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AWS Account Setup

Setting up your AWS account properly is crucial for security, cost management, and learning success. Follow this guide to create and configure your account safely.

Creating Your AWS Account​

Step 1: Sign Up Process​

  1. Visit aws.amazon.com
  2. Click "Create an AWS Account"
  3. Provide email address and account name
  4. Choose "Personal" account type for learning
  5. Complete contact information
  6. Add payment method (required but won't be charged with Free Tier)
  7. Verify phone number
  8. Select Basic Support Plan (free)

Step 2: Account Verification​

  • Check email for verification link
  • Complete phone verification process
  • Wait for account activation (usually immediate)

Securing Your Root Account​

Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)​

1. Sign in to AWS Console
2. Click your account name → Security Credentials
3. Scroll to Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
4. Click "Assign MFA device"
5. Choose Virtual MFA device
6. Use Google Authenticator or AWS Authenticator app
7. Scan QR code and enter two consecutive codes

Create Strong Password Policy​

  • Use unique, complex password
  • Consider using password manager
  • Never share root account credentials
  • Store recovery codes securely

Understanding AWS Free Tier​

12-Month Free Tier Services​

  • EC2: 750 hours/month of t2.micro instances
  • S3: 5GB storage, 20,000 GET requests, 2,000 PUT requests
  • RDS: 750 hours/month of db.t2.micro instances
  • Lambda: 1 million requests/month
  • CloudFront: 50GB data transfer out

Always Free Services​

  • DynamoDB: 25GB storage
  • Lambda: 1 million requests/month (permanent)
  • SNS: 1 million publishes/month
  • SQS: 1 million requests/month

Free Trial Services​

  • Redshift: 2 months free
  • ElastiCache: 750 hours/month for 12 months
  • Elasticsearch: 750 hours/month for 12 months

Setting Up Billing Alerts​

Enable Billing Preferences​

1. Go to Billing Dashboard
2. Click "Billing preferences"
3. Enable "Receive PDF Invoice By Email"
4. Enable "Receive Free Tier Usage Alerts"
5. Enable "Receive Billing Alerts"

Create CloudWatch Billing Alarm​

1. Go to CloudWatch console
2. Click "Alarms" → "Create Alarm"
3. Select "Billing" → "Total Estimated Charge"
4. Set threshold (e.g., $10)
5. Configure SNS notification
6. Name your alarm and create

Installing AWS CLI​

For macOS/Linux:​

curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
unzip awscliv2.zip
sudo ./aws/install

For Windows:​

Download and run the AWS CLI MSI installer from AWS documentation.

Verify Installation:​

aws --version

Best Practices for Learning​

Cost Management​

  • Set up billing alerts immediately
  • Use Free Tier services when possible
  • Terminate resources after practice sessions
  • Monitor usage regularly

Security Practices​

  • Never use root account for daily tasks
  • Create IAM users for regular access
  • Enable MFA on all accounts
  • Use least privilege principle

Organization​

  • Use consistent naming conventions
  • Tag all resources appropriately
  • Document your learning projects
  • Keep track of created resources

Next Steps​

With your account set up and secured, you're ready to dive into Identity and Access Management (IAM) to create proper user accounts and permissions.

Troubleshooting Common Issues​

Account Verification Delays​

  • Check spam folder for verification emails
  • Ensure phone number is correct and accessible
  • Contact AWS support if delays exceed 24 hours

Payment Method Issues​

  • Ensure card has international transactions enabled
  • Try different payment method if first fails
  • Contact your bank if charges are declined

Free Tier Confusion​

  • Free Tier starts from account creation date
  • Usage resets monthly, not from signup date
  • Some services have lifetime limits, others monthly

Remember: AWS Free Tier is generous for learning, but always monitor your usage to avoid unexpected charges!