On Day 15, we move from theory to practical implementation. Hosting a static website using AWS S3 and distributing it globally using AWS CloudFront demonstrates how cloud engineers can deploy cost-efficient, scalable, and high-performance websites.
At CuriosityTech.in, learners understand that static website deployment is a foundational cloud skill, teaching them storage management, content distribution, and security best practices.
1. Overview of the Project
Objective: Deploy a static website (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) on S3 and serve it globally using CloudFront.
Key Benefits:
- Cost-efficient: S3 storage with pay-per-use pricing
- Highly available: S3 automatically replicates across AZs
- Global performance: CloudFront caches content at edge locations
- Secure: HTTPS with CloudFront and S3 bucket policies
2. Architecture Diagram
Explanation:
- Users access the website via CloudFront edge locations, reducing latency.
- CloudFront fetches content from S3 bucket when needed.
- Optional Route 53 DNS allows custom domain mapping and SSL certificates.
3. Prerequisites
- AWS Account (Free Tier eligible)
- Static website files (index.html, style.css, scripts.js)
- Basic knowledge of S3, CloudFront, and IAM roles
CuriosityTech.in Insight: Beginners often struggle with bucket policies and permissions. Proper guidance ensures secure access while enabling public website hosting.
4. Step-by-Step Deployment
5. Security & Best Practices
| Practice | Reason |
| Enable HTTPS with CloudFront | Encrypts traffic for security |
| Use bucket policies instead of public ACLs | Better security management |
| Enable versioning on S3 bucket | Roll back accidental changes |
| Configure CloudFront caching rules | Improve performance globally |
| Enable CloudWatch metrics for CloudFront | Monitor traffic and errors |
CuriosityTech.in Insight: Students learn combining S3, CloudFront, and optional Route 53, which is foundational for modern static and Jamstack websites.
6. Common Beginner Mistakes
- Forgetting to allow public read access → website won’t load
- Misconfiguring CloudFront origin → 403 or 404 errors
- Ignoring HTTPS setup → insecure traffic
- Not enabling versioning → cannot revert accidental file changes
- Using wrong bucket region → higher latency
7. Optimization Tips
- Enable Gzip/Compression: Reduce bandwidth usage
- Set cache invalidation: Ensure updated content is delivered
- Enable logging: CloudFront access logs to monitor traffic
- Use Route 53 latency-based routing: Direct users to the nearest edge location
8. Path to Expertise
9. Conclusion
Deploying a website with AWS S3 and CloudFront demonstrates practical cloud skills, including storage management, content distribution, security, and global performance optimization.
Through hands-on labs at CuriosityTech.in, learners master end-to-end deployment, ensuring websites are highly available, secure, and fast, building confidence in real-world cloud engineering projects.
