Now that you know what an EC2 instance is, let's explore two critical components: storage and security. Every instance needs a place to store data and a way to protect itself from unwanted network traffic.
Think of it like needing both a hard drive and a security system for your computer.
Engagement Message
Ready to see how this works?
By default, an EC2 instance's main drive is deleted when the instance is terminated. For permanent data storage, you need to use Amazon EBS (Elastic Block Store). An EBS volume is like a durable, cloud-based hard drive that you can attach to your EC2 instances.
Engagement Message
Why is having a separate, durable hard drive important for business data?
Because an EBS volume is independent of your instance, your data remains safe even if the instance fails. You can detach the volume and attach it to a new instance, just like plugging an external USB drive into a different computer.
Engagement Message
What is a scenario where this data persistence would be crucial?
Now let's talk security. A Security Group acts as a virtual firewall for your EC2 instances, controlling all incoming and outgoing network traffic. By default, a security group denies all incoming traffic for maximum safety.
Engagement Message
Why is a "deny all" default a good security practice?
You control traffic by adding rules to your security group. Each rule specifies what kind of traffic (like web traffic on port 80) is allowed from which sources (like from anywhere on the internet, or just your office IP address).
Engagement Message
If you were running a private server for your team, what source would you specify in a rule?
