AWS Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) allows you to create a private, isolated section of the AWS cloud where you can launch your resources. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of setting up a secure VPC in AWS.
Start by logging into your AWS Management Console and navigating to the VPC dashboard. Click on "Create VPC" and provide a name for your VPC, along with the CIDR block for your VPC. This block will define the range of IP addresses for your VPC. You can also assign an IPv6 CIDR block if needed.
After creating your VPC, you need to create subnets within it. Subnets are segments of your VPC where you can place your resources. Make sure to define the CIDR blocks for each subnet, ensuring they do not overlap. It's recommended to create public and private subnets for better security.
Route tables control the traffic between subnets in your VPC and direct it to the correct destination. Create separate route tables for your public and private subnets. In the public route table, add a route to the internet gateway to allow resources in public subnets to access the internet.
Security groups act as virtual firewalls for your EC2 instances within the VPC. Define inbound and outbound rules in your security groups to control the traffic to and from your instances. For example, you can allow SSH access only from your IP address for enhanced security.
NACLs are stateless firewalls that control traffic at the subnet level. By default, all inbound and outbound traffic is allowed, but you can define custom rules to restrict access based on IP addresses, protocols, and ports. Make sure to configure NACLs for each subnet.
Once you have set up your VPC with subnets, route tables, security groups, and NACLs, you can launch your resources such as EC2 instances, RDS databases, and Lambda functions within the VPC. You can also establish VPN connections or use Direct Connect for secure access to your VPC.
Congratulations! You have successfully built a secure Virtual Private Cloud in AWS. Feel free to explore more VPC features like VPC peering, VPN gateways, and VPC endpoints to enhance the security and connectivity of your cloud environment.