Networking and Security Architecture

EC2 instances live inside a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). Networking is not optional — it defines reachability and isolation.

Each EC2 instance:

• Resides in a subnet
• Receives a private IP address
• Can optionally receive a public IP

Security groups act as virtual firewalls. They are stateful and control inbound and outbound traffic.

Architectural best practices:

• Never open unnecessary ports.
• Use least privilege rules.
• Avoid using 0.0.0.0/0 unless required.
• Separate public-facing and private instances.

IAM roles should be attached to EC2 instances to grant permissions. Avoid embedding credentials in code or configuration files.

Why this matters:

Security misconfigurations are one of the most common causes of breaches. EC2 is powerful, but incorrectly exposed instances can lead to data compromise.

Production insight:

• Use private subnets for backend services.
• Use a load balancer in public subnets.
• Restrict SSH access.
• Use Systems Manager Session Manager instead of direct SSH when possible.

EC2 Security Principles

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What acts as a virtual firewall for EC2 instances?

IAM RoleSecurity GroupRoute TableAMI

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How EC2 instances integrate with VPC networkingHow security groups protect instancesWhy IAM roles are critical for secure accessHow to design secure EC2 deployments