Getting Started

Welcome to the AI Security Bootcamp hands-on lab. You'll build Zero Trust foundations from zero, then protect AI-powered applications and govern workforce AI usage using Cloudflare.

What You'll Build

Over 7 modules you will:

1. Set up Zero Trust — configure SAML IdP, reusable Access policies, and CF1 Client / WARP
2. Explore a vulnerable AI-powered e-commerce assistant
3. Detect attacks using AI Security for Apps
4. Mitigate them with WAF rules
5. Govern workforce AI usage with Gateway and DLP
6. Secure sanctioned MCP access via portal and block shadow MCP
7. Operate AI inference with AI Gateway — guardrails, dynamic routing, and cost controls

Lab Components

You'll need the following resources, all provided for you:

Component	Description
Cloudflare account & zone	A dedicated lab account with WAF, Zero Trust, and all required entitlements
Windows 11 client	A managed Windows workstation for CF1 Client / WARP enrollment
SAML identity provider	A shared SAML-based IdP with preconfigured test users
AI Shopping Assistant	A prebuilt e-commerce app with an LLM-powered chat assistant
KiwiCart MCP Server	A shared remote MCP server with read-only tools
AI Gateway Explorer	A companion app for testing AI Gateway features (M6)
Lab guide	This step-by-step guide with validation checkpoints

Your Lab Slug

Throughout this guide, you will see references to your lab slug. You can find it in the name of your Cloudflare account — it is the two-word suffix after the hyphen (e.g., ... - adjective-noun).

Lab Architecture

The lab uses two control planes across multiple traffic paths:

Inbound (AI App Protection)

You (browser) → Cloudflare WAF + AI Security for Apps → AI Shopping Assistant + LLM

Outbound (Workforce AI Governance)

Win11 client (WARP/Cloudflare One Client) → Cloudflare Gateway + DLP → Public AI Tools

Sanctioned MCP Path

MCP Inspector → MCP Portal → Cloudflare Access (auth) → KiwiCart MCP Server

Unsanctioned MCP Path (blocked)

MCP Inspector → Gateway/SWG → Direct MCP Server URL → BLOCKED

Identity & Trust Model

Layer	Component	Purpose
Identity	SAML IdP	Provides user identities for Access and MCP portal auth
Access	Reusable policies	Controls who can reach protected resources
Client	CF1 Client / WARP	Routes device traffic through Gateway for policy enforcement
Gateway	HTTP policies + DLP	Enforces AI usage governance and blocks shadow MCP
MCP Portal	AI controls	Provides sanctioned, identity-aware MCP access

What You Will Build From Zero

In M0, every attendee creates the Zero Trust foundation:

1. Configure SAML identity provider — register and test the IdP
2. Create reusable Access policies — All employees and IT admins
3. Set up CF1 Client / WARP — enroll the Windows 11 client, connect to Gateway

M4 and M5 depend on M0

Do not skip M0. The Gateway AI governance (M4) and MCP portal (M5) labs require a working identity provider, Access policies, and WARP/Cloudflare One Client connection.

Module Overview

Module	Title	Time	What You'll Do
M0	Zero Trust Foundation	35 min	Configure SAML IdP, Access policies, CF1 Client / WARP
M1	Explore & Attack	20 min	Enable AI Security for Apps, label endpoints, then send normal and adversarial prompts to the AI app
M2	AI Security — Monitor	30 min	Configure custom topics, inspect detections from M1 traffic
M3	AI Security — Mitigate	25 min	Apply WAF rules per detection type, compare before/after
M4	Zero Trust AI Governance	30 min	Gateway AI controls, DLP prompt inspection, Shadow AI
M5	Sanctioned MCP Portal	40 min	Configure MCP portal, Access policy, block direct MCP
M6	AI Gateway Operations	50 min	Create AI Gateway, guardrails, DLP, dynamic routing, caching, rate limiting, spend limits

How to Use This Guide

Each module page includes:

• Task — what you're doing in one sentence
• Why — why this matters
• Steps — numbered steps with exact dashboard paths
• Expected Result — what you should see
• Validation — checkboxes to confirm success
• Troubleshooting — common issues and fixes

Complete each module's Validation step before moving to the next module.

Prerequisites

• A laptop with a modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge)
• Your lab credentials (provided by the facilitator)
• Access to the Windows 11 VM
• Node.js 18+ to be installed (for MCP Inspector in M5) in provided Windows 11 VM

Need Help?

• Check the Troubleshooting section in each module
• Raise your hand — facilitators are available to help
• If the dashboard looks different from the screenshots, check that you're in the correct account/zone

warning

Some of the dashboard screenshots may look different from what you see in your browser. This is may due to recent updates to the Cloudflare dashboard. However the functionality and steps should remain the same. Feel free to ask help if you are stuck.