How to load content from a web page into a client web server using iframe

[olsalas711]

As part of the final implementation phase of a client before go-live, the need arose to load content into an iframe. The page to be loaded in the iframe is hosted on the client's intranet with an address of the following style: http://10.10.224.125:8080/web/index.html. Exploring options, I see that a VPN could be implemented with advanced networking. I want to know what considerations should be taken into account considering that the site in AEM must remain publicly accessible and uses external web services, and the need for the VPN is only to load that private page in the iframe.

Specific questions:

* Is VPN the best solution for this case?

* What impact would the VPN have on the public accessibility of the site in AEM?

* How can the VPN be configured to only be used to load the private page in the iframe?

* Is there any other solution that can be considered?

Thanks in advance for any help you could provide us.

[TarunKumar · Accepted solution]

Hi @olsalas711 ,

With the Virtual Private Network enabled, AEM code and configuration can use them to make calls to external services via the VPN. There are two flavors of external calls that AEM treats differently:

1. HTTP/HTTPS calls to external services
   • Includes HTTP/HTTPS calls made to services running on ports other than the standard 80 or 443 ports.
2. non-HTTP/HTTPS calls to external services
   • Includes any non-HTTP calls, such as connections with Mail servers, SQL databases, or services that run on other non-HTTP/HTTPS protocols.

HTTP/HTTPS requests from AEM on standard ports (80/443) are allowed by default but they will not use the VPN connection if not configured appropriately as described below.

For more details on it you can check:
https://experienceleague.adobe.com/docs/experience-manager-learn/cloud-service/networking/vpn.html?l...

Thanks
Tarun

[arunpatidar]

Loading content from a web page into a client's web server using an iframe involves several considerations to ensure security, performance, and a positive user experience. Here are important things to consider:

1. Security Considerations:

   • Content Security Policy (CSP): Implement a strong Content Security Policy to control which resources can be loaded and executed by the iframe. This helps prevent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

   • Origin Restrictions: Ensure that the iframe source is from a trusted and secure origin to prevent potential security vulnerabilities.

   • X-Frame-Options Header: Set the X-Frame-Options header on the server to control whether the content can be embedded in an iframe. This header helps prevent clickjacking attacks.

   • Cross-Origin Communication: If the content in the iframe needs to communicate with the parent page or vice versa, consider using techniques such as Cross-Origin Communication (postMessage).

2. Performance Considerations:

   • Lazy Loading: Consider lazy loading the iframe content to improve initial page load performance. Load the iframe content only when it is needed, such as when a user interacts with a specific section of the page.

   • Optimized Content: Ensure that the content within the iframe is optimized for performance. Compress images, minify JavaScript and CSS, and minimize the number of requests.

3. Responsive Design:

   • Responsive Content: Ensure that the content within the iframe is responsive and adapts well to different screen sizes. This is crucial for providing a positive user experience on various devices.

   • Viewport Meta Tag: Include the viewport meta tag within the iframe to control the layout and scaling on mobile devices.

4. User Experience:

   • Loading Indicator: Provide a loading indicator or message within the iframe to inform users that content is being loaded. This helps manage user expectations and reduces frustration.

   • Error Handling: Implement proper error handling to manage scenarios where the iframe content fails to load. Display informative error messages to users when necessary.

5. Browser Compatibility:

   • Cross-Browser Testing: Test the iframe functionality across different browsers to ensure consistent behavior. Address any compatibility issues that may arise.

   • IE Support: If supporting Internet Explorer, be aware that certain features or security headers may have different implementations or may not be supported.

6. Legal and Ethical Considerations:

   • Content Ownership: Ensure that you have the legal rights to embed and display the content from the external website within your iframe.

   • Terms of Service: Review and comply with the terms of service of the external website. Some websites may have restrictions on how their content can be embedded.

Always stay informed about the latest web security best practices and standards, as the web landscape evolves, and new security considerations may emerge.

[Origin-Data]

In this case, you should consider the following points:

1. Is VPN the best solution for this scenario?

   • VPN can be a suitable solution for loading the private page within an iframe, as it provides secure access to the internal network. However, you may also consider other options such as using a proxy server or implementing access control based on authentication to restrict access to the private page.

2. Impact of VPN on public access to AEM sites

   • If you configure the VPN to be used solely for loading the private page within the iframe and set up the network routing correctly, the public access to AEM sites should not be affected. It is essential to ensure that configuring the VPN does not have adverse effects on public access.

3. How to configure VPN to be used only for loading the private page within the iframe?

   • You can achieve this by configuring network routing or a proxy server. The specific configuration will depend on the VPN solution you are using and your network architecture. Typically, you would need to configure both the VPN server and client so that only specific requests pass through the VPN for access.

4. Other alternative solutions to consider

   • Apart from VPN, you may explore using a proxy server, access control based on authentication, or other security access control technologies to enforce access control for the private page. These methods might be more lightweight and easier to integrate into your existing infrastructure.

Before implementing any solution, it is advisable to collaborate with your network and security teams to ensure that the chosen approach aligns with the company's security policies and requirements.