Building Secure AWS Networks: Private Subnets & NAT — PickAClass
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⏱ 3h 📚 30 lessons 🎧 Audio version

Building Secure AWS Networks: Private Subnets & NAT

This course empowers beginners to design and implement secure network architectures in AWS using private subnets and NAT gateways for controlled internet access.

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About this course

Understanding how to secure your cloud infrastructure is crucial for protecting your applications and data in AWS. Learn to build robust and isolated environments that safeguard your digital assets. This course will guide you through the process of designing and implementing a secure network architecture using private subnets and NAT gateways, enabling controlled outbound internet connectivity for your AWS instances while maintaining strong isolation. What you'll learn: Understand fundamental AWS networking concepts, including VPCs, subnets, and routing tables. Learn to implement private subnets for enhanced security and resource isolation within your VPC. Configure NAT Gateways to enable secure outbound internet access for private instances. Apply security best practices using Network Access Control Lists (NACLs) and Security Groups. Design a secure and efficient network architecture for your AWS applications. Practice setting up and verifying network configurations for controlled internet access. The course begins with essential networking terminology and AWS VPC fundamentals, then progresses to hands-on configuration of private subnets and NAT Gateways. You will also explore how to layer security with NACLs and Security Groups to create a comprehensive defense. This course is designed for beginners with no prior experience in AWS networking or cloud security. No prerequisites are required. Start building more secure and resilient cloud environments today.

Course contents

6 modules · 30 lessons · 3h

1 AWS Networking Foundations
Understand the core components of an AWS network and basic terminology. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. Networking Terminology 101
    Learn essential terms like IP addresses, CIDR blocks, and the client-server model in the context of AWS.    6 min
  2. What is a VPC?
    Understand the Virtual Private Cloud as your own isolated section of the AWS cloud.    6 min
  3. IP Addressing in VPC
    Learn how to define the size of your network using CIDR notation.    6 min
  4. Introduction to Subnets
    Discover how to slice your VPC into smaller, manageable sub-networks.    6 min
  5. Availability Zones and Subnets
    Learn why placing subnets in different Availability Zones is key for reliability.    6 min
2 Routing and Public Connectivity
Learn how to connect your VPC to the internet and manage traffic flow. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. The Internet Gateway (IGW)
    Understand the component that allows communication between your VPC and the internet.    6 min
  2. Demystifying Route Tables
    Learn how route tables act as a set of rules to determine where network traffic is directed.    6 min
  3. Creating a Public Subnet
    Configure a subnet to have a direct route to the Internet Gateway.    6 min
  4. Public IP vs Elastic IP
    Understand how instances get reachable addresses on the public internet.    6 min
  5. Testing Public Access
    Verify that an instance in a public subnet can reach the internet and be reached.    6 min
3 Private Subnets and Resource Isolation
Master the art of isolating sensitive resources from direct internet access. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. The Concept of Isolation
    Understand why sensitive resources like databases should never be in a public subnet.    6 min
  2. Implementing Private Subnets
    Create subnets that lack a direct route to the Internet Gateway for enhanced security.    6 min
  3. Private Route Table Configuration
    Set up a dedicated route table for private subnets to keep them local-only by default.    6 min
  4. Deploying Private Instances
    Launch an EC2 instance into a private subnet and observe its connectivity limitations.    6 min
  5. Verifying Isolation
    Confirm that private instances are shielded from inbound internet traffic.    6 min
4 NAT Gateways for Controlled Access
Enable private instances to access the internet securely for updates without being exposed. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. The Need for Outbound Access
    Explain why private instances still need to reach the internet for patches and updates.    6 min
  2. NAT Gateway Overview
    Learn how a NAT Gateway allows one-way outbound traffic from private subnets.    6 min
  3. Provisioning a NAT Gateway
    Step-by-step guide to creating a NAT Gateway in a public subnet.    6 min
  4. Updating Private Routes for NAT
    Point the private subnet's default route to the NAT Gateway.    6 min
  5. Testing Outbound Connectivity
    Verify that a private instance can download a file from the internet via NAT.    6 min
5 Layered Security: SGs and NACLs
Implement fine-grained security controls at the instance and subnet levels. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. Security Groups: Instance Firewall
    Learn how to control inbound and outbound traffic at the virtual interface level.    6 min
  2. Stateful Filtering Explained
    Understand why Security Groups automatically allow return traffic.    6 min
  3. NACLs: Subnet Firewall
    Learn to use Network Access Control Lists as a secondary layer of defense at the subnet boundary.    6 min
  4. Stateless Filtering and Ephemeral Ports
    Understand the complexity of NACL rules and how they differ from Security Groups.    6 min
  5. Security Best Practices
    Apply the principle of least privilege to your network security rules.    6 min
6 Architecture Design and Verification
Design a complete network and ensure it works as intended. 5 lessons · 30 min
  1. Designing a 2-Tier Architecture
    Plan a network with a public web tier and a private database tier.    6 min
  2. Efficiency in Network Design
    Learn to balance security, cost, and complexity in your AWS network.    6 min
  3. Common Networking Pitfalls
    Identify and avoid frequent mistakes like missing routes or overlapping CIDRs.    6 min
  4. Final Network Verification
    Perform a comprehensive audit of your setup to ensure all security layers are active.    6 min
  5. Course Summary and Next Steps
    Review what you've built and explore advanced topics like VPC Peering and VPNs.    6 min
Final project

The Secure Fortress VPC

You will design and implement a complete VPC environment. This includes creating public and private subnets across two Availability Zones, setting up a NAT Gateway for the private tier, and configuring both Security Groups and NACLs to allow web traffic while protecting a mock database.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
    Add it to your LinkedIn profile
  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
    Stuck on a lesson? Ask your built-in tutor anything, any time.
  • 🎧 Audio version included
    Learn on the go — no screen needed
  • ♾️ Lifetime access
    Come back anytime, no expiry
  • 📱 Phone or computer
    Works anywhere, any device
  • 💸 14-day refund
    No questions asked
  • ⚡ Short & focused
    3h of practical content

Certificate of completion

Every course you complete on PickAClass issues a credential like this — original, with its own code, verifiable by URL, and detailed about what was actually demonstrated.

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Certificate of Mastery
This certifies that
Name Surname
has successfully demonstrated mastery of
Building Secure AWS Networks: Private Subnets & NAT
Skills demonstrated
✓
Behavioral pattern analysis
Foundational
1.2 hrs
✓
Decision-architecture frameworks
Proficient
1.4 hrs
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Proficient
1.7 hrs
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PickAClass — Name Surname
Building Secure AWS Networks: Private Subnets & NAT
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Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
Skill verification Verified Skill Path
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Issued under the academic standards of PickAClass. Skill levels reflect assessed performance against the course's competency rubric. This is an original credential of this platform.

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Frequently asked

What do I need to take this course? +

Just a phone or computer with internet. No installs, no special hardware.

How do I pay? +

By card via Stripe. We don’t store card details — Stripe handles them securely.

Can I get a refund? +

Yes — full refund within 14 days, no questions asked.

How long will I have access? +

Forever. Once you purchase, the course is yours to revisit anytime.

Will I get a certificate? +

Yes. On completion you'll receive a certificate you can add to your LinkedIn profile.

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