Overview
Overview
Serverless VPN by Waltsoft runs on AWS Lambda MicroVMs - Firecracker-based virtual machines that terminate when you disconnect, costing nothing until you reconnect. Your traffic exits from AWS IP addresses through your own dedicated MicroVM, giving you privacy without shared VPN servers.
Unlike traditional VPN subscriptions that charge monthly whether you use them or not, or self-hosted EC2 VPNs that run 24/7, Serverless VPN costs nothing when disconnected. The MicroVM terminates completely - no compute, no storage, no ongoing charges. You pay only a software license plus your own AWS compute costs when active.
Security Architecture
All traffic between your machine and the Lambda MicroVM flows through a WebSocket Secure (WSS) tunnel using TLS encryption. Inside the MicroVM, a SOCKS5 proxy (microsocks) routes your TCP traffic to the internet via AWS default egress - no VPC or NAT Gateway needed.
Ephemeral by design: When you disconnect, the MicroVM terminates completely. No logs, DNS queries, session artifacts, or traffic data persist after termination. All data stays within your own AWS account - Waltsoft never sees or stores your traffic.
CloudTrail auditable: All Lambda MicroVM invocations are logged in your AWS CloudTrail, providing enterprise-grade audit trails under your control.
Cost Comparison
For a developer who connects 2 hours per day on weekdays, the active Lambda compute cost is approximately a few cents per session. Compare this to an always-on t3.micro EC2 VPN instance or a traditional VPN subscription charging a fixed monthly fee regardless of usage. The savings compound for intermittent users who need VPN access for specific tasks rather than 24/7 connectivity.
Use Cases
- Remote developers: Route API calls through a consistent AWS IP for allowlisting on third-party services, then disconnect when done.
- Security researchers: Browse from a disposable, ephemeral MicroVM to avoid fingerprinting. Each session starts fresh from a snapshot with no prior state.
- Compliance-conscious teams: Auditable egress for regulated data access with full CloudTrail logging, deployed entirely within your own AWS account boundary.
Key Features
- Zero idle cost - MicroVM terminates when you disconnect. No compute, no storage, no charges until you reconnect.
- ~20-second cold start - fresh MicroVM launches from snapshot each session.
- 5 AWS region exit points - us-east-1, us-east-2, us-west-2, eu-west-1, ap-northeast-1.
- No shared infrastructure - your own dedicated MicroVM per session. No IP reputation risk.
- 8-hour max sessions - designed for work hours. Run vpn.sh start again for a new session.
- One-command operation - ./vpn.sh start connects, ./vpn.sh stop terminates.
- Runs in your AWS account - all infrastructure, logs, and traffic remain under your ownership.
How It Works
- Subscribe and deploy the CloudFormation template in your AWS account
- Download vpn.sh and install wstunnel (one-time setup, ~5 min)
- Run ./vpn.sh start - all traffic routes through AWS (~20s cold start)
- Run ./vpn.sh stop - MicroVM terminates, back to normal IP
Getting Started
Deployment takes approximately 5 minutes using the provided CloudFormation template. A detailed setup guide and architecture documentation are available to walk you through the process. If you would like a guided deployment walkthrough, contact to schedule a session.
Requirements
- AWS account with Lambda MicroVMs access (GA in 5 regions listed above)
- AWS CLI v2.27+ (brew upgrade awscli)
- macOS or Linux (Windows via WSL2)
- wstunnel binary (install instructions provided)
Good to Know
- Session VPN, not 24/7 - designed for work sessions with 8-hour max per session.
- SOCKS5 proxy routes TCP traffic (web, APIs). Does not tunnel UDP.
- Streaming services (Netflix, Disney+) may block AWS IP addresses.
- Runs on Graviton ARM64 - Amazon Linux 2023.
- Waltsoft does not collect, store, or inspect any user traffic.
Highlights
- Zero idle cost with per-second billing when active - MicroVM terminates completely on disconnect. No compute, no storage, no charges until you reconnect. For a developer connecting 2 hours per day, active compute costs are minimal compared to an always-on EC2 VPN instance or a fixed monthly VPN subscription that charges whether used or not.
- Dedicated Firecracker MicroVM per user in your own AWS account - no shared servers, no IP reputation risk, no third-party data exposure. All infrastructure, logs, and traffic remain under your ownership. Full CloudTrail auditability provides enterprise-grade audit trails for compliance-conscious teams working with regulated data.
- One-command operation with ~20-second cold start from snapshot - run ./vpn.sh start for a fresh ephemeral MicroVM with no prior state. Choose from 5 AWS region exit points (us-east-1, us-east-2, us-west-2, eu-west-1, ap-northeast-1). Run ./vpn.sh stop and the MicroVM terminates instantly. Deploy in ~5 minutes via CloudFormation.
Details
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Features and programs
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Pricing
Dimension | Description | Cost/unit |
|---|---|---|
VPN Subscription | Monthly VPN software license | $5.00 |
Vendor refund policy
Full refund within 7 days of purchase if product does not meet described functionality.
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Delivery details
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Additional details
Usage instructions
See https://serverless-vpn.waltsoft.net for step-by-step guide.
Resources
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Support
Vendor support
Email support at support@waltsoft.net . Response within 24 hours.
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