Setting up an AWS account

AWS accounts are free for a year. However, for specific services you might have to pay. But if you are beginning to work with AWS you might just avoid all the costs but still enjoy the services provided by the platform. So to start with let’s set up an account. TO set up an AWS account go to the below site and create an account:

https://aws.amazon.com/console/

Alternatively you can also go to https://aws.amazon.com/ and then click on Sign In to the Console button as below:

As you do not have an account already click on the Create a New AWS account button as below:

You will have to fill up the little form like below, type in your email address and choose a password for yourself:

Once you have typed in a password of you choice you will be asked to proved a account name, choose a name of your liking:

After you have filled up the above you will be asked to fill up some few more information. I will like to have this as a Personal account in the below form. Fill in you address and other personal details in the below like form when asked:

Once you have filled up all the information and agreed to the terms and condition of AWS, you will see the Create Account and Continue button activated, click it:

Then you will hit into another page were they will ask for your credit card detail. And here comes the big disclaimer, fill in your card details at your own discretion, I won’t be able to take any responsibility for identity theft! When you are done click on Verify and Add button. In the next page you have to confirm your identity by entering your phone number, typing the letters you can see on the screen and then click on the Send SMS. They will send you an SMS on you supplied phone number and then ask to confirm the code which has been send by the SMS as below:

Now, type in the code and click on Verify and Continue as below:

Now you will be presented with a screen with different plan options, my chosen plan is Basic Plan which is free:

Click on the Free button (unless you want to really pay them, really!) and your shiny brand new AWS account is created and you can now login into you account:

Click on Sign in to the console as below:

Now you are at the AWS sign in page, leave the default choice Root user, type in your user name which is your email address as provided before, click on Next, type in your password in the below login page:

Now if you have typed in correctly your user name and password you should have been able to see below AWS console page:

In the next blog I will talk about how to configure your AWS account, activate your double security with MFA, creating a user for day to day work and so on. So stay tuned.

That’s all for this blog, have fun!