Built a Shared Networking Account to Boost SaaS Compliance & Delivery

The Challenge

A small SaaS provider with 30+ engineers and a five-person platform team faced growing networking challenges as they expanded into a new, regulated market. The upcoming compliance requirements demanded stronger security, better traffic inspection, and streamlined governance. However, their existing decentralized networking approach created inefficiencies—network admins struggled to track all traffic flows, and feature teams spent excessive time configuring networking requirements.

To remain compliant and enable faster development cycles, they needed a unified networking account that provided secure, scalable, and efficient access while reducing operational burdens.

How I Took Ownership

I designed and implemented a shared AWS networking account tailored to their compliance needs. My expertise in AWS networking, security best practices, and infrastructure automation allowed me to create a solution that simplified network administration while providing feature teams with a near-instant networking setup. I took full ownership of the following:

Architecting an AWS networking model that balanced security, compliance, and developer agility.
Implementing a centralized inspection, ingress, and egress VPC model.
Enforcing security policies through AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules shared across teams.
Automating traffic visibility and logging to reduce the manual workload of network admins.

The Strategy

My approach focused on three key principles:

Segmentation & Isolation:
- Created a shared networking account with dedicated VPCs for ingress, egress, and traffic inspection.
- Ensured compliance with regulatory standards by maintaining strict isolation between different traffic flows.
Centralized Security & Governance:
- Implemented AWS WAF rules at the account level, allowing multiple teams to share security policies without duplication.
- Used AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) to distribute VPC resources while maintaining control securely.
Developer Efficiency & Automation:
- Provided feature teams with near-instant access to predefined networking configurations, eliminating bottlenecks.
- Automated logging and monitoring using VPC Flow Logs, AWS CloudWatch, and AWS CloudTrail to improve network traffic visibility.

The Execution

Built a Dedicated Networking Account:
- Provisioned a new AWS account exclusively for networking resources.
- Established separate VPCs for ingress, egress, and inspection to improve security and monitoring.
Enabled Centralized Traffic Flow Control:
- Deployed AWS Transit Gateway to manage communication between VPCs securely.
- Configured AWS Network Firewall for deep packet inspection and security enforcement.
Simplified Network Administration:
- Introduced centralized AWS WAF rules, enabling easier security policy management.
- Implemented VPC endpoints for Amazon S3 and DynamoDB to ensure secure data access.
Improved Developer Experience:
- Automated networking configurations, reducing time-to-configure for feature teams to near zero.
- Provided clear documentation and Terraform modules to facilitate self-service provisioning.

‍

Architecture Diagrams

1.Network Architecture Diagram: This diagram illustrates the layout of the Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and its components, showcasing the overall structure of the network environment.

2. Security Architecture Diagram: This diagram highlights the security measures implemented within the shared network environment for one of the VPCs, focusing on security groups, network access control lists (NACLs), VPC endpoints, and VPC flow logs.

3. Resource Sharing Diagram: This diagram showcases how the VPC is shared among different teams or departments using AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM), emphasizing resource groups, permissions, and isolation.

The Results

10% Faster Feature Delivery: Reduced time for feature teams to configure networking from days to near-zero.
Lower Network Admin Overhead: Centralized traffic visibility and shared WAF rules reduced the time network admins spent tracking and maintaining flows.
Improved Security & Compliance: Segmented VPC model and centralized governance ensured readiness for upcoming regulatory requirements.
Scalability & Future-Proofing: The modular architecture allowed for easy expansion without re-architecting the network.

Roadblocks & How I Overcame Them

Initial Resistance to Change: Network admins hesitated to move away from a decentralized model. I provided hands-on training and detailed runbooks to ensure a smooth transition.
Balancing Security & Developer Agility: Some feature teams worry about losing control over their networking configurations. By offering well-documented Terraform modules, they maintain flexibility while ensuring compliance.
Ensuring Compliance Alignment: Since compliance regulations were still evolving, I built the solution with adaptable security policies that could be updated with minimal disruption.

Key Takeaways & Future Applications

Proactive Compliance Planning Saves Time: Addressing compliance needs before regulations take effect prevents rushed, costly fixes later.
Centralized Governance Improves Security & Efficiency: A shared networking model reduces duplication, enhances visibility, and simplifies security enforcement.
Automation Unlocks Developer Productivity: Providing automated networking configurations eliminates friction and accelerates feature delivery.

Call to Action

Let's talk if your company is expanding into a regulated market or struggling with complex networking needs. I can help design a scalable, secure, and developer-friendly networking solution. Schedule a call today.

‍

Additional Information

‍

How I Built a Shared Networking Account for a SaaS Company to Streamline Compliance and Boost Delivery by 10%

A Scalable and Secure AWS Networking Solution to Meet Regulatory Demands