---
title: About the aws_vpc Resource
---

# aws_vpc

Use the `aws_vpc` InSpec audit resource to test properties of a single AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

To test properties of all or multiple VPCs, use the `aws_vpcs` resource.

A VPC is a networking construct that provides an isolated environment.  A VPC is contained in a geographic region, but spans availability zones in that region.  Within a VPC, you may have multiple subnets, internet gateways, and other networking resources.  Computing resources such as EC2 instances reside on subnets within the VPC.

Each VPC is uniquely identified by its VPC ID.  In addition, each VPC has a non-unique CIDR IP Address range (such as 10.0.0.0/16) which it manages. 

Every AWS account has at least one VPC, the "default" VPC, in every region.

<br>

## Syntax

An `aws_vpc` resource block identifies a VPC by id.  If no VPC ID is provided, the default VPC is used.

    # Find the default VPC
    describe aws_vpc do
      it { should exist }
    end

    # Find a VPC by ID
    describe aws_vpc('vpc-12345678') do
      it { should exist }
    end

    # Hash syntax for ID
    describe aws_vpc(vpc_id: 'vpc-12345678') do
      it { should exist }
    end

<br>

## Examples

The following examples show how to use this InSpec audit resource.

### Test that a VPC does not exist

    describe aws_vpc('vpc-87654321') do
      it { should_not exist }
    end

### Test the CIDR of a named VPC

    describe aws_vpc('vpc-87654321') do
      its('cidr_block') { should cmp '10.0.0.0/16' }
    end

<br>

## Matchers

This InSpec audit resource has the following special matchers. For a full list of available matchers (such as `exist`) please visit our [matchers page](https://www.inspec.io/docs/reference/matchers/).

### be_default

The test will pass if the identified VPC is the default VPC for the region.

    describe aws_vpc('vpc-87654321') do
      it { should be_default }
    end

## Properties

### cidr_block

The IPv4 address range that is managed by the VPC.

    describe aws_vpc('vpc-87654321') do
      its('cidr_block') { should cmp '10.0.0.0/16' }
    end

### dhcp\_options\_id

The ID of the set of DHCP options you've associated with the VPC (or `default` if the default options are associated with the VPC).

    describe aws_vpc do
      its ('dhcp_options_id') { should eq 'dopt-a94671d0' }
    end

### state

The state of the VPC (`pending` | `available`).

    describe aws_vpc do
      its ('state') { should eq 'available' }
    end

### vpc_id

The ID of the VPC.

    describe aws_vpc do
      its('vpc_id') { should eq 'vpc-87654321' }
    end

### instance_tenancy

The allowed tenancy of instances launched into the VPC.

    describe aws_vpc do
      its ('instance_tenancy') { should eq 'default' }
    end