Account Setup

Overview

The following are instructions on setting up an account in AWS.

Step 1: Go to the AWS Website

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the AWS Sign-Up Page.

Step 2: Begin the Registration Process

1. On the AWS homepage, click "Create an AWS Account."

2. Enter your email address, password, and AWS account name (choose a unique account name to make it easy to identify).

3. Click "Continue" to proceed.

Step 3: Set Account Type and Contact Information

1. Select Account Type:

   • Personal: If the account is for personal use or learning.

   • Business: If the account is for an organization or a business.

2. Enter your contact information, including:

   • Full name (or business name)

   • Phone number

   • Country/region, address, and postal code

3. Check the Terms and Conditions box and click "Continue".

Step 4: Enter Payment Information

1. AWS requires a payment method to verify your account, even if you only plan to use the Free Tier.

2. Enter credit/debit card details or payment method.

3. AWS will place a temporary authorization charge (usually $1) to verify the card.

4. Click "Verify and Continue."

Step 5: Identity Verification

1. Choose how you want AWS to verify your identity:

   • Text message (SMS): Enter your phone number, and AWS will send a verification code.

   • Voice call: AWS will call you with a code to enter.

2. Enter the verification code when prompted, and click Continue.

Step 6: Select a Support Plan

AWS offers the following support plans:

• Basic Support (Free) – Recommended if you’re just starting.

• Developer Support – For test environments.

• Business Support – For production workloads.

• Enterprise Support – For mission-critical applications.

Select Basic Support to avoid extra costs for now, and click "Continue."

Step 7: Sign In to Your New AWS Account

1. After setting up the account, go to the AWS Management Console.

2. Use the email and password you created to log in.

3. You’ll be prompted to set up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — it’s highly recommended for enhanced security.

Step 8: Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for Root User

1. In the AWS Management Console, search for "IAM" (Identity and Access Management).

2. Select Users > Root User.

3. Click Activate MFA and follow the steps to set up MFA using:

   • A virtual MFA app (e.g., Google Authenticator)

   • A hardware MFA device (if you have one)

Step 9: Set Up Billing Alerts and Free Tier Usage Monitoring

1. Go to Billing and Cost Management in the console.

2. Set Billing Alerts to ensure you don’t accidentally exceed the free tier.

3. Enable AWS Budgets to track and monitor usage.

Step 10: Create an IAM User for Daily Use (Best Practice)

1. Go to IAM from the console.

2. Click Users > Add User and create a user with:

   • Programmatic Access (if you need CLI access)

   • Management Console Access (for console use)

3. Assign Administrator Access to the new user (you can adjust permissions later).

4. Download the credentials securely.

Note: Use the IAM user for day-to-day tasks instead of the root user to improve security.

Step 11: Secure Your Account

1. Enable MFA for the new IAM user as well.

2. Set Strong Password Policies under IAM > Account Settings.

3. Enable CloudTrail to log all account activity for auditing.

4. Set Up AWS Config to monitor resource changes.