Automated Private IP User Mapping
TL;DR
Private IP mapping tool for AWS CloudTrail + Palo Alto security teams that auto-correlates RFC 1918 IPs to real users via forwarding header analysis so they can eliminate manual log audits and enforce accurate IP-based access policies without false positives
Target Audience
Security engineers at mid/large enterprises using Palo Alto proxy solutions
The Problem
Problem Context
Security teams use AWS CloudTrail to enforce access rules via source IP addresses. When Palo Alto firewalls forward traffic, private IPs (e.g., 10.205.x.x) appear in CloudTrail, breaking IP-based policies. AWS rejects these requests, causing daily access failures and security gaps.
Pain Points
Teams waste 5+ hours/week manually tracing private IPs to real users across logs. Custom scripts and vendor support provide no permanent fix. Failed policies risk compliance violations and missed threats, while manual work slows down security operations.
Impact
Businesses lose money through reduced security efficiency, wasted labor, and potential breaches. Frustration grows as simple IP rules fail unexpectedly. Security posture weakens when traceability breaks down, and teams can’t respond quickly to incidents.
Urgency
The problem occurs daily, blocking remote access and enforcing policies. Delayed fixes risk undetected threats or policy violations. Without a solution, security teams remain stuck in reactive troubleshooting instead of proactive protection.
Target Audience
Cloud security engineers and DevSecOps specialists at mid-large enterprises using AWS (CloudTrail, IAM) and Palo Alto (Secure Remote Access, firewalls). Any organization relying on IP-based access controls in AWS will face this issue.
Proposed AI Solution
Solution Approach
IP Guard automatically maps private IPs in CloudTrail logs to real users by analyzing forwarding headers from Palo Alto. It replaces manual log checks with real-time alerts and reports, restoring IP-based security policies without vendor dependency.
Key Features
- and flags them as potential policy breakers.
- User-Source Mapping: Uses header patterns to trace private IPs back to legitimate users, even behind proxies.
- Automated Alerts: Notifies teams when private IPs appear, with actionable reports linking them to user activity.
- Compliance Reports: Generates auditable logs proving all Palo Alto traffic was validated, reducing manual audit work.
User Experience
Users connect their AWS account and upload Palo Alto logs (or enable auto-fetch). The tool runs in the background, sending daily/weekly reports and alerts. Security teams gain visibility into real user sources, not just IPs, and spend less time on manual checks.
Differentiation
Unlike AWS or Palo Alto, IP Guard specifically solves the private IP mapping problem. It’s lighter than SIEM tools (no complex setup) and more accurate than manual scripts. The header-pattern matching is a proprietary method discovered by users but never automated before.
Scalability
The product scales with the user’s AWS environment. Additional seats can be added for larger teams, and modules like threat detection or IAM automation can be upsold. AWS API integrations ensure it works across all regions and accounts.
Expected Impact
Teams save 5+ hours/week on manual log checks. Security policies work as intended, reducing false positives and compliance risks. The tool prevents downtime from failed access, while automated reports improve audit readiness and incident response.