/configuring-aws-verified-access-for-ztna

name: configuring-aws-verified-access-for-ztna
description: Configure AWS Verified Access to provide VPN-less zero trust network
  access to internal apps, combining identity trust providers (IAM Identity Center,
  Okta/OIDC), device posture providers (CrowdStrike, Jamf), Cedar policy authoring, and
  Terraform deployment. Use when replacing VPN access with ZTNA, writing Cedar access
  policies, or deploying Verified Access instances, groups, and endpoints across AWS
  accounts.
domain: cybersecurity
subdomain: zero-trust-architecture
tags:
- zero-trust
- aws
- verified-access
- ztna
- cedar-policy
- vpn-less
- identity-verification
- device-posture
- aws-ram
version: '1.0'
author: mahipal
license: Apache-2.0
nist_csf:
- PR.AA-01
- PR.AA-05
- PR.IR-01
- GV.PO-01
mitre_attack:
- T1078.004
- T1133
- T1021.007

Configuring AWS Verified Access for ZTNA

Overview

AWS Verified Access is a Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) service that provides secure, VPN-less access to corporate applications hosted in AWS. It evaluates each access request in real-time against granular conditional access policies written in the Cedar policy language, ensuring access is granted per-application only when specific security requirements such as user identity and device security posture are met and maintained. Verified Access integrates with AWS IAM Identity Center, third-party identity providers (Okta, CrowdStrike, JumpCloud, Jamf), and device management solutions. For multi-account deployments, AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) enables sharing Verified Access groups across organizational units.

When to Use

• When deploying or configuring configuring aws verified access for ztna capabilities in your environment
• When establishing security controls aligned to compliance requirements
• When building or improving security architecture for this domain
• When conducting security assessments that require this implementation

Prerequisites

• AWS account with appropriate IAM permissions
• Identity provider (AWS IAM Identity Center, Okta, or OIDC-compatible)
• Device trust provider (CrowdStrike, Jamf, JumpCloud, or AWS Verified Access native)
• Internal Application Load Balancer (ALB) or network interface endpoint
• Understanding of Cedar policy language
• VPC with application workloads to protect

Architecture

    End User (Browser)
         |
         | HTTPS
         v
  +------+--------+
  | Verified      |
  | Access        |
  | Endpoint      |
  | (Public DNS)  |
  +------+--------+
         |
  +------+--------+
  | Verified      |  <-- Cedar Access Policies
  | Access        |  <-- Identity Provider Signals
  | Instance      |  <-- Device Trust Signals
  | (Policy       |
  |  Evaluation)  |
  +------+--------+
         |
  +------+--------+
  | Verified      |
  | Access Group  |
  | (App Group)   |
  +------+--------+
         |
  +------+--------+
  | Internal ALB  |
  | or ENI Target |
  +------+--------+
         |
  +------+--------+
  | Application   |
  | (Private VPC) |
  +--------------+

Core Components

Verified Access Instance

The regional entity that evaluates access requests against policies.

# Create Verified Access Instance via AWS CLI
aws ec2 create-verified-access-instance \
  --description "Production Zero Trust Instance" \
  --tag-specifications 'ResourceType=verified-access-instance,Tags=[{Key=Environment,Value=production}]'

Trust Providers

Identity Trust Provider (AWS IAM Identity Center)

# Create identity trust provider
aws ec2 create-verified-access-trust-provider \
  --trust-provider-type user \
  --user-trust-provider-type iam-identity-center \
  --policy-reference-name "idc" \
  --description "IAM Identity Center trust provider" \
  --tag-specifications 'ResourceType=verified-access-trust-provider,Tags=[{Key=Type,Value=identity}]'

Identity Trust Provider (OIDC - Okta)

aws ec2 create-verified-access-trust-provider \
  --trust-provider-type user \
  --user-trust-provider-type oidc \
  --oidc-options '{
    "Issuer": "https://company.okta.com/oauth2/default",
    "AuthorizationEndpoint": "https://company.okta.com/oauth2/default/v1/authorize",
    "TokenEndpoint": "https://company.okta.com/oauth2/default/v1/token",
    "UserInfoEndpoint": "https://company.okta.com/oauth2/default/v1/userinfo",
    "ClientId": "0oa1234567890",
    "ClientSecret": "client-secret-here",
    "Scope": "openid profile groups"
  }' \
  --policy-reference-name "okta" \
  --description "Okta OIDC trust provider"

Device Trust Provider (CrowdStrike)

aws ec2 create-verified-access-trust-provider \
  --trust-provider-type device \
  --device-trust-provider-type crowdstrike \
  --device-options '{
    "TenantId": "crowdstrike-tenant-id",
    "PublicSigningKeyUrl": "https://api.crowdstrike.com/zero-trust/v2/certificates"
  }' \
  --policy-reference-name "crowdstrike" \
  --description "CrowdStrike device trust provider"

Attach Trust Providers to Instance

# Attach identity provider
aws ec2 attach-verified-access-trust-provider \
  --verified-access-instance-id vai-0123456789abcdef \
  --verified-access-trust-provider-id vatp-0123456789abcdef

# Attach device provider
aws ec2 attach-verified-access-trust-provider \
  --verified-access-instance-id vai-0123456789abcdef \
  --verified-access-trust-provider-id vatp-device123456

Verified Access Groups

# Create a group for web applications
aws ec2 create-verified-access-group \
  --verified-access-instance-id vai-0123456789abcdef \
  --description "Production Web Applications" \
  --policy-document 'permit(principal, action, resource)
    when {
      context.okta.groups.contains("production-access") &&
      context.crowdstrike.assessment.overall > 50
    };' \
  --tag-specifications 'ResourceType=verified-access-group,Tags=[{Key=Tier,Value=web}]'

Verified Access Endpoints

# Create endpoint for ALB-backed applicat