GCP Fundamentals: Chrome Verified Access API

Securing Modern Applications with Chrome Verified Access API

The modern application landscape is increasingly distributed, with users accessing resources from anywhere, on any device. This shift, coupled with the rise of remote work and the adoption of cloud-native architectures, presents significant security challenges. Traditional VPNs are often cumbersome, slow, and can introduce single points of failure. Furthermore, the increasing focus on sustainability demands efficient resource utilization, something VPNs often hinder. Companies like Datadog and HashiCorp are actively seeking solutions to provide secure, seamless access to internal applications without the drawbacks of legacy VPNs. Google Cloud’s Chrome Verified Access API addresses these challenges, offering a zero-trust access solution built for the cloud era. GCP itself is experiencing rapid growth, driven by its AI/ML capabilities and commitment to open-source technologies, making secure access to its resources paramount.

What is Chrome Verified Access API?

Chrome Verified Access API is a service that provides secure, identity-aware access to privately hosted applications without a VPN. It leverages the security of Chrome and the power of Google’s identity platform to verify user and device posture before granting access. Instead of granting network-level access, it provides application-level access, minimizing the attack surface.

At its core, Verified Access operates on a principle of continuous verification. It doesn’t just check identity at login; it continuously assesses device security and user context throughout the session. This is achieved through a combination of signals, including device health, user identity, and contextual information.

The service consists of three main components:

• Verified Access Policy: Defines the rules for granting access to applications. These policies specify which users and devices are allowed to access specific resources.
• Verified Access Connector: A deployment within your VPC that acts as a reverse proxy, intercepting requests to your applications and enforcing the Verified Access policies.
• Chrome Browser Integration: Verified Access is natively integrated into the Chrome browser, providing a seamless user experience.

Currently, the service is generally available and supports access to applications deployed on Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), and Cloud Run. It integrates deeply with Google Workspace and Cloud Identity for user management.

Why Use Chrome Verified Access API?

Traditional VPNs often create bottlenecks, impacting application performance and user experience. They also require complex management and can be difficult to scale. Chrome Verified Access API addresses these pain points by offering a more modern, secure, and scalable solution.

Pain Points Addressed:

• VPN Complexity: Managing and maintaining VPN infrastructure is complex and resource-intensive.
• Performance Issues: VPNs can introduce latency and reduce application performance.
• Security Risks: VPNs can be vulnerable to attacks and provide broad network access, increasing the attack surface.
• Poor User Experience: VPNs often require users to install and configure software, leading to a frustrating experience.

Key Benefits:

• Enhanced Security: Zero-trust access model minimizes the attack surface and reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
• Improved Performance: Application-level access eliminates the performance overhead associated with VPNs.
• Simplified Management: Centralized policy management simplifies administration and reduces operational costs.
• Seamless User Experience: Native Chrome integration provides a frictionless user experience.
• Scalability: Easily scales to accommodate growing user bases and application deployments.

Use Cases:

• Secure Remote Access for Developers: A software development company needed to provide secure access to internal development environments for remote developers. Verified Access allowed them to grant access to specific applications without exposing the entire network, improving security and developer productivity.
• Protecting Sensitive Data in Healthcare: A healthcare provider needed to ensure that only authorized personnel could access patient data. Verified Access enabled them to enforce strict access controls based on user role and device security, helping them comply with HIPAA regulations.
• Securing Financial Applications: A financial institution required a secure way to allow employees to access critical financial applications from remote locations. Verified Access provided a zero-trust access solution that met their stringent security requirements.

Key Features and Capabilities

1. Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): The core principle of Verified Access, granting access based on continuous verification of user and device posture.
2. Identity-Aware Proxy: Acts as a reverse proxy, intercepting requests and enforcing access policies based on user identity.
3. Device Posture Assessment: Evaluates device security based on factors like operating system version, security software, and compliance with corporate policies.
4. Context-Aware Access: Considers contextual information like location, time of day, and user role when making access decisions.
5. Google Workspace Integration: Seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace for user authentication and authorization.
6. Cloud Identity Integration: Supports Cloud Identity for managing user identities and groups.
7. Centralized Policy Management: Allows administrators to define and manage access policies from a central console.
8. Real-time Monitoring and Logging: Provides real-time visibility into access activity and security events. Integrates with Cloud Logging.
9. Seamless Chrome Integration: Native integration with the Chrome browser provides a frictionless user experience.
10. Application-Level Access: Grants access to specific applications, minimizing the attack surface compared to network-level VPN access.
11. Support for Multiple Application Types: Works with applications deployed on Compute Engine, GKE, and Cloud Run.
12. Integration with BeyondCorp Enterprise: Verified Access is the foundation for BeyondCorp Enterprise, Google’s comprehensive zero-trust security solution.

Detailed Practical Use Cases

1. DevOps Engineer - Secure Access to Kubernetes Clusters: A DevOps engineer needs secure access to a GKE cluster to deploy and manage applications.

   • Workflow: Engineer logs into Chrome, attempts to access the Kubernetes dashboard. Verified Access intercepts the request, verifies the engineer’s identity and device posture, and grants access if the policies are met.
   • Role: DevOps Engineer
   • Benefit: Secure access to sensitive infrastructure without a VPN.
   • Config: Verified Access policy configured to allow access to the GKE cluster based on user group membership and device compliance.

2. Machine Learning Engineer - Access to Data Science VMs: An ML engineer requires access to Compute Engine VMs with sensitive training data.

   • Workflow: Engineer accesses the VM via the browser. Verified Access verifies identity and device posture, ensuring only authorized personnel can access the data.
   • Role: Machine Learning Engineer
   • Benefit: Data security and compliance with data governance policies.
   • Config: Verified Access policy restricting access to specific VMs based on user role and device security.

3. Data Analyst - Secure Access to BigQuery: A data analyst needs to access BigQuery datasets for reporting and analysis.

   • Workflow: Analyst accesses BigQuery through the web UI. Verified Access verifies identity and device posture before granting access to the datasets.
   • Role: Data Analyst
   • Benefit: Secure access to sensitive data without exposing the entire network.
   • Config: Verified Access policy granting access to specific BigQuery datasets based on user group membership.

4. IoT Engineer - Remote Access to IoT Devices: An IoT engineer needs to remotely access and manage IoT devices deployed in the field.

   • Workflow: Engineer accesses a management console for the IoT devices. Verified Access verifies identity and device posture before granting access to the console.
   • Role: IoT Engineer
   • Benefit: Secure remote access to IoT devices without the need for complex VPN configurations.
   • Config: Verified Access policy restricting access to the IoT management console based on user role and device security.

5. Security Analyst - Incident Response: A security analyst needs to investigate a security incident on a production server.

   • Workflow: Analyst accesses the server via a secure browser session. Verified Access verifies identity and device posture, providing a secure and auditable access path.
   • Role: Security Analyst
   • Benefit: Secure and auditable access to critical systems during incident response.
   • Config: Verified Access policy granting temporary access to the server based on incident response procedures.

6. Financial Analyst - Access to Internal Financial Applications: A financial analyst needs access to internal financial applications for reporting and analysis.

   • Workflow: Analyst accesses the applications through a browser. Verified Access verifies identity and device posture, ensuring only authorized personnel can access sensitive financial data.
   • Role: Financial Analyst
   • Benefit: Secure access to sensitive financial data and compliance with regulatory requirements.
   • Config: Verified Access policy restricting access to specific financial applications based on user role and device security.

Architecture and Ecosystem Integration

graph LR
    A[User (Chrome Browser)] --> B(Verified Access Proxy);
    B --> C{Verified Access Policy};
    C -- Allow --> D[Internal Application (Compute Engine/GKE/Cloud Run)];
    C -- Deny --> E[Access Denied];
    B --> F[Cloud Identity/Workspace];
    B --> G[Cloud Logging];
    H[IAM] --> C;
    I[VPC] --> B;
    J[Pub/Sub] --> G;
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style D fill:#ccf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px

This diagram illustrates how Chrome Verified Access API integrates into a typical GCP architecture. The user initiates a request from the Chrome browser, which is intercepted by the Verified Access Proxy deployed within your VPC. The proxy evaluates the request against the Verified Access Policy, which is informed by IAM roles and user identity from Cloud Identity/Workspace. Access is granted or denied based on the policy evaluation. Access logs are sent to Cloud Logging via Pub/Sub for auditing and monitoring.

CLI and Terraform References:

• gcloud: gcloud access-context-manager policies create <policy-name>
• Terraform:

resource "google_access_context_manager_policy" "example" {
  name        = "my-verified-access-policy"
  parent      = "organizations/your-organization-id"
  title       = "Verified Access Policy"
}

Hands-On: Step-by-Step Tutorial

This tutorial outlines the basic steps to set up and use Chrome Verified Access API.

1. Enable the API: In the Google Cloud Console, navigate to the Chrome Verified Access API page and enable the API.

2. Create a Policy: Use the gcloud CLI to create a Verified Access policy:
   

   gcloud access-context-manager policies create my-verified-access-policy \
   --parent=organizations/your-organization-id \
   --title="My Verified Access Policy"
   

3. Deploy a Connector: Deploy a Verified Access Connector within your VPC. This can be done using a pre-built image or by building your own. Follow the official Google Cloud documentation for detailed instructions.

4. Configure a Policy Rule: Define a policy rule that specifies which users and devices are allowed to access your application.
   

   gcloud access-context-manager access-levels create my-access-level \
   --policy=my-verified-access-policy \
   --basic-level-spec='{"allowed":["user:[email protected]"]}'
   

5. Test Access: Log in to Chrome with the specified user account and attempt to access your application. Verify that access is granted or denied based on the policy rule.

Troubleshooting:

• Access Denied: Check the policy rule and ensure that the user and device meet the specified criteria.
• Connector Issues: Verify that the connector is running and properly configured. Check the connector logs for errors.
• Chrome Compatibility: Ensure you are using a supported version of the Chrome browser.

Pricing Deep Dive

Chrome Verified Access API pricing is based on the number of active users per month. There are different tiers available, with pricing varying based on the level of features and support.

Quotas: GCP imposes quotas on the number of active users and requests per minute. These quotas can be increased upon request.

Cost Optimization:

• Right-size your policy: Avoid granting excessive permissions.
• Monitor usage: Track active user counts to identify potential cost savings.
• Leverage caching: Cache policy decisions to reduce the number of requests to the API.

Security, Compliance, and Governance

Chrome Verified Access API leverages Google’s robust security infrastructure and complies with industry standards.

• IAM Roles: Use IAM roles to control access to the Verified Access API and its resources. Common roles include roles/accesscontextmanager.policyAdmin and roles/accesscontextmanager.accessLevelAdmin.
• Service Accounts: Use service accounts to automate tasks and integrate with other GCP services.
• Certifications: Verified Access is compliant with ISO 27001, SOC 2, and other industry standards.
• Compliance: Supports HIPAA, FedRAMP, and other compliance requirements.
• Org Policies: Use organization policies to enforce security best practices and restrict access to sensitive resources.
• Audit Logging: Enable audit logging to track access activity and security events.

Integration with Other GCP Services

1. BigQuery: Integrate with BigQuery to analyze access logs and identify security threats.
2. Cloud Run: Secure access to applications deployed on Cloud Run using Verified Access.
3. Pub/Sub: Stream access logs to Pub/Sub for real-time monitoring and alerting.
4. Cloud Functions: Use Cloud Functions to automate tasks related to Verified Access, such as policy updates and user provisioning.
5. Artifact Registry: Secure access to container images stored in Artifact Registry using Verified Access.

Comparison with Other Services

When to Use Which:

• Chrome Verified Access API: Ideal for organizations heavily invested in the Google Cloud ecosystem and prioritizing a seamless Chrome experience.
• AWS IAM Identity Center: Best suited for organizations primarily using AWS services.
• Azure AD Conditional Access: A good choice for organizations heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

1. Assuming Verified Access replaces all VPNs: Verified Access is not a direct replacement for all VPN use cases. It focuses on application-level access, not network-level access.
2. Ignoring Device Posture: Failing to properly configure device posture assessment weakens the security of the solution.
3. Overly Permissive Policies: Granting excessive permissions increases the attack surface.
4. Lack of Monitoring: Not monitoring access logs can lead to undetected security breaches.
5. Incorrect IAM Configuration: Improperly configured IAM roles can grant unauthorized access to the Verified Access API.

Pros and Cons Summary

Pros:

• Enhanced Security
• Improved Performance
• Simplified Management
• Seamless User Experience
• Scalability

Cons:

• Limited Browser Support (primarily Chrome)
• Requires careful policy configuration
• Potential cost implications for large user bases

Best Practices for Production Use

• Monitoring: Implement comprehensive monitoring of access logs and security events. Set up alerts for suspicious activity.
• Scaling: Design your Verified Access deployment to scale to accommodate growing user bases and application deployments.
• Automation: Automate policy updates and user provisioning using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform.
• Security: Regularly review and update your Verified Access policies to ensure they are aligned with your security requirements.
• gcloud Tip: Use gcloud access-context-manager policies describe <policy-name> to review your policy configuration.

Conclusion

Chrome Verified Access API provides a modern, secure, and scalable solution for accessing privately hosted applications without a VPN. By leveraging the power of zero-trust access and the security of Chrome, it helps organizations protect their sensitive data and improve user experience. Explore the official Google Cloud documentation and try a hands-on lab to learn more about how Verified Access can benefit your organization.