Signing up AWS Free Tier Account w/ Billing Alert

What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services(AWS) is a platform of cloud computing which provides a simple way to access servers, storage, databases and a broad set of applications. We are basically renting out AWS servers to host our application instead of having to maintain our own. There are many type of services in AWS, each performing a specific functionality.

Why use AWS?

Low Cost- As developers, we pay end up paying less if we want to host our application on AWS servers. Since AWS has many active users, it drives down the cost of server use.

Advanced security features Expert security staff are continually upgrading and maintaining servers.

Highly reliable - your data is matained in many different data centers just in case one goes down

What is Free Tier?

• Offers free usage to AWS Services for a year
• You are limited to a certain usage amount per month depending on AWS service, if you go over that month you will pay standard price

Signing up AWS Free Tier Account

Go to AWS Free Tier

1. Fill in contact information
2. Fill in credit card information
3. You should see a $1 temporary charge on your CC
4. Sign-in with email & password

Enable Billing Alert

1. Go to My Billing Dashboard
2. Select Preferences from the left menu
3. Select Receive Free Tier Usage Alerts & Receive Billing Alerts then Save Preferences
4. Takes approximately up to 24hrs for account to access CloudWatch to set alarm

Set Cloudwatch Alarm

1. Make sure you select region Oregon(us-west-2)
2. When CloudWatch service is available, select Alarms from the left menu
3. Select Create Alarm button > Select metric > Billing > Total Estimated Charge > check box USD > set exceed to 1 USD > select new list link then enter your email address for notifications.

Enable MFA

1. Select IAM Service
2. Expand MFA from below menu and select Activate MFA
3. Select Virtual MFA Device
4. Install Google Authenticator or Authy and follow instructions