Private Network Access to AWS Migration Service Planes

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Connect to Application Migration Service data and control planes over a private network






When migrating workloads to the cloud with AWS Application Migration Service (MGN), safe and dependable communication is crucial. MGN interfaces with its control plane (for orchestration) and data plane (for replication) via secured connections over the public internet.

While this is secure, some organizations prefer private connectivity due to compliance, security, or performance concerns. AWS enables you to connect to both the control and data planes via a private network, reducing exposure to the public internet and increasing reliability for mission-critical migrations.

Understanding the Difference Between the Control and Data Plane

  • Control Plane: Responsible for orchestration, replication configuration, and monitoring. It manages migration jobs and coordinates replication tasks.
  • Data Plane: Handles the actual data transport from your source servers to AWS replication machines.
  • MGN requires both planes to interface with AWS endpoints.

Why use private connectivity?

  • Replication servers no longer require public IP addresses, which improves security.
  • Compliance Requirements: Helps meet regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA, PCI DSS, FedRAMP) by ensuring data flows remain private.
  • Reduced Latency and Improved Stability: Private networking minimizes packet loss and internet route variability.
  • Controlled Egress: Routing traffic over a dedicated network path prevents unexpected outgoing internet fees.

How To Configure Private Connectivity

1. Set up VPC endpoints.
Create interface VPC endpoints for the AWS Application Migration Service in your target VPC. This permits traffic to be routed secretly between your source servers, replication instances, and the MGN service.

Steps:

  • Navigate to VPC Console → Endpoints → Create Endpoint.
  • Choose the appropriate MGN service endpoints for your location.
  • Attach them to the appropriate subnets and security groups.

2. Configure PrivateLink.
PrivateLink enables safe connectivity to AWS services from your on-premises environment or other VPCs without relying on the public internet.

  • Configure AWS Direct Connect or VPN to route traffic to the VPC.

  • Access MGN endpoints via PrivateLink over this private connection.
3. Update Security Groups and Routing.

  • Ensure that your replication servers can access the VPC endpoints via HTTPS (TCP 443).
  • Modify route tables to route traffic through private subnets rather than internet gateways.

4. Validate connectivity.

  • Test by running a replication operation and ensuring that traffic passes through the VPC endpoint.
  • Monitor the MGN console to guarantee a successful connection and data replication.

Best practices

  • Use separate subnets for replication instances to improve visibility and tighten security group rules.
  • Enable logging: To monitor MGN traffic, enable VPC Flow Logs and CloudTrail.
  • Plan Network Bandwidth: Make sure your private connection has enough throughput to accommodate replication traffic.
  • Failover Testing: Before cutting over to production, test replication over private connectivity.

Benefits After Implementation

By enabling private connectivity, you ensure that sensitive data never travels across the public internet. This enhances compliance posture, lowers the attack surface, and frequently increases replication performance. Migration teams gain confidence knowing that their workloads are securely replicated and orchestrated with low operational risk.

FAQs

Q1: Do I need both VPC endpoints and Direct Connect for private connections?

Not necessarily. VPC endpoints are sufficient if your replication servers are on AWS. If you are migrating from on-premises servers and require private connectivity, use Direct Connect or a VPN.

Q2: Is there an additional fee for using VPC endpoints?

Yes. Interface endpoints are charged on an hourly basis as well as per GB of data processed.

Q3: Can I still use MGN if I don't enable private networking?

Yes. Public internet connectivity using TLS encryption is enabled by default. Private networking is optional, but recommended for increased security.

Q4: Will private connectivity accelerate replication?
It can, especially if your internet connection is overloaded or has a significant latency. Dedicated channels, such as Direct Connect, often provide more constant throughput.

Q5: How can I confirm that my traffic is private?

Use VPC Flow Logs or network monitoring tools to ensure that traffic is routed through VPC endpoints rather than internet gateways or NAT.


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