AWS Amplify Hosting has recently announced support for custom SSL certificates for custom domains. This new feature provides developers with the ability to upload and utilize their SSL/TLS certificates for their web applications hosted on Amplify, enhancing both flexibility and security. With the option to use certificates from third-party Certificate Authorities (CAs) or AWS Certificate Manager (ACM), developers now have increased control over their domain and IT compliance requirements.
In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the details of this new feature, its benefits, how to set it up, and additional technical considerations for optimizing your SSL/TLS configuration on AWS Amplify Hosting.
Why Use Custom SSL Certificates/TLS on AWS Amplify Hosting?¶
SSL certificates are essential for securing communications between a user’s browser and your web application. By encrypting data transmitted between the two, SSL certificates help protect sensitive information such as personal details, payment information, and more.
With custom SSL certificates support on AWS Amplify Hosting, developers can:
- Enhance Security: Utilize SSL/TLS certificates to secure data transmission and protect user information.
- Flexibility: Use certificates from third-party CAs or ACM to meet specific security and compliance requirements.
- Customization: Configure SSL/TLS settings tailored to your application’s needs.
- SEO Benefits: Improve search engine rankings with HTTPS encryption, as Google rewards secure websites with higher rankings.
Setting Up Custom SSL Certificates/TLS on AWS Amplify Hosting¶
To set up custom SSL certificates on AWS Amplify Hosting, follow these steps:
- Obtain an SSL/TLS Certificate: Purchase a certificate from a third-party CA or request one from ACM.
- Upload the Certificate: Go to the AWS Management Console and navigate to the Amplify Hosting dashboard. Select your app and go to the “Domain management” section. Upload your SSL/TLS certificate here.
- Configure DNS Settings: Update your DNS settings to point your custom domain to the Amplify Hosting environment.
- Test the SSL Configuration: Verify that the SSL certificate is correctly applied to your custom domain.
Additional Technical Considerations¶
When setting up custom SSL certificates on AWS Amplify Hosting, consider the following technical points for optimizing your SSL/TLS configuration:
- Certificate Type: Choose between different types of SSL certificates, such as Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV), and Extended Validation (EV), based on your security needs.
- Certificate Chain: Ensure that your SSL/TLS certificate chain is properly configured to avoid certificate validation errors.
- Certificate Renewal: Set up automatic certificate renewal to prevent expiration and potential security vulnerabilities.
- OCSP Stapling: Enable OCSP Stapling to improve SSL/TLS handshake performance by delivering the certificate status information to clients.
- HSTS: Implement HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) to enforce secure connections and prevent downgrade attacks.
- Security Headers: Configure security headers, such as Content Security Policy (CSP) and X-Content-Type-Options, to enhance web application security.
- SSL Labs Test: Use tools like SSL Labs to regularly test your SSL/TLS configuration and identify any security weaknesses.
By considering these technical aspects and best practices, you can ensure a secure and optimized SSL/TLS configuration for your web applications hosted on AWS Amplify.
Conclusion¶
Custom SSL certificates support on AWS Amplify Hosting offers developers the flexibility and control to secure their web applications with certificates tailored to their requirements. By following the steps outlined in this guide and considering additional technical considerations, you can enhance the security, performance, and compliance of your web applications on Amplify.
Take advantage of this new feature to strengthen your SSL/TLS configuration and provide users with a secure browsing experience on your custom domains. With AWS Amplify Hosting’s custom SSL certificates support, you can elevate your web application security to the next level.