Introduction

In this project, I learned how to improve website performance and content delivery using Amazon CloudFront with an Amazon S3 bucket. The goal was to create a Content Delivery Network (CDN) that distributes files globally, improves loading speed, and adds extra security for static website content.

I followed a YouTube tutorial and practiced building the setup inside AWS.

📺 Tutorial Used:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbI7kRWAU-w

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What is CloudFront?

Amazon CloudFront is a CDN service that distributes content such as images, videos, and websites through multiple global edge locations. This helps reduce latency and improves loading speed for users around the world.

CloudFront integrates easily with AWS services like S3, EC2, and Route 53 while providing features like caching, SSL encryption, and DDoS protection. (GeeksforGeeks)

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What is Amazon S3?

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a cloud storage service that allows you to store and serve files such as HTML pages, images, and scripts. It is commonly used to host static websites and store application assets.

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Project Goal

The objective of this project was to:

• Create an S3 bucket
• Upload website files or static content
• Create a CloudFront distribution
• Connect CloudFront to the S3 bucket
• Test content delivery through the CDN

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Step 1 – Create an S3 Bucket

First, I created an S3 bucket to store my website files.

Steps:

1. Open the AWS Management Console
2. Search for S3
3. Click Create Bucket
4. Enter a unique bucket name
5. Select a region
6. Create the bucket
7. Upload files such as HTML, CSS, or images

After uploading, the files are stored and ready to be distributed through CloudFront. (GeeksforGeeks)

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Step 2 – Create a CloudFront Distribution

After setting up the S3 bucket, I created a CloudFront distribution.

Steps:

1. Go to AWS Services → CloudFront
2. Click Create Distribution
3. Select the S3 bucket as the origin
4. Keep default settings or customize if needed
5. Create the distribution

CloudFront then generates a domain name that can be used to access the content globally. (GeeksforGeeks)

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Step 3 – Configure Permissions

To allow CloudFront to access files securely:

• Make objects publicly accessible or
• Restrict bucket access and allow CloudFront to serve files only

This step improves security and prevents direct access to S3 content.

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Step 4 – Test the CDN

After the distribution is created:

1. Copy the CloudFront domain URL
2. Paste it into the browser
3. Verify the website or files load correctly

Testing ensures that CloudFront is properly caching and distributing the content.

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Optional Improvements

During the setup, I learned that CloudFront can also support:

• Custom domain names
• SSL certificates for HTTPS
• Default index pages
• DNS configuration with Route 53

These features allow you to build a professional and secure hosting setup.

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Challenges I Faced

Some of the common challenges included:

• Understanding S3 permissions
• Waiting for CloudFront deployment (takes time)
• Making sure files were publicly accessible or properly restricted

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What I Learned

From this project, I gained experience with:

• AWS cloud infrastructure
• Content Delivery Networks
• Static website hosting
• Security configuration
• Performance optimization

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Why This Matters

Using CloudFront with S3 is important because it:

• Improves website loading speed
• Reduces server load
• Increases availability
• Enhances security
• Provides scalable hosting solutions

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Conclusion

Setting up CloudFront with an S3 bucket is a powerful way to deliver content efficiently across the globe. This project helped me understand how CDN technology works and how cloud services can improve website performance and reliability.

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