AWS FAQs – Answers to the Most Common Beginner Questions

Your Quick Guide to the Most Asked Questions About AWS – Straightforward and Easy to Understand

Whether you’re just starting with cloud computing or exploring AWS for the first time, these FAQs are tailored to help clarify your doubts quickly and effectively. Each answer is written in simple language, perfect for learners, students, and early-stage professionals.

1. What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a cloud platform by Amazon that offers over 200 services like servers, storage, databases, networking, AI, and security—available on-demand over the internet.

2. Is AWS free to use?

Yes! AWS offers a Free Tier that allows you to use limited services like:

750 hours/month of EC2 (t2.micro)
5 GB S3 storage
1 million Lambda requests
For 12 months after account creation.

3. What is EC2?

EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is a virtual server in the cloud. You can launch it, configure it (CPU, memory, OS), and run your website or app on it.

4. What is S3?

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is used to store and retrieve files like images, documents, videos, backups, etc. It’s highly durable and accessible via URL.

5. How is AWS billed?

You’re billed based on:

Usage (per-second/hour billing for compute)
Storage used (GB/month)
Data transfer
Specific service pricing
AWS sends detailed billing reports via the dashboard.

6. Do I need to know coding to use AWS?

Not always. Many AWS services have a web-based GUI, but for advanced usage and automation, it helps to know:

CLI (Command Line Interface)
Python, Node.js, Bash, or PowerShell

7. What is IAM?

IAM (Identity and Access Management) is used to control who can access which AWS services. You can create users, roles, and permissions to secure your account.

8. What are regions and availability zones?

Region: A geographic location like us-east-1 or ap-south-1
Availability Zone (AZ): A data center within that region
AWS has multiple AZs per region to ensure high availability.

9. Can I host a website on AWS?

Yes! You can:

Host static websites on S3
Host dynamic websites on EC2 or Elastic Beanstalk
Use Route 53 for domain/DNS
Many popular sites run on AWS.

10. How do I secure my AWS account?

Use MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication)
Disable root user access
Create IAM users with least privilege
Enable billing alerts and CloudTrail logs

11. What is AWS Lambda?

AWS Lambda is a serverless compute service that runs your code (Node.js, Python, etc.) when triggered by events—no need to manage servers.

12. What is VPC?

Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) lets you create your own private, secure network inside AWS. You control IP ranges, subnets, gateways, and traffic rules.

13. Is AWS secure?

Yes. AWS complies with global security standards (ISO, HIPAA, GDPR) and offers encryption, access control, and monitoring tools.
But you are responsible for securing your applications and data (Shared Responsibility Model).

14. What is CloudFormation?

AWS CloudFormation allows you to write infrastructure as code using YAML or JSON to automate creation of servers, databases, networks, etc.

15. Can I schedule automatic backups?

Yes. You can:

Schedule EC2 snapshots
Use RDS backup window
Automate S3 backups with lifecycle rules
Use AWS Backup for centralized control

16. How do I monitor my AWS usage?

Use:

AWS CloudWatch for logs and metrics
Billing Dashboard for monthly cost tracking
AWS Budgets to set alerts

17. Can I run a database on AWS?

Yes. Use:

RDS for managed relational DB (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
DynamoDB for NoSQL
Aurora for high-performance scalable databases

18. Can I use AWS for mobile apps?

Yes! You can:

Use Amplify for backend services (Auth, API, Storage)
Use SNS for notifications
Deploy Lambda/APIs for mobile requests

19. What are the most used AWS services?

Top services include:

EC2 (compute)
S3 (storage)
RDS/DynamoDB (databases)
Lambda (serverless)
CloudFront (CDN)
VPC/IAM (security)

20. How do I learn AWS effectively?

Tips:

Start with AWS Free Tier
Use AWS Skill Builder
Follow hands-on projects
Try AWS certification paths
Follow step-by-step tutorials

Bonus FAQs

✅ What is the easiest AWS certification for beginners?

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner – Covers basics, no deep technical knowledge required.

✅ Can I use AWS without a credit card?

No. A credit/debit card is required to sign up—even for Free Tier usage. But you won’t be charged unless you exceed limits.

✅ What are AWS tags used for?

Tags are metadata labels (like Project=WebApp, Env=Dev) used for:

Billing
Resource grouping
Automation

✅ Can I automate deployments with AWS?