Overview
Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (or EC2) is a web service that makes it easy to launch and configure basic compute instances over the internet. EC2 also provides security features such as allowing you to create Security Groups which act as a firewall to control your instances’ ingress traffic. This tutorial will show you how to authorize ingress traffic to an EC2 Security Group.
Prerequisites
Before you begin, you will need to have an AWS account and have launched an EC2 instance with the Security Group that you would like to authorize the ingress for.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Login to the AWS Console
Visit the AWS Console and login using your credentials.
Step 2: Choose a Region
From the navigation bar, choose the region in which the Security Group you would like to authorize the ingress is located.
Step 3: Select the Security Group
From the left-hand navigation panel, select the group on which you would like to authorize the ingress. Then, click the tab for Inbound.
Step 4: Edit the Inbound Rules
To add a rule, click Edit. Then, select the type of rule you would like to add from the drop-down list. You can also specify the range of IP addresses that you want the rule to allow by entering the starting IP address and ending IP address in the text boxes next to the Add Rule button.
Step 5: Add the Rule
Once you have completed the above steps, click Add Rule to save your new rule.
Step 6: Save the Changes
After you have added all the rules you need, click Save to apply the changes.
You have now successfully authorized ingress to your EC2 Security Group.
FAQ
What is a Security Group?
A security group is a virtual firewall that acts as a barrier between your instance (or other resources) and the internet. It functions as a control mechanism, allowing or denying traffic based on the rules you specify.
Can I authorize an Ingress for multiple IP addresses at once?
Yes, you can specify a range of IP addresses that you would like the rule to allow.
Can I create multiple rules for a single Security Group?
Yes, you can create multiple rules for a single Security Group.
How do I delete an Ingress rule from a Security Group?
To delete a rule, simply select the row for that rule and click the Delete button. Then, click the Save button to apply the changes.
What happens if I don't authorize Ingress traffic to my Security Group?
If you don’t establish ingress rules, your instance will not be accessible over the internet and will be isolated from the world.