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AWS Basics: A Beginner’s Guide to Cloud Computing

AWS lets you rent exactly as much server and storage as you need and pay only for what you actually use — here is what to learn first.

  1. Understand the concept of cloud computing

    Cloud computing means renting as much server and storage capacity as you need, and paying based on actual usage, instead of buying and maintaining physical hardware yourself.

  2. Create an AWS account

    Signing up requires registering payment information, such as a credit card, for identity verification — be aware that charges can apply once you exceed the Free Tier limits.

  3. Learn about EC2 for virtual servers

    EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) is AWS’s flagship service, letting you rent exactly as much virtual server capacity as you need to run a website or application.

  4. Learn about S3 for file storage

    S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a cloud storage service for safely storing images, videos, backups, and other files, and retrieving them whenever needed.

  5. Try it for free with the Free Tier

    AWS offers a Free Tier covering a certain amount of usage at no cost, letting small projects try out the main services before spending anything.

  6. Always shut down resources you are not using

    Leaving a test server or storage bucket running after you’re done can push you past the Free Tier limits and lead to unexpected charges, so make it a habit to stop or delete resources once you are finished with them.

EC2 and S3: the two services worth learning first

Almost every AWS project touches EC2 for compute and S3 for storage in some form, which makes them the natural starting point. Once those two make sense, most of AWS’s other services turn out to be variations on the same core ideas — rented compute and rented storage — built for more specific use cases.

Avoiding surprise charges on the Free Tier

The Free Tier typically covers a fixed amount of usage per month for a limited time after account creation, not unlimited free access forever. Setting up a billing alert early on is a simple way to catch unexpected usage before it turns into a large bill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is AWS free to use forever?

No — the Free Tier only covers a limited amount of usage, generally for the first 12 months after signing up, and some services are free only up to a small ongoing monthly limit. Charges apply once you go over those limits.

What happens if I forget to shut down a resource I’m not using?

It keeps running and accumulating usage, which can result in charges once it exceeds the Free Tier allowance. Regularly checking your resource list and billing dashboard is the best way to avoid an unpleasant surprise.