Zero Trust Hosting
Zero trust hosting is a security model where every server has zero open inbound ports, uses outbound-only encrypted networking, and requires verification for every connection.
What is zero trust hosting?
Zero trust hosting is a security architecture where no server is trusted by default, regardless of whether it is inside or outside a network perimeter. Every connection must be authenticated, authorized, and encrypted. The core principle is simple: never trust, always verify.
In traditional hosting, servers have open ports that listen for incoming connections (SSH on port 22, web traffic on ports 80/443, application ports). These open ports are entry points that attackers can probe, scan, and exploit. Security scanners like Shodan can discover these servers within hours of deployment.
Zero trust hosting eliminates this attack surface entirely. Instead of opening ports for incoming connections, the server establishes outbound-only encrypted tunnels to a trusted edge network. There are no listening ports. Internet scanners cannot detect the server because there is nothing to detect. All traffic flows through authenticated, encrypted channels with strict access controls.
Why it matters
Every open port is a potential entry point for attackers. Traditional hosting exposes at least SSH (for management) and one or more application ports. For AI agents running OpenClaw, the default configuration exposes the gateway port to the entire internet, making the agent discoverable and accessible to anyone.
Zero trust hosting removes this entire category of risk. With no open ports, there is nothing to scan, nothing to brute-force, and nothing to exploit. The server is invisible to the public internet. This is especially important for AI agents because they typically have access to multiple services and credentials, making them high-value targets.
How ClawTrust handles this
Every ClawTrust agent server is provisioned with zero inbound ports. The firewall blocks all incoming connections. The server establishes an outbound-only encrypted tunnel to our edge network, which handles authentication, DDoS protection, and traffic routing. The OpenClaw gateway binds exclusively to the local interface, making it unreachable from any external network. Internet scanners cannot detect your agent because there is literally nothing listening. You access and manage your agent through the ClawTrust dashboard and encrypted tunnel, never through direct server connections.
Related terms
Encrypted Tunnels
Encrypted tunnels are outbound-only, encrypted network connections that replace traditional SSH and VPN access. The server connects outward, so no ports need to be open for incoming traffic.
Credential Vault
A credential vault is an encrypted storage system that keeps API keys, passwords, and tokens separate from the agent server. The agent never directly handles your credentials.
Container Isolation
Container isolation uses Docker to run AI agent processes in sandboxed environments with strict resource limits, read-only filesystems, and restricted system access. If something goes wrong inside the container, it cannot affect the host system.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'zero open ports' actually mean?
It means the server's firewall blocks every incoming connection on every port. No SSH, no HTTP, no application ports. The server only makes outbound connections through encrypted tunnels. There is nothing for an attacker to connect to.
How do you manage the server if SSH is not exposed?
Management happens through secure, authenticated channels on the control plane side. The server connects outward to the management infrastructure. There is no need for inbound SSH access.
Can my agent still communicate with messaging channels?
Yes. Your agent communicates through an outbound-only encrypted tunnel. Messages from Slack, Telegram, WhatsApp, and other channels are routed through the tunnel to your agent. The agent responds through the same tunnel. No inbound ports are needed.
Is this the same as a VPN?
It is similar in that traffic is encrypted, but the key difference is direction. A VPN typically still requires an open port for incoming connections. Zero trust hosting uses outbound-only tunnels, meaning the server initiates all connections. There are no listening ports at all.
How does this protect against port scanning attacks?
Port scanners like Shodan and Censys discover servers by probing open ports. With zero open ports, there is nothing to discover. Your agent server is effectively invisible to the public internet.
Explore further
See it in action
ClawTrust implements zero trust hosting automatically. Your agent is live in under 5 minutes.