Key Concepts:

AWS CloudFront and Signed URLs/Cookies:

• CloudFront distributions can be secured to serve private, paid content globally using signed URLs or signed cookies.
• Signed URLs grant access to individual files, providing a unique URL for each file.
• Signed Cookies offer access to multiple files under a single authorization, ideal for users requiring access to various resources.

Best Practices:

Security and Access Control:

• Attach policies to define the lifespan of signed URLs or cookies and specify allowable IP ranges for access.
• Utilize trusted signers to authorize who can generate these signed URLs or cookies.

Duration of Access:

• The validity of signed URLs or cookies can be adjusted based on content type and user needs. Short durations for transient content like movies or music, and longer for personal user content.

Technical Implementation:

Generating Signed URLs/Cookies:

• The application authenticates users, then uses the AWS SDK to generate a signed URL directly from CloudFront.
• The URL or cookie is then returned to the user, providing them secure access to the content through CloudFront.

Decision Factors:

CloudFront vs. S3 Presigned URLs:

• CloudFront Signed URLs are ideal for accessing content through a CloudFront distribution, regardless of the origin type. They support IP filtering, path specifications, date restrictions, and utilize CloudFront’s caching capabilities.
• S3 Presigned URLs are best when direct access to S3 content is necessary without going through CloudFront. These URLs mimic the permissions of the IAM user who created them and are also time-restricted.