Secure OpenClaw Deployments with Twingate

OpenClaw Deployment Guides

OpenClaw (formerly ClawdBot and MoltBot) is an AI-powered assistant platform that integrates with WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging services. These guides show you how to deploy OpenClaw on various cloud and on-premises platforms while securing access with Twingate’s Zero Trust architecture.

By combining OpenClaw with Twingate, you eliminate the need for public exposure, VPNs, or complex firewall configurations. All access is controlled through granular policies with built-in audit logging and optional MFA enforcement.

Why Secure Access to OpenClaw with Twingate?

Traditional deployment approaches require exposing SSH ports, managing VPN credentials, or relying on complex bastion host setups. Twingate provides a modern alternative:

• Zero Trust Access — Authenticate and authorize every connection
• No Public Ports — Complete VPC/network lockdown with no inbound access
• Audit Logging — Track all connections and resource access
• MFA Enforcement — Require multi-factor authentication for sensitive resources

Deployment Options

Choose the deployment guide that matches your infrastructure:

DigitalOcean

Architecture Overview

All OpenClaw deployments secured with Twingate follow a similar architecture:

• OpenClaw Gateway runs on localhost:18789 (not publicly accessible)
• Twingate Connector establishes an outbound-only connection to Twingate Cloud
• Team members connect via the Twingate Client with Zero Trust policies
• All traffic is encrypted end-to-end with complete audit trails
• No inbound ports are required on your infrastructure

This architecture provides defense in depth: even if a server is compromised, the Gateway remains inaccessible without Twingate authentication and authorization.

Common Setup Steps

While each deployment guide covers platform-specific details, the core Twingate setup is consistent:

• Create a Twingate Account at twingate.com/signup
• Define a Remote Network for your OpenClaw infrastructure
• Deploy a Twingate Connector on the same network as your Gateway
• Create a Resource for the OpenClaw Gateway
• Configure Resource Access to control who can reach each resource
• Install the Twingate Client on team member devices
• Connect securely without exposing any public ports

Prerequisites

Before starting any deployment, you’ll need:

• A Twingate account (free for small teams)
• Access to your chosen infrastructure platform (cloud account, servers, etc.)
• An API key for your preferred AI provider (Anthropic, OpenAI, etc.)
• Basic familiarity with the Linux/Unix command line

Security Best Practices

When deploying OpenClaw with Twingate:

• Enable MFA for all users accessing production Gateways
• Use Groups to manage access rather than individual user permissions
• Lock down inbound ports completely — no SSH, no HTTP, nothing
• Enable audit logging and regularly review connection logs
• Rotate credentials for AI provider API keys periodically
• Monitor Connector health to ensure availability
• Use private IP addresses for Resources whenever possible

Related Resources

• Twingate Connector Deployment Options
• Remote Network Best Practices
• Connector Monitoring
• Access Groups and Policies

Need Help?

For questions, troubleshooting, or community support:

• Twingate Subreddit: r/Twingate
• OpenClaw Documentation: docs.openclaw.bot

Choose your deployment platform above to get started!