Module 16 Lesson 1: Securing Cloud AI APIs
Locking the gate. Learn the specific security configurations and best practices for using enterprise AI services like Azure OpenAI and AWS Bedrock.
Module 16 Lesson 1: Securing Azure OpenAI and AWS Bedrock
Most companies don't build their own LLMs; they rent them from Microsoft (Azure), Amazon (AWS), or Google (GCP). This means Cloud Security is your first line of defense.
1. Managed AI Security Basics
When you use a managed service like Azure OpenAI, you get several "Free" security features:
- Encrypted Connections (TLS): Your data is never sent in plain text.
- Privacy Guarantees: Enterprise versions of these APIs guarantee that your data is NOT used to train the public model.
- Content Filtering: Built-in layers that block known hate speech or harmful content before you even see it.
2. Azure OpenAI Security: "Private Links"
By default, an API is a "Public Endpoint." Anyone with the key can try to talk to it.
- The Fix: Use Azure Private Link. This moves the AI endpoint into your private company network (VNET).
- The AI is no longer reachable from the public internet, even if someone steals your API key.
3. AWS Bedrock Security: "Guardrails for Bedrock"
AWS provides a native tool called Guardrails for Bedrock.
- It allows you to set "Topic Filters" (e.g., "Don't talk about investing") and "Word Filters" (e.g., "Block all PII") at the Infrastructure Level.
- The Benefit: You don't have to write custom Python code; the security is handled by the cloud provider's hardware.
4. The "Key Management" Risk
The most common "Cloud AI Hack" has nothing to do with prompt injection. It is the Leaked API Key.
- Developers often hardcode keys in GitHub repos.
- The Fix: Use Managed Identities (Azure) or IAM Roles (AWS). Your server "automatically" has permission to talk to the AI without needing a text string password in the code.
Exercise: The Cloud Admin
- Why is "Azure OpenAI" considered more secure for a bank than "OpenAI.com"?
- What is a "Private Endpoint" and how does it prevent data exfiltration?
- If an attacker steals your
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY, can they use your AWS Bedrock models? How do you prevent this? - Research: What is "Customer Managed Keys" (CMK) and why does it matter for AI data storage?
Summary
In the cloud, Infrastructure is Security. By mastering the specific tools provided by AWS and Azure, you can build a defensive wall around your AI that is much stronger than any individual prompt or guardrail.
Next Lesson: Who can talk to the brain? Identity and Access Management (IAM) for AI.