diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
index cd6e324ecf788..e1d78b774450d 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/README.md
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ The following is a qualitative diagram of the various possible components involv
 
 ```text
  +-----------------------------------------------+               +-----------------+
- |                 EKS Cluster                   |    kubectl    |                 |
- |-----------------------------------------------|<-------------+| Kubectl Handler |
+  | EKS Cluster | kubectl |  |
+  | ----------- |<-------------+| Kubectl Handler |
  |                                               |               |                 |
  |                                               |               +-----------------+
  | +--------------------+    +-----------------+ |
@@ -539,16 +539,21 @@ If the endpoint does not expose private access (via `EndpointAccess.PUBLIC`) **o
 
 #### Cluster Handler
 
-The `ClusterHandler` is a Lambda function responsible to interact with the EKS API in order to control the cluster lifecycle. To provision this function inside the VPC, set the `placeClusterHandlerInVpc` property to `true`. This will place the function inside the private subnets of the VPC based on the selection strategy specified in the [`vpcSubnets`](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/api/latest/docs/@aws-cdk_aws-eks.Cluster.html#vpcsubnetsspan-classapi-icon-api-icon-experimental-titlethis-api-element-is-experimental-it-may-change-without-noticespan) property.
+The `ClusterHandler` is a set of Lambda functions (`onEventHandler`, `isCompleteHandler`) responsible for interacting with the EKS API in order to control the cluster lifecycle. To provision these functions inside the VPC, set the `placeClusterHandlerInVpc` property to `true`. This will place the functions inside the private subnets of the VPC based on the selection strategy specified in the [`vpcSubnets`](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/api/latest/docs/@aws-cdk_aws-eks.Cluster.html#vpcsubnetsspan-classapi-icon-api-icon-experimental-titlethis-api-element-is-experimental-it-may-change-without-noticespan) property.
 
-You can configure the environment of this function by specifying it at cluster instantiation. For example, this can be useful in order to configure an http proxy:
+You can configure the environment of the Cluster Handler functions by specifying it at cluster instantiation. For example, this can be useful in order to configure an http proxy:
 
 ```ts
 const cluster = new eks.Cluster(this, 'hello-eks', {
   version: eks.KubernetesVersion.V1_21,
   clusterHandlerEnvironment: {
-    'http_proxy': 'http://proxy.myproxy.com'
-  }
+    https_proxy: 'http://proxy.myproxy.com'
+  },
+  /**
+   * If the proxy is not open publicly, you can pass a security group to the
+   * Cluster Handler Lambdas so that it can reach the proxy.
+   */
+  clusterHandlerSecurityGroup: proxyInstanceSecurityGroup
 });
 ```
 
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/common.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/common.ts
index 8f563de833bf6..21cf958df5a68 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/common.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/common.ts
@@ -41,12 +41,6 @@ export abstract class ResourceHandler {
   }
 
   public onEvent() {
-    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports, import/no-extraneous-dependencies
-    const ProxyAgent: any = require('proxy-agent');
-    aws.config.update({
-      httpOptions: { agent: new ProxyAgent() },
-    });
-
     switch (this.requestType) {
       case 'Create': return this.onCreate();
       case 'Update': return this.onUpdate();
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/index.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/index.ts
index e7fc357846259..258f5d8b04545 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/index.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-handler/index.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,13 @@ import { EksClient } from './common';
 import * as consts from './consts';
 import { FargateProfileResourceHandler } from './fargate';
 
+// eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-require-imports, import/no-extraneous-dependencies
+const ProxyAgent = require('proxy-agent');
+
 aws.config.logger = console;
+aws.config.update({
+  httpOptions: { agent: new ProxyAgent() },
+});
 
 let eks: aws.EKS | undefined;
 
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-provider.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-provider.ts
index f425b0a1eaba6..9bb65be4f56b2 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-provider.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource-provider.ts
@@ -36,11 +36,18 @@ export interface ClusterResourceProviderProps {
   readonly environment?: { [key: string]: string };
 
   /**
-    * An AWS Lambda layer that includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`.
-    *
-    * If not defined, a default layer will be used.
-    */
+   * An AWS Lambda layer that includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`.
+   *
+   * If not defined, a default layer will be used.
+   */
   readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
+
+  /**
+   * The security group to associate with the functions.
+   *
+   * @default - No security group.
+   */
+  readonly securityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -66,6 +73,9 @@ export class ClusterResourceProvider extends NestedStack {
   private constructor(scope: Construct, id: string, props: ClusterResourceProviderProps) {
     super(scope as CoreConstruct, id);
 
+    // The NPM dependency proxy-agent is required in order to support proxy routing with the AWS JS SDK.
+    const nodeProxyAgentLayer = new NodeProxyAgentLayer(this, 'NodeProxyAgentLayer');
+
     const onEvent = new lambda.Function(this, 'OnEventHandler', {
       code: lambda.Code.fromAsset(HANDLER_DIR),
       description: 'onEvent handler for EKS cluster resource provider',
@@ -75,24 +85,22 @@ export class ClusterResourceProvider extends NestedStack {
       timeout: Duration.minutes(1),
       vpc: props.subnets ? props.vpc : undefined,
       vpcSubnets: props.subnets ? { subnets: props.subnets } : undefined,
+      securityGroups: props.securityGroup ? [props.securityGroup] : undefined,
+      // Allow user to override the layer.
+      layers: props.onEventLayer ? [props.onEventLayer] : [nodeProxyAgentLayer],
     });
 
-    // Allow user to customize the layer
-    if (!props.onEventLayer) {
-      // `NodeProxyAgentLayer` provides `proxy-agent` which is needed to configure `aws-sdk-js` with a user provided proxy.
-      onEvent.addLayers(new NodeProxyAgentLayer(this, 'NodeProxyAgentLayer'));
-    } else {
-      onEvent.addLayers(props.onEventLayer);
-    }
-
     const isComplete = new lambda.Function(this, 'IsCompleteHandler', {
       code: lambda.Code.fromAsset(HANDLER_DIR),
       description: 'isComplete handler for EKS cluster resource provider',
       runtime: HANDLER_RUNTIME,
+      environment: props.environment,
       handler: 'index.isComplete',
       timeout: Duration.minutes(1),
       vpc: props.subnets ? props.vpc : undefined,
       vpcSubnets: props.subnets ? { subnets: props.subnets } : undefined,
+      securityGroups: props.securityGroup ? [props.securityGroup] : undefined,
+      layers: [nodeProxyAgentLayer],
     });
 
     this.provider = new cr.Provider(this, 'Provider', {
@@ -102,6 +110,7 @@ export class ClusterResourceProvider extends NestedStack {
       queryInterval: Duration.minutes(1),
       vpc: props.subnets ? props.vpc : undefined,
       vpcSubnets: props.subnets ? { subnets: props.subnets } : undefined,
+      securityGroups: props.securityGroup ? [props.securityGroup] : undefined,
     });
 
     props.adminRole.grant(onEvent.role!, 'sts:AssumeRole');
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource.ts
index 88f3cd0138344..ed0852338a527 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster-resource.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export interface ClusterResourceProps {
   readonly subnets?: ec2.ISubnet[];
   readonly secretsEncryptionKey?: kms.IKey;
   readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
+  readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ export class ClusterResource extends CoreConstruct {
       vpc: props.vpc,
       environment: props.environment,
       onEventLayer: props.onEventLayer,
+      securityGroup: props.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup,
     });
 
     const resource = new CustomResource(this, 'Resource', {
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster.ts
index c1d00a9dcd767..2c762ab666327 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/lib/cluster.ts
@@ -130,10 +130,21 @@ export interface ICluster extends IResource, ec2.IConnectable {
   readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
 
   /**
-    * An AWS Lambda layer that includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`.
-    *
-    * If not defined, a default layer will be used.
-    */
+   * A security group to associate with the Cluster Handler's Lambdas.
+   * The Cluster Handler's Lambdas are responsible for calling AWS's EKS API.
+   *
+   * Requires `placeClusterHandlerInVpc` to be set to true.
+   *
+   * @default - No security group.
+   * @attribute
+   */
+  readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
+
+  /**
+   * An AWS Lambda layer that includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`.
+   *
+   * If not defined, a default layer will be used.
+   */
   readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
 
   /**
@@ -309,6 +320,14 @@ export interface ClusterAttributes {
    */
   readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
 
+  /**
+   * A security group id to associate with the Cluster Handler's Lambdas.
+   * The Cluster Handler's Lambdas are responsible for calling AWS's EKS API.
+   *
+   * @default - No security group.
+   */
+  readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroupId?: string;
+
   /**
    * An AWS Lambda Layer which includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`. This layer
    * is used by the onEvent handler to route AWS SDK requests through a proxy.
@@ -452,13 +471,6 @@ export interface ClusterOptions extends CommonClusterOptions {
    */
   readonly kubectlEnvironment?: { [key: string]: string };
 
-  /**
-   * Custom environment variables when interacting with the EKS endpoint to manage the cluster lifecycle.
-   *
-   * @default - No environment variables.
-   */
-  readonly clusterHandlerEnvironment?: { [key: string]: string };
-
   /**
    * An AWS Lambda Layer which includes `kubectl`, Helm and the AWS CLI.
    *
@@ -491,26 +503,40 @@ export interface ClusterOptions extends CommonClusterOptions {
   readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
 
   /**
-   * An AWS Lambda Layer which includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`.
+   * Custom environment variables when interacting with the EKS endpoint to manage the cluster lifecycle.
+   *
+   * @default - No environment variables.
+   */
+  readonly clusterHandlerEnvironment?: { [key: string]: string };
+
+  /**
+   * A security group to associate with the Cluster Handler's Lambdas.
+   * The Cluster Handler's Lambdas are responsible for calling AWS's EKS API.
+   *
+   * Requires `placeClusterHandlerInVpc` to be set to true.
+   *
+   * @default - No security group.
+   */
+  readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
+
+  /**
+   * An AWS Lambda Layer which includes the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`. This layer
+   * is used by the onEvent handler to route AWS SDK requests through a proxy.
    *
    * By default, the provider will use the layer included in the
    * "aws-lambda-layer-node-proxy-agent" SAR application which is available in all
    * commercial regions.
    *
-   * To deploy the layer locally, visit
-   * https://github.com/aws-samples/aws-lambda-layer-node-proxy-agent/blob/master/cdk/README.md
-   * for instructions on how to prepare the .zip file and then define it in your
-   * app as follows:
+   * To deploy the layer locally define it in your app as follows:
    *
    * ```ts
-   * const layer = new lambda.LayerVersion(this, 'node-proxy-agent-layer', {
+   * const layer = new lambda.LayerVersion(this, 'proxy-agent-layer', {
    *   code: lambda.Code.fromAsset(`${__dirname}/layer.zip`)),
-   *   compatibleRuntimes: [lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_14_X]
+   *   compatibleRuntimes: [lambda.Runtime.NODEJS_12_X]
    * })
    * ```
    *
-   * @default - the layer provided by the `aws-lambda-layer-node-proxy-agent` SAR app.
-   * @see https://github.com/aws-samples/aws-lambda-layer-node-proxy-agent
+   * @default - a layer bundled with this module.
    */
   readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
 
@@ -749,6 +775,7 @@ abstract class ClusterBase extends Resource implements ICluster {
   public abstract readonly kubectlSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
   public abstract readonly kubectlPrivateSubnets?: ec2.ISubnet[];
   public abstract readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
+  public abstract readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
   public abstract readonly prune: boolean;
   public abstract readonly openIdConnectProvider: iam.IOpenIdConnectProvider;
   public abstract readonly awsAuth: AwsAuth;
@@ -902,7 +929,7 @@ abstract class ClusterBase extends Resource implements ICluster {
     // cluster or if `mapRole` is set to false. By default this should happen.
     let mapRole = options.mapRole ?? true;
     if (mapRole && !(this instanceof Cluster)) {
-    // do the mapping...
+      // do the mapping...
       Annotations.of(autoScalingGroup).addWarning('Auto-mapping aws-auth role for imported cluster is not supported, please map role manually');
       mapRole = false;
     }
@@ -1099,11 +1126,21 @@ export class Cluster extends ClusterBase {
    */
   public readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
 
+  /**
+   * A security group to associate with the Cluster Handler's Lambdas.
+   * The Cluster Handler's Lambdas are responsible for calling AWS's EKS API.
+   *
+   * Requires `placeClusterHandlerInVpc` to be set to true.
+   *
+   * @default - No security group.
+   */
+  public readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup;
+
   /**
    * The AWS Lambda layer that contains the NPM dependency `proxy-agent`. If
    * undefined, a SAR app that contains this layer will be used.
    */
-  public readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
+  readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
 
   /**
    * Determines if Kubernetes resources can be pruned automatically.
@@ -1188,9 +1225,11 @@ export class Cluster extends ClusterBase {
     this.endpointAccess = props.endpointAccess ?? EndpointAccess.PUBLIC_AND_PRIVATE;
     this.kubectlEnvironment = props.kubectlEnvironment;
     this.kubectlLayer = props.kubectlLayer;
-    this.onEventLayer = props.onEventLayer;
     this.kubectlMemory = props.kubectlMemory;
 
+    this.onEventLayer = props.onEventLayer;
+    this.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup = props.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup;
+
     const privateSubnets = this.selectPrivateSubnets().slice(0, 16);
     const publicAccessDisabled = !this.endpointAccess._config.publicAccess;
     const publicAccessRestricted = !publicAccessDisabled
@@ -1215,6 +1254,10 @@ export class Cluster extends ClusterBase {
       throw new Error('Cannot place cluster handler in the VPC since no private subnets could be selected');
     }
 
+    if (props.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup && !placeClusterHandlerInVpc) {
+      throw new Error('Cannot specify clusterHandlerSecurityGroup without placeClusterHandlerInVpc set to true');
+    }
+
     const resource = this._clusterResource = new ClusterResource(this, 'Resource', {
       name: this.physicalName,
       environment: props.clusterHandlerEnvironment,
@@ -1241,6 +1284,7 @@ export class Cluster extends ClusterBase {
       secretsEncryptionKey: props.secretsEncryptionKey,
       vpc: this.vpc,
       subnets: placeClusterHandlerInVpc ? privateSubnets : undefined,
+      clusterHandlerSecurityGroup: this.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup,
       onEventLayer: this.onEventLayer,
     });
 
@@ -1827,8 +1871,9 @@ class ImportedCluster extends ClusterBase {
   public readonly kubectlSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup | undefined;
   public readonly kubectlPrivateSubnets?: ec2.ISubnet[] | undefined;
   public readonly kubectlLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
-  public readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
   public readonly kubectlMemory?: Size;
+  public readonly clusterHandlerSecurityGroup?: ec2.ISecurityGroup | undefined;
+  public readonly onEventLayer?: lambda.ILayerVersion;
   public readonly prune: boolean;
 
   // so that `clusterSecurityGroup` on `ICluster` can be configured without optionality, avoiding users from having
@@ -1845,8 +1890,9 @@ class ImportedCluster extends ClusterBase {
     this.kubectlEnvironment = props.kubectlEnvironment;
     this.kubectlPrivateSubnets = props.kubectlPrivateSubnetIds ? props.kubectlPrivateSubnetIds.map((subnetid, index) => ec2.Subnet.fromSubnetId(this, `KubectlSubnet${index}`, subnetid)) : undefined;
     this.kubectlLayer = props.kubectlLayer;
-    this.onEventLayer = props.onEventLayer;
     this.kubectlMemory = props.kubectlMemory;
+    this.clusterHandlerSecurityGroup = props.clusterHandlerSecurityGroupId ? ec2.SecurityGroup.fromSecurityGroupId(this, 'ClusterHandlerSecurityGroup', props.clusterHandlerSecurityGroupId) : undefined;
+    this.onEventLayer = props.onEventLayer;
     this.prune = props.prune ?? true;
 
     let i = 1;
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/package.json b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/package.json
index e5c7869f9bc13..35db07123cae8 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/package.json
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/package.json
@@ -93,7 +93,6 @@
     "@aws-cdk/aws-iam": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-kms": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda": "0.0.0",
-    "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda-nodejs": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-ssm": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/core": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/custom-resources": "0.0.0",
@@ -113,7 +112,6 @@
     "@aws-cdk/aws-iam": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-kms": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda": "0.0.0",
-    "@aws-cdk/aws-lambda-nodejs": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/aws-ssm": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/core": "0.0.0",
     "@aws-cdk/custom-resources": "0.0.0",
diff --git a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/cluster.test.ts b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/cluster.test.ts
index 295092509ffd2..63a17d9c5d64d 100644
--- a/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/cluster.test.ts
+++ b/packages/@aws-cdk/aws-eks/test/cluster.test.ts
@@ -38,6 +38,25 @@ describe('cluster', () => {
     expect(template.Resources.OnEventHandler42BEBAE0.Properties.Environment).toEqual({ Variables: { foo: 'bar' } });
   });
 
+  test('can specify security group to cluster resource handler', () => {
+    const { stack, vpc } = testFixture();
+    const securityGroup = new ec2.SecurityGroup(stack, 'ProxyInstanceSG', {
+      vpc,
+      allowAllOutbound: false,
+    });
+
+    new eks.Cluster(stack, 'Cluster', {
+      version: CLUSTER_VERSION,
+      placeClusterHandlerInVpc: true,
+      clusterHandlerSecurityGroup: securityGroup,
+    });
+
+    const nested = stack.node.tryFindChild('@aws-cdk/aws-eks.ClusterResourceProvider') as cdk.NestedStack;
+
+    const template = SynthUtils.toCloudFormation(nested);
+    expect(template.Resources.OnEventHandler42BEBAE0.Properties.VpcConfig.SecurityGroupIds).toEqual([{ Ref: 'referencetoStackProxyInstanceSG80B79D87GroupId' }]);
+  });
+
   test('throws when trying to place cluster handlers in a vpc with no private subnets', () => {
     const { stack } = testFixture();
 
@@ -55,6 +74,21 @@ describe('cluster', () => {
 
   });
 
+  test('throws when provided `clusterHandlerSecurityGroup` without `placeClusterHandlerInVpc: true`', () => {
+    const { stack, vpc } = testFixture();
+    const securityGroup = new ec2.SecurityGroup(stack, 'ProxyInstanceSG', {
+      vpc,
+      allowAllOutbound: false,
+    });
+
+    expect(() => {
+      new eks.Cluster(stack, 'Cluster', {
+        version: CLUSTER_VERSION,
+        clusterHandlerSecurityGroup: securityGroup,
+      });
+    }).toThrow(/Cannot specify clusterHandlerSecurityGroup without placeClusterHandlerInVpc set to true/);
+  });
+
   describe('imported Vpc from unparseable list tokens', () => {
     let stack: cdk.Stack;
     let vpc: ec2.IVpc;