook a complete audit and re-architecture of their cloud environment, prioritizing security and fault tolerance:
- Vulnerability Analysis: We identified critical exposure points, specifically public-facing application servers and non-existent traffic filtering.
- Architecture Redesign: We proposed a "Private-First" architecture. This meant moving all servers into private subnets and routing traffic exclusively through an Application Load Balancer (ALB).
- Migration & Implementation: We reconfigured the Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), deployed the new secure network topology, and migrated servers with zero data loss.
- Continuous Optimization: Post-deployment, we fine-tuned load balancer health checks and security groups to ensure smooth operation.
Technical Implementation Details
We executed a complete transformation of their cloud infrastructure:
- VPC Redesign: Architected a new VPC topology with strict separation between Public (NAT Gateway, ALB) and Private (Application, Database) subnets.
- Centralized Traffic Entry: Configured an Application Load Balancer (ALB) as the single point of entry, terminating SSL and distributing traffic securely.
- High Availability: Deployed backend EC2 servers across multiple Availability Zones (AZs) to ensure active-active fault tolerance.
- Secure Outbound Access: Implemented NAT Gateways to allow private instances to fetch updates without exposing them to inbound internet traffic.
- Shared Storage: Integrated Amazon EFS (Elastic File System) to provide scalable, shared storage for application data across all server instances.
The Outcome
The client now operates on a fortress-like AWS infrastructure. Public exposure risks have been eliminated, and the system can handle traffic surges and component failures without service disruption. The new architecture complies with AWS best practices and modern security standards.