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Preparing an Instance for a Custom AMI

The AWS EC2 service is outstanding when it comes to hosting applications quickly and efficiently. Part of what makes EC2 so efficient is the Amazon Machine Images, or AMIs. These images allow you to spin up EC2 instances at a moment's notice. These AMIs are great, but you have to guard them very closely if there is any sensitive information on them. If an AMI were accidentally shared to the wrong account, this information would go with it. That's why you must remove any sensitive information from EC2 instances before creating AMIs from them. This learning activity will show you how to remove sensitive information from your EC2 instances before creating an AMI to maintain utmost security.

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Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 1h 0m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 10, 2025

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Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Login to the EC2 Instance

    Login to the EC2 Instance named AMISource using the SSH Instant Terminal, and the credentials presented with this Hands-On Lab

  2. Challenge

    Remove Sensitive Data

    Your EC2 instances likely contain sensitive informatiuon that you would want to remove before you make copies of the instance. Remove all sensitive information from the cloud_user home directory, including any SSH settings, private keys, and the bash command history.

  3. Challenge

    Create the new EC2 AMI

    Once all sensitive data has been removed from the EC2 instance, you can safely make new copies of the machine using an AMI. Using the EC2 Console, create an AMI from the EC2 Instance we've been using so far.

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Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

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Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

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Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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