AWS

Practical writing on cloud providers, infrastructure, deployment and cost, from the team behind the BuyCloudExpress catalogue.

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on aws free tier

How the AWS Free Tier actually works

The AWS Free Tier is three different things wearing one name. Knowing which parts expire, which never do, and which quietly bill you is the difference…

AWS 5 min read

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on ec2 instance families

EC2 instance families, decoded

EC2 instance names look like line noise until you learn the pattern. Once you can read them, choosing a shape becomes a two-minute decision instead of…

AWS 4 min read

How to read a cloud bill

A cloud invoice is organised for accounting, not for understanding. Reading it usefully means regrouping it around three questions rather than scrolling the line items.

AWS 4 min read

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on cloud egress fees

The egress fee trap

Data going into a cloud is usually free. Data coming out is not, and for some workloads it quietly becomes the largest line on the bill.

AWS 4 min read

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on least privilege for cloud iam

Least privilege for cloud IAM, without grinding to a halt

Everyone agrees with least privilege and almost nobody implements it, because the strict version blocks work. Here is a version that survives contact with a real…

AWS 4 min read

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on leaked cloud credentials

What to do when cloud credentials leak

Exposed keys are found by automated scanners within minutes. The order of the first hour's actions determines whether this is an incident or a disaster.

AWS 4 min read

Abstract illustration accompanying this guide on llm inference on rented hardware

Running model inference on rented hardware

Self-hosting inference makes sense at some volumes and not others. The decision turns on utilisation, latency requirements and how much operational work you want.

AWS 4 min read