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Today marks the introduction of Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) Endpoints for Amazon DynamoDB, now accessible across all public AWS regions. You can easily set up an endpoint right away using either the AWS Management Console or the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI). Notably, there are no extra charges associated with a VPC Endpoint for DynamoDB.
Many AWS users operate their applications within an Amazon VPC for enhanced security and isolation. Previously, if you needed your EC2 instances within your VPC to connect to DynamoDB, you had two primary choices. You could utilize an Internet Gateway (along with a NAT Gateway or by assigning public IP addresses to your instances), or you could channel all traffic through your local infrastructure using a VPN or AWS Direct Connect before redirecting it to DynamoDB. Both methods posed challenges regarding security and throughput. Configuring Network Access Control Lists (NACLs) or security groups to limit access specifically to DynamoDB could also be complex.
Creating an Endpoint
Let’s walk through the process of establishing a VPC Endpoint for DynamoDB. First, we can confirm if our region supports the endpoint through the DescribeVpcEndpointServices API call:
aws ec2 describe-vpc-endpoint-services --region us-east-1This command confirms that my region indeed supports these endpoints, showing that the regional endpoint is available. I can then select one of my VPCs and provision the endpoint using either the CLI or the console. For demonstration, let’s use the console.
First, I will go to the VPC console and select “Endpoints” from the sidebar. I will click “Create Endpoint,” which leads me to a user-friendly interface.
You’ll notice the AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policy section associated with the endpoint. This feature supports the granular access control that DynamoDB offers through standard IAM policies, allowing restrictions based on IAM policy conditions. For this example, I’ll grant full access to my VPC instances before proceeding to the next step.
Next, I will see a list of route tables in my VPC and select one to assign my endpoint. After making my selection, I will click “Create Endpoint.” Keep in mind the warning in the console: if you have access restrictions to DynamoDB based on public IP addresses, the source IP of your instances accessing DynamoDB will now be their private IP addresses.
After incorporating the VPC Endpoint for DynamoDB into our VPC, the infrastructure is simplified and enhanced. It’s that straightforward! There are no costs involved, so you can start using it immediately. For more information, you can explore this excellent resource on how fulfillment centers train new hires, which will guide you through the onboarding process effectively.
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