IP Hardening Stories from the Trenches: Practical Security Strategies That Work

Read full article here: https://www.token.security/blog/ip-hardening-in-the-real-world-a-story-from-the-trenches/?utm_source=nhimg

In cloud security, the most dangerous risks are often the ones hiding in plain sight. During a recent product showcase, our Token Security platform uncovered a case that perfectly illustrates why IP hardening is essential for Non-Human Identity (NHI) security.

The Moment We Found It

The finding made us sit up straight:

• An AWS Access Key unrotated for over 4 years
• Tied to an IAM user with AmazonS3FullAccess and CloudWatchFullAccess
• No VPC endpoint policies
• No IP restrictions

In plain terms: this was a master key that could be used from anywhere in the world to access every S3 bucket in the environment. For attackers, this is a golden ticket. For defenders, it’s the nightmare scenario.

Why This Is Dangerous

This wasn’t a low-privilege test account—it was a core automation identity:

• Still active, long after the original developer left
• Never rotated
• Granted access to all S3 buckets

With no IP restrictions, the key could be abused by anyone, anywhere. If it leaked through code, logs, or compromise, attackers could exfiltrate terabytes of data in minutes or even disable CloudWatch alarms to hide their tracks.

How Token Security Handles It

At Token Security, we use a two-layered approach:

1. Proactive Posture Management

When our Security Posture Management engine detects missing network policies on an NHI, we immediately:

• Flag the issue
• Auto-generate a Terraform remediation script

That script can:

• Restrict the identity to corporate IPs or VPN ranges
• Block all but approved network origins
• Be applied in minutes without manual console digging

2. Reactive Protection via ITDR

Not every account can be hardened instantly. That’s why we layer in Identity Threat

Detection & Response (ITDR):

• Monitor for abnormal IP activity
• Cross-check traffic against threat intelligence (GreyNoise, Criminal IP)
• Detect suspicious overseas or malicious IPs
• Trigger instant alerts and provide the same Terraform fix as an emergency measure

This ensures protection even during the lag between discovery and remediation.

The “What If” That Keeps Security Teams Awake

Imagine: An attacker steals the key and connects from a flagged botnet IP. With no IP restrictions, they now have full control, data theft, deletion, even lateral movement.

In this case, the story ended well. Token Security flagged the exposure before it was exploited. The customer applied the Terraform IP restriction and locked the identity to corporate VPN addresses, closing the door before attackers could walk through it.

Why IP Hardening Works

• Shrinks the attack surface: Narrow, controlled entry points
• Complements key rotation: Adds protection even if keys age
• Bridges operational gaps: ITDR covers the “not fixed yet” window
• Automates remediation: No waiting for the next sprint—ready to deploy now

Key Takeaways

If you’re serious about NHI security, IP hardening isn’t optional. It’s one of the highest impact, lowest effort controls you can implement.

By blending proactive hardening with continuous monitoring, organizations gain both prevention and detection, ensuring that even if you can’t fix immediately, you can still defend effectively.

Bottom line

In a world of sprawling cloud identities, IP hardening transforms a wide-open door into a guarded checkpoint.