Migrating AWS EC2 Applications to HTTPS — PickAClass
⏱ 3h 5m 📚 30 lessons 🎧 Audio version

Migrating AWS EC2 Applications to HTTPS

Learn to secure your AWS EC2 web applications by configuring certificates, updating server settings, and routing traffic safely over HTTPS.

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About this course

Running applications over insecure HTTP leaves your user data vulnerable and hurts your search engine rankings. Transitioning your web applications to HTTPS is no longer optional—it is a fundamental security requirement. This text-based course guides you through the entire process of securing your AWS EC2 instances. You will start with core web security concepts and transition step-by-step from unencrypted HTTP to fully secure HTTPS. You will learn how to generate certificates, configure web servers, and use AWS infrastructure features to manage secure traffic efficiently. What you'll learn: - Understand the foundational principles of SSL/TLS, public key cryptography, and certificate authorities - Generate and configure self-signed certificates for testing and development environments - Configure popular web servers like Nginx or Apache to handle secure HTTPS traffic on EC2 - Explore modern certificate management using Let's Encrypt and AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) - Set up Application Load Balancers (ALB) to offload SSL/TLS decryption and simplify traffic management - Implement automatic HTTP-to-HTTPS redirection to ensure all users connect securely You will begin by learning the essential terminology of web security and encryption. From there, you will progress through written configuration scenarios, moving from local server setups to scalable AWS-managed certificate workflows. This course is designed for beginner developers, system administrators, and cloud enthusiasts looking to secure their web applications. No prior experience with security certificates is required, though basic familiarity with AWS EC2 is helpful. Start reading today to secure your cloud applications and protect your users' data.

Course contents

6 modules · 30 lessons · 3h 5m

1 Foundations of Web Security
Understand the theoretical core of secure communications.
5 lessons · 31 min
  1. Why HTTPS Matters
    HTTPS protects user data and improves SEO rankings compared to insecure HTTP.
    6 min
  2. The SSL/TLS Handshake
    The process of how a client and server establish a secure connection.
    7 min
  3. Public Key Cryptography Explained
    How asymmetric encryption uses pairs of keys to secure data.
    7 min
  4. The Role of Certificate Authorities
    CAs act as trusted third parties that verify the identity of website owners.
    6 min
  5. Security Terminology Glossary
    Defining key terms like CSR, Private Key, Root CA, and Cipher Suites.
    5 min
2 Manual Configuration with Self-Signed Certificates
Learn to generate and apply certificates manually for development environments.
5 lessons · 32 min
  1. When to Use Self-Signed Certificates
    Self-signed certs are ideal for internal testing but not for production.
    5 min
  2. Generating Keys with OpenSSL
    Using the command line to create a private key and a self-signed certificate.
    7 min
  3. Configuring Nginx for HTTPS
    Editing the Nginx configuration file to point to certificate and key paths.
    7 min
  4. Configuring Apache for HTTPS
    Enabling mod_ssl and setting up VirtualHosts for secure traffic in Apache.
    7 min
  5. Testing in Development Environments
    Verifying the secure connection and understanding browser trust limitations.
    6 min
3 Automating Security with Let's Encrypt
Implement free, trusted certificates with automated renewal.
5 lessons · 30 min
  1. Introduction to Let's Encrypt
    A free, automated, and open Certificate Authority for the public web.
    6 min
  2. Installing Certbot on EC2
    Setting up the Certbot client to automate certificate issuance.
    6 min
  3. Obtaining Your First Trusted Cert
    Running Certbot to validate domain ownership and download certificates.
    7 min
  4. Automating Certificate Renewal
    Setting up cron jobs or systemd timers to keep certificates from expiring.
    6 min
  5. Verifying the Chain of Trust
    Checking that the certificate is properly recognized by major browsers.
    5 min
4 AWS Native Security: ACM and ALB
Scale security using AWS managed services.
6 lessons · 37 min
  1. Introduction to AWS Certificate Manager
    ACM simplifies provisioning, managing, and deploying SSL/TLS certificates.
    6 min
  2. Requesting a Public ACM Certificate
    The step-by-step process of requesting a free certificate through the AWS console.
    6 min
  3. DNS Validation vs Email Validation
    Choosing the best method to prove you own the domain for ACM.
    6 min
  4. Setting up an Application Load Balancer
    Creating an ALB to sit in front of your EC2 instances.
    7 min
  5. Attaching ACM Certificates to ALB
    Configuring the HTTPS listener on the ALB to use your ACM certificate.
    6 min
  6. Understanding SSL Offloading
    Decrypting traffic at the ALB to reduce the processing load on EC2 instances.
    6 min
5 Traffic Control and Redirection
Ensure all users connect via secure channels.
5 lessons · 31 min
  1. The Importance of Redirection
    Why you should never allow users to stay on insecure HTTP.
    5 min
  2. ALB Listener Rules for Redirection
    Configuring the ALB to automatically forward port 80 traffic to port 443.
    7 min
  3. Server-Level Redirection
    Implementing 301 redirects in Nginx and Apache config files.
    7 min
  4. Updating Security Groups for HTTPS
    Opening port 443 and restricting port 80 to ensure network-level security.
    6 min
  5. HSTS: Strict Transport Security
    Using browser headers to force HTTPS connections for future visits.
    6 min
6 Scalability and Best Practices
Maintain and scale your secure infrastructure.
4 lessons · 24 min
  1. Scalable Certificate Workflows
    Using Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/CloudFormation) for certificates.
    7 min
  2. Monitoring Certificate Health
    Using CloudWatch and ACM events to monitor for expiration or issues.
    6 min
  3. Final Security Audit
    Using online tools to grade your SSL/TLS configuration strength.
    6 min
  4. Course Wrap-up and Next Steps
    Reviewing the migration journey and exploring advanced security topics.
    5 min
Final project

The Secure AWS Web Stack

You will configure a complete secure environment for a web application. This includes requesting an ACM certificate, setting up an ALB, connecting it to an EC2 instance, and ensuring all HTTP traffic is automatically redirected to HTTPS.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
    Add it to your LinkedIn profile
  • 💬 Personal AI tutor
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  • 🎧 Audio version included
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  • 📱 Phone or computer
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  • 💸 14-day refund
    No questions asked
  • ⚡ Short & focused
    3h 5m of practical content

Certificate of completion

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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%
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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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