EC2
Show where EC2 affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
CAREER PROJECT · Beginner · 1 weekend
AWS EC2 Web Server Deployment
Deploy and secure a Linux web server on EC2 so you understand the infrastructure behind running an application.
EC2LinuxSSHSecurity groupsNetworking
WHAT THIS PROJECT PROVES
Make the engineering visible.
This brief is designed as portfolio evidence for a Cloud / AWS Engineer path. The goal is not to claim a hiring outcome; it is to make your implementation, judgment and tradeoffs easier to inspect.
Linux
Show where Linux affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
SSH
Show where SSH affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
Security groups
Show where Security groups affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
Networking
Show where Networking affected a real decision in the project. Include the implementation, constraint, test or measurement that makes the skill verifiable.
BUILD PLAN
Finish the core before expanding the scope.
Use this as a project sequence, not a rigid tutorial. Your stack can change; the evidence should still show what you built, why you built it that way and how you know it works.
Define the scope and success criteria
Turn the brief into a small finishable system. Decide what the core AWS EC2 Web Server Deployment must do, what you will deliberately leave out, and how you will show that it works.
Build the core workflow
Deploy and secure a Linux web server on EC2 so you understand the infrastructure behind running an application. Keep the first pass focused on the main user or system flow before adding stretch features.
Add engineering proof
Create live web server and security-group diagram. Document the decisions, failure states, tests, performance, security or operational tradeoffs that matter for this project.
Ship and package the evidence
Publish the strongest artifacts, including deployment runbook, patch notes, cost estimate. Make it easy for a reviewer to understand the problem, architecture, tradeoffs and what you personally implemented.
PORTFOLIO PROOF CHECKLIST
Leave artifacts a reviewer can inspect.
A strong project page should make it possible to understand the system without guessing what you personally built.
01
Live web server
02
Security-group diagram
03
Deployment runbook
04
Patch notes
05
Cost estimate
06
A concise README explaining the problem, architecture and tradeoffs
07
A working demo, API example or reproducible run path
08
Evidence of testing, monitoring, performance, accessibility or reliability where relevant
RESUME / PORTFOLIO FRAMING
Describe what you actually did.
Deployed and secured a Linux web server on AWS EC2 with SSH access controls, security groups and documented operations.
Use this as a starting structure, then replace it with your real implementation details, metrics and constraints. Do not claim outcomes you did not measure.
INTERVIEW TALKING POINTS
Be ready to defend the decisions.
These prompts turn the project from a repository link into a technical conversation about judgment, tradeoffs and evidence.
Why did you choose your approach to EC2, and what alternative did you reject?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
Where could AWS EC2 Web Server Deployment fail under real usage, and how would you detect or recover from that failure?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
How did Linux affect the rest of the design?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
What did you measure or test to prove Networking instead of only claiming it?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
If you had one more week, what would you improve first and why?
Answer with details from your implementation. Prefer concrete constraints, measurements and alternatives over generic best practices.
STRETCH GOALS
Go deeper only after the core is solid.
Elastic IP
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
Nginx reverse proxy
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
CloudWatch agent
Add it only if it strengthens the engineering story instead of delaying a finished, deployable core.
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