As a beginner navigating Amazon Web Services (AWS), you’ll likely come across numerous features and settings that can be overwhelming at first. When I started, there were a few key aspects of AWS that I wish I’d known sooner—tips that could have saved me time, and money, and sidestepped potential security pitfalls. Here are five essential tips to help you confidently kick off your AWS journey!
1. Get Familiar with the AWS Free Tier
A lot of AWS newcomers worry about running up unexpected costs, but thankfully, AWS offers a free tier that provides a range of services at no charge. There are three categories in the free tier:
Free Trials – temporary access to premium features.
12-Month Free – access to core services, such as EC2 and S3, for the first 12 months.
Always Free – services that remain free even after the first year.
For example, EC2 (Amazon’s cloud servers) is available for free in a limited capacity, specifically the T2 and T3 micro instances. This should be enough for basic computing needs, allowing you to gain valuable experience with AWS’s infrastructure before needing to pay. Remember to read the details, as some limitations apply.
2. Set Up an AWS Budget
One of the most valuable tools in managing AWS expenses is setting up a budget. It’s all too easy to forget about an active instance or service, leading to surprise charges. AWS Budgets can help you set spending limits, so you’ll get alerts when nearing your monthly budget. Here’s how to set one up:
Go to your AWS Console and navigate to Budgets.
Select Create a Budget and choose a Monthly Cost budget.
Enter the monthly amount you want to limit, add your email for notifications, and set thresholds for alerts (like when you’ve used 85% or 100% of your budget).
Setting a budget helps you keep your account usage within affordable limits, especially when you’re learning and experimenting.
3. Monitor Spending with Cost Explorer
AWS’s Cost Explorer is a fantastic tool for keeping tabs on your spending, showing you exactly where your money is going across different services. Cost Explorer provides breakdowns by date, service, region, and more. Here’s how to get started:
Go to Billing and Cost Management in the AWS Console and select Cost Explorer.
Choose a date range and filter by services (e.g., EC2, S3) or group by specific parameters like Region or Instance Type.
Hover over the spending bars to see details and drill down by day for a granular view.
By regularly checking Cost Explorer, you can quickly identify any unexpected charges and adjust your usage to avoid overruns.
4. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
AWS accounts are highly valuable targets, making security critical from day one. Your root account has unrestricted access, which could lead to severe consequences if compromised. To protect it, enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your root account:
Navigate to Identity and Access Management (IAM) in your AWS Console.
Select My Security Credentials and find the Multi-Factor Authentication section.
Follow the instructions to enable MFA using an authenticator app or a hardware security key.
Setting up MFA reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Once it’s enabled, you’ll want to avoid using the root account for daily tasks. Instead, create an admin user and grant only the necessary permissions—following AWS’s principle of least privilege to enhance security.
5. Use IAM Roles and the Principle of Least Privilege
As you continue working in AWS, avoid using the root account for daily activities. Set up users with the minimum required permissions based on their role:
In the IAM Console, create new users and assign policies that limit their access to only what they need.
For instance, if a user only needs to read S3 data, grant them AmazonS3ReadOnlyAccess rather than full administrative privileges.
By following this principle, you’ll protect sensitive parts of your AWS infrastructure, especially when working with other users or applications.
These five tips will give you a solid foundation for exploring and working with AWS. By leveraging the AWS Free Tier, keeping an eye on costs, and prioritizing security, you’ll set yourself up for a smooth and cost-effective AWS journey. Happy cloud computing!
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