Integrating AWS WAF Firewall --- Smart Whitelisting for Merchants and Users

Implemented: AWS WAF integration for dynamic IP whitelisting of merchants and users through the dashboard.

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Overview

In a digital payment ecosystem, security and reliability are just as important as speed. With hundreds of merchants and users interacting with APIs daily, safeguarding the platform against unauthorized access becomes critical.
Integrating AWS Web Application Firewall (WAF) directly into the dashboard allows administrators to whitelist trusted IPs and block suspicious activity --- all in real time.

This integration helps ensure that only verified merchants and internal users can access critical services, reducing the risk of data breaches, DDoS attacks, and fraud attempts.

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Why Integrate AWS WAF

AWS WAF provides a scalable and configurable firewall layer that filters traffic before it reaches the application.
By embedding it into your dashboard, you enable teams to manage IP access without manual AWS console steps, saving time and improving visibility.

Key Benefits

• Enhanced Security: Prevent malicious or unknown IPs from accessing sensitive routes.
• Real-Time Control: Update whitelisted IPs instantly from the dashboard.
• Automation: Sync changes with AWS WAF rules automatically through APIs.
• Audit and Visibility: Keep track of all IP updates with timestamps and user details.
• Reduced Operational Load: No need for DevOps to intervene for every IP change.

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How It Works

1. Dashboard Integration:
   A new section in the admin dashboard allows teams to manage IP addresses linked to each merchant or internal user.

2. AWS WAF APIs:
   The system connects to AWS WAF using secure credentials and updates IP sets in real time whenever a user is added or removed.

3. Automatic Syncing:
   When a merchant’s IP address is added in the dashboard, it’s instantly reflected in the corresponding WAF IP set, ensuring immediate access control.

4. Audit Logging:
   Every change --- who added it, when, and why --- is logged for compliance and traceability.

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Example Use Cases

• Merchant Whitelisting:
  Merchants can only access APIs from approved IPs, ensuring secure interactions.

• Internal Access Control:
  Only office or VPN IPs are allowed to access admin endpoints or sensitive financial data.

• Temporary Whitelisting:
  Support teams can grant temporary access for testing and automatically revoke it after a set duration.

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Technical Overview

Components Involved

• AWS WAF IP Sets: Store lists of allowed IP addresses.
• Lambda Functions (optional): Handle async updates or validations.
• Backend Service (e.g., NestJS): Interfaces between dashboard actions and AWS APIs.
• Frontend Dashboard (e.g., Next.js): Provides a simple interface for adding/removing IPs.

Workflow

1. Admin adds an IP to the merchant record.
2. Backend validates and pushes the IP to the corresponding AWS WAF IP set.
3. Confirmation and audit logs are updated.
4. The merchant gains access immediately.

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Best Practices

• Validation: Always validate IP formats before submitting.
• Least Privilege: Restrict WAF API keys to minimum required permissions.
• Notifications: Send alerts when new IPs are added or removed.
• Rate Limiting: Protect your WAF update endpoints from misuse.
• Regular Cleanup: Remove unused or expired IPs to keep IP sets efficient.

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The Impact

Integrating AWS WAF with your dashboard transforms security from a backend-only concern to a visible and manageable feature.
It empowers non-technical teams to take immediate action, improves compliance readiness, and ensures your platform remains safe and accessible only to verified entities.

By combining automation, visibility, and simplicity, this setup makes IP whitelisting not just a security measure --- but a seamless operational feature.

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