Building a Virtual Private Cloud on AWS Cloud
Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs) are becoming increasingly popular for their ability to provide a secure, flexible, and scalable networking environment in the cloud. The following is a step-by-step guide to setting up a VPC service and deploying a web server using the Amazon Web Services (AWS) platform.
oneA virtual private cloud (VPC) is a secure, isolated part of a public cloud where users can configure and manage resources in a virtual network environment. It provides a logically independent network space on public cloud platforms (such as AWS, Azure or Google Cloud), allowing users to launch, control and manage various cloud resources, including virtual machines, databases, storage and applications. Figure 1 provides a brief overview of VPC.
Key differences between VPC and private cloud
VPCs are virtual networks in the public cloud that provide scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency while still providing strong security and isolation. It relies on a public cloud provider’s infrastructure and is a good choice for organizations looking for a balance between cost, scalability, and security. A private cloud is a dedicated environment designed for a single organization, providing maximum control, customization and security. Table 1 lists the key differences between VPC and private cloud.
Table 1: Differences between VPC and private cloud
| standard | Virtual Private Cloud (VPN) | private cloud |
| definition | A dedicated portion of the public cloud that allocates resources in a virtual network environment. | A dedicated cloud environment owned or operated by a single organization. |
| Infrastructure ownership | The infrastructure is owned and managed by public cloud providers (e.g. AWS, Azure, GCP). | The infrastructure is owned and managed by the organization itself. |
| Resource allocation | Resources are shared among multiple tenants but isolated in private virtual networks. | Resources are dedicated to a single organization, providing complete environmental control. |
| cost structure | Pay-as-you-go strategies reduce upfront capital costs. | Requires significant initial investment and ongoing expenditure on infrastructure and hardware maintenance. |
| Security and compliance | It provides a high level of security through network isolation, encryption, and access control, but in a shared public cloud. | It provides the highest level of security because all resources are dedicated and controlled by a single organization. It is suitable for sensitive data and compliance requirements. |
| Use cases | For businesses looking for a cost-effective, scalable solution with a level of security and control. Commonly used in web applications, testing and development environments. | Ideal for organizations with strict compliance and security requirements, such as the healthcare, financial and government sectors. |
Due to its flexibility, security, and scalability, VPC has multiple use cases across different industries and applications (Figure 2).
Deploy VPC and web server services on AWS cloud
Creating a VPC and running a web server in the AWS cloud requires providing a secure and independent network environment for applications. The following are step-by-step instructions for setting up VPC and web servers on the Amazon AWS cloud computing platform.
Step 1: Deploy a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in an experimental setting
Setting up a virtual private cloud (VPC) is easy with Amazon VPC. A VPC can belong to multiple AWS Regions, as shown in Figure 3.
Step 2: Create and configure VPC settings
We first set up the VPC with the name “LAB VPC Aditya Bhardwaj”. Then configure the IPV4 and IPV6 network segment addresses, as shown in Figure 4.
Step 3: Create a VPC subnet
Users can create subnets from the VPC dashboard. Configure the following subnet settings:
- Enter the name of the subnet: In our case this is the “Working Public Subnet”
- Private network: Now, select the VPC you established (e.g. “MyVPC”).
- Select an availability zone: You can now select a subnet availability zone (for example, “Northern Virginia”).
- Set IPv4 CIDR block: Finally create a subnet As shown in the picture Figure 5.
Step 4: Set up security groups
You can configure AWS cloud security groups using the VPC dashboard. In our setup, the name of the security group is “WebServerSG”.
Step 5: Start the EC2 instance and deploy the web server
- Navigate to the EC2 dashboard: Go to “EC2” in the AWS Management Console.
- Click “Launch Instance”: Select “Launch Instance” as shown in Figure 6.
- Select an Amazon Machine Image (AMI): Choose an appropriate AMI (e.g. Amazon Linux 2 AMI).
To configure instance details, first select the instance’s network. Select your VPC, such as “MyVPC”, to ensure that the instances are launched in the correct network environment. Next, select the public subnet you created (for example, “PublicSubnet”) to place the instance in a subnet that allows public access. In our example, we named the instance “OSFY Web Server” as shown in Figure 7.
Step 6: Verify your web server
Finally, the web browser launches the EC2 instance using the public IP address. After successful installation, the default web server page will be opened, as shown in Figure 8.
Creating a VPC and deploying a web server on AWS requires seamless integration of multiple components. This guide serves as a basic blueprint for ensuring secure and efficient setup of hosted web services. It’s critical to prioritize security, adhere to best practices, and continually monitor and evolve your VPC to adapt to changing needs.
2024-12-12 04:30:46