An AWS VPC endpoint serves as a gateway connecting a VPC to other AWS services, such as S3 or DynamoDB, using private IP addresses. It eliminates the need for an internet gateway, offering a more secure and efficient network connection. For example, with an Amazon S3 VPC endpoint, you establish a connection directly to the S3 service within your VPC, bypassing the public internet.
Using VPC endpoints provides several significant benefits. Firstly, it enhances security by restricting access to AWS services from within the VPC, reducing the risk of data exposure. Secondly, it optimizes network performance by minimizing latency and improving data transfer speeds. Additionally, VPC endpoints simplify network architecture by eliminating the need for complex routing configurations.