web hosting aws tips for reliable, scalable sites

Getting started

AWS offers several paths: Lightsail for quick VPS-style setups, EC2 for full control, and S3 + CloudFront for static sites. Pick a region close to users, map your domain with Route 53, and automate HTTPS via ACM. Begin small, measure, then iterate.

Cost and scaling

Keep costs predictable with instance sizing, autoscaling policies, and reserved capacity when workloads stabilize. Use an Application Load Balancer to spread traffic and offload TLS. Monitor with CloudWatch and set alarms before performance dips.

Best practices

• Harden access with IAM roles and least privilege; avoid keys on servers.
• Bake repeatable builds using AMIs or containers; store state outside instances.
• Offload databases to RDS or Aurora and enable backups.
• Cache aggressively with CloudFront and tuned TTLs.
• Automate deploys via CodeDeploy or pipelines for zero-downtime releases.

Common pitfalls

Skipping logging, ignoring egress costs, or leaving security groups wide open undermines reliability. Document runbooks, test restores, and schedule regular load tests to keep your stack healthy.