Set up TLS proxy for Google Cloud Endpoint APIs

Setting Up TLS Proxy for Google Cloud Endpoint APIs

This article explains how to secure your Google Cloud Endpoint APIs using a TLS proxy.

Why Use a TLS Proxy?

• Enhanced Security: TLS encrypts communication between clients and your API, protecting sensitive data from eavesdropping and tampering.
• Improved Trust: Using TLS demonstrates your commitment to security and builds trust with your API users.
• Compliance: Many regulatory frameworks require data encryption, making TLS essential for compliance.

Understanding TLS Proxies

A TLS proxy sits between your API clients and your API backend. It handles the TLS handshake, encrypts communication, and forwards requests to the backend. Google Cloud offers various ways to set up TLS proxies, including:

Methods for Setting Up TLS Proxy

• Cloud Load Balancing: Google Cloud Load Balancing provides a built-in TLS proxy with automatic certificate management.
• Cloud Run: Cloud Run allows you to deploy containerized APIs and automatically handles TLS setup using a managed proxy.
• Cloud Functions: For serverless deployments, Cloud Functions offers secure HTTPS endpoints with managed TLS.
• Custom Proxies: If you need more control, you can use a custom proxy service like Envoy or Nginx, but this requires additional configuration.

Example: Setting Up TLS Proxy with Cloud Load Balancing

Here’s a basic example of setting up TLS with Cloud Load Balancing:

Steps

1. Create a Backend Service: Configure a backend service in Google Cloud Console to point to your API endpoints.
2. Create a Global Forwarding Rule: Create a global forwarding rule to expose your API to the internet.
3. Create a HTTPS Load Balancer: Create a HTTPS load balancer and associate it with your backend service and forwarding rule.
4. Configure TLS Certificate: Provide a valid TLS certificate (either managed or self-signed) to the load balancer.

Code Example: gcloud command for creating a Global Forwarding Rule

gcloud compute forwarding-rules create my-forwarding-rule \
--global \
--target-service my-backend-service \
--address 35.238.201.96

Comparing Different Methods

Choosing the Right Method

The best method for setting up a TLS proxy depends on your specific needs and requirements:

• Managed Solutions: Cloud Load Balancing, Cloud Run, and Cloud Functions offer easy setup and managed TLS for optimal security and scalability.
• Custom Control: Use a custom proxy when you require fine-grained control over configuration or need to integrate with existing infrastructure.

Conclusion

By using a TLS proxy, you can significantly enhance the security of your Google Cloud Endpoint APIs, building trust with your users and ensuring compliance. Choose the method that best suits your needs and follow the provided examples to securely expose your APIs to the world.