Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a suite of online services offered by Amazon that make it simple for you to setup and use powerful tools to develop and operate websites, online stores, and mobile apps. AWS provides everything you need to launch and operate your web app.
Why Should You Consider AWS?
If you’re looking for flexibility, you’ll want to consider AWS. With their service, you can launch a web app in a few minutes, without needing an experienced developer. Plus, you can scale up or down the resources as needed—there’s no set plan or pricing. Also, AWS makes it simple to set up billing so you can spend only as much as you have money for.
The Essentials Of AWS
You get five free months of AWS service when you launch a new AWS account. After that, you’ll have to pay $15 per month.
To get started with AWS, you’ll need the following:
- A web browser
- An Amazon Account
- A PayPal account (optional)
- An iPhone (iOS 11 or higher)
- An Apple ID
- An Android phone (Android 4.4 or higher)
- An Android tablet (Android 4.4 or higher)
Once you have all of that, you’re ready to create an AWS app.
Create A New AWS App
To create a new AWS app, you’ll need to sign up for a new AWS account. Once you have a verified account, you can click on the + button in the top right corner of any AWS page. From there, you’ll see a dashboard with your AWS apps and links to other useful information. From this dashboard, you can create a new app or click on an app already created by you.
Create A New Website
With your new AWS app, you can create a new website in no time. Just head to the + button in the top right corner of any AWS page and select Create a new website . You’ll then be taken to a form where you can provide your website’s name, web address, and a short description. You can choose to make your website open to the public or select private for private sites.
Once you’ve provided all of that information, you can click on Create Website. Your website will then be live and visible to anyone with the link.
Get Started With A Free AWS Account
Now that you have a new AWS account, you’re going to want to make sure you have a way to login and access your dashboard. To do this, click on the Login with Amazon link at the bottom of any AWS page. From here, you can provide your username (email address) and password.
If this is your first time logging in to your AWS account, you’ll have to verify your email address by clicking on a link sent to your inbox. This will take you to a verification page where you can provide a phone number (optional) that AWS can text you if they haven’t received a text message with a link to the verification page. Once verified, you can login to your dashboard.
Make Sure You Have Everything Set Up
Now that you have a new AWS account and a website live, you’re going to want to make sure you have everything setup properly. First, head to the Dashboard area of your AWS app and click on the API Access link. From here, you can select Create API Keys for the public and private sites you’ve created. You’ll then be asked to select an access pattern. For the private site, you can select Single API Key which generates a long key pair for you. You can copy and paste this key into your Public site or leave the key as it is for individual use. You’ll then be asked to select an AWS Region.
The public site can be accessed by anyone and everyone with the link or can be restricted to a specific group of people. To allow anyone to access the site, you’ll need to select Anyone Who Likes. With Single API Key set up in the private site, you don’t have to worry about anyone else logging in and changing your settings. You can also choose to make your Public site password protected—this is especially useful if you have a link to your site because anyone can access the site but your password won’t work. To create a password, click on the Password link and then enter information as prompted.
Create A PayPal Business Account
If you want to be able to receive credit card payments through your website, you’ll need to create a PayPal business account. Just click on the Create An Account button in the top right corner of any PayPal page (not the Sign In page). From here, you can provide a short description of your business, an email address, a password, and a payment option (Visa, Mastercard, or American Express).
Pricing And Plans
AWS has three basic plans:
\- Free: This is the most popular plan and allows you to create and run websites with a limited number of domains. You’ll be given a quota of 1000 requests per month and 10 GB of storage. Requests are the actions (GET, POST, etc.) that your site performs. Storage is the space on the server where your files are stored. Your storage is free but you’re charged for the actual data you use.
\- Paid: If you need more storage and/or you want to have more than one domain, this is the plan for you. You’ll be charged $15 per month plus applicable taxes. Your storage will be unlimited and you’ll have full access to all AWS services.
\- Premium: if you need even more storage and/or you need to have a free SSL certificate (*see note below), this option is for you. You’ll be charged $15 per month plus applicable taxes. Your storage will be unlimited and you’ll have full access to all AWS services.
Important: If you go with the paid plan, you’ll need to purchase an SSL certificate for your website (*see note below). This is a security certificate that ensures the authenticity of the page containing digital transactions (e.g., credit card forms, order forms, online banking pages). Without it, users can’t be sure that they’re exchanging data with a trusted party.
While you’re on the subject of SSL certificates, it’s also important to understand what they are and why you need them. A regular (or “standard”) SSL certificate is a must for any website that processes digital transactions (e.g., credit cards, PayPal). However, not all SSL certificates are created equal, and it’s important to choose one that’s right for your needs. If your needs aren’t that great, there are options beyond the standard SSL certificate that might be better suited for your situation. For example, you might want to look at an Extended Validation Certificate or a Wildcard Certificate.
Features
Some of the features of AWS that you may find useful include: