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AWS free tier overview - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

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Recall & Review
beginner
What is the AWS Free Tier?
The AWS Free Tier is a program that offers free access to certain AWS services for a limited time or with usage limits to help new users learn and experiment without cost.
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beginner
Name the three types of AWS Free Tier offers.
1. 12-Month Free Tier: Free usage for 12 months after account creation.
2. Always Free: Free usage limits that never expire.
3. Trials: Short-term free trials for specific services.
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beginner
What happens if you exceed the AWS Free Tier limits?
If you go beyond the free tier limits, AWS charges you at the standard pay-as-you-go rates for the extra usage.
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intermediate
Give an example of an AWS service included in the Always Free tier.
Amazon DynamoDB offers 25 GB of storage and up to 200 million requests per month as part of the Always Free tier.
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beginner
Why is the AWS Free Tier useful for beginners?
It allows beginners to explore and learn AWS services without paying, helping them build skills and test ideas safely.
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Which AWS Free Tier type lasts only 12 months after account creation?
APremium Tier
B12-Month Free Tier
CTrial
DAlways Free
What happens if you use more than the free tier limits?
AYou get a warning but no charges
BYour account is suspended
CYou get charged at normal rates
DAWS automatically upgrades your free tier
Which of these is NOT a type of AWS Free Tier offer?
ALifetime Free
BAlways Free
C12-Month Free Tier
DTrials
Which AWS service offers free storage and requests as part of the Always Free tier?
AAmazon EC2
BAWS Lambda
CAmazon S3 Glacier
DAmazon DynamoDB
Why should beginners use the AWS Free Tier?
ATo learn AWS without paying
BTo get free hardware
CTo get unlimited AWS resources
DTo avoid creating an AWS account
Explain the three types of AWS Free Tier offers and how they differ.
Think about time limits and ongoing availability.
You got /3 concepts.
    Describe what happens when you exceed AWS Free Tier limits and why it is important to monitor usage.
    Consider billing and cost control.
    You got /3 concepts.

      Practice

      (1/5)
      1. What is the main purpose of the AWS Free Tier?
      easy
      A. To replace paid AWS accounts with free ones permanently
      B. To provide unlimited free usage of all AWS services
      C. To offer discounts on AWS services for large companies
      D. To let users try AWS services without paying initially

      Solution

      1. Step 1: Understand AWS Free Tier purpose

        The AWS Free Tier is designed to help new users explore AWS services without immediate cost.

      2. Step 2: Compare options with this purpose

        Only To let users try AWS services without paying initially correctly states this purpose; others describe incorrect or exaggerated features.

      3. Final Answer:

        To let users try AWS services without paying initially -> Option D

      4. Quick Check:

        AWS Free Tier = Try services free initially [OK]
      Hint: Free Tier means free trial, not unlimited or permanent free [OK]
      Common Mistakes:
      • Thinking Free Tier offers unlimited free usage
      • Believing Free Tier is only for big companies
      • Confusing Free Tier with permanent free accounts
      2. Which of the following is a correct example of an AWS Free Tier offer?
      easy
      A. Unlimited storage on Amazon S3 for 6 months
      B. 750 hours of Amazon EC2 t2.micro instance usage per month for 12 months
      C. 1000 free Lambda invocations per day forever
      D. Free Amazon RDS usage with no time limit

      Solution

      1. Step 1: Recall AWS Free Tier typical offers

        A common Free Tier offer is 750 hours per month of EC2 t2.micro instance for 12 months.

      2. Step 2: Check each option against known offers

        750 hours of Amazon EC2 t2.micro instance usage per month for 12 months matches this. Options B, C, and D incorrectly state unlimited or forever free usage which is not true.

      3. Final Answer:

        750 hours of Amazon EC2 t2.micro instance usage per month for 12 months -> Option B

      4. Quick Check:

        EC2 Free Tier = 750 hours/month for 12 months [OK]
      Hint: Free Tier usually limits usage by time or quantity, not unlimited [OK]
      Common Mistakes:
      • Assuming Free Tier offers unlimited or forever free usage
      • Confusing daily limits with monthly limits
      • Ignoring the 12-month time limit on some offers
      3. If you use 800 hours of an Amazon EC2 t2.micro instance in one month under the AWS Free Tier, what happens?
      medium
      A. You get a warning but no charges
      B. Your instance stops automatically
      C. You are charged for 50 hours of usage
      D. You get unlimited free usage

      Solution

      1. Step 1: Understand Free Tier usage limits

        The Free Tier allows 750 hours per month of EC2 t2.micro usage free.

      2. Step 2: Calculate excess usage charges

        Using 800 hours means 50 hours exceed the free limit, so you pay for those 50 hours.

      3. Final Answer:

        You are charged for 50 hours of usage -> Option C

      4. Quick Check:

        Usage > 750 hours = pay excess hours [OK]
      Hint: Free Tier covers up to limit; extra usage costs money [OK]
      Common Mistakes:
      • Thinking Free Tier stops instances automatically
      • Believing no charges occur after limit
      • Assuming unlimited free usage
      4. You signed up for AWS Free Tier 13 months ago. Which statement is true about your Free Tier benefits now?
      medium
      A. You no longer get the 12-month Free Tier benefits
      B. Your account is automatically closed
      C. You get unlimited free usage on all services
      D. You still get 12 months of free EC2 usage

      Solution

      1. Step 1: Recall Free Tier time limits

        Most Free Tier offers last for 12 months after account creation.

      2. Step 2: Determine status after 13 months

        After 13 months, the 12-month Free Tier benefits expire, so you no longer get those free offers.

      3. Final Answer:

        You no longer get the 12-month Free Tier benefits -> Option A

      4. Quick Check:

        Free Tier 12 months expired = no more free benefits [OK]
      Hint: Free Tier 12-month offers expire after 1 year [OK]
      Common Mistakes:
      • Thinking Free Tier lasts forever
      • Assuming account closes automatically
      • Believing unlimited free usage continues
      5. You want to use AWS Free Tier to learn about serverless computing. Which service and usage limit fits this goal best?
      hard
      A. Amazon Lambda with 1 million free requests per month
      B. Amazon EC2 with 750 hours free per month
      C. Amazon S3 with unlimited free storage
      D. Amazon RDS with free multi-AZ deployments

      Solution

      1. Step 1: Identify serverless computing service

        Amazon Lambda is AWS's serverless compute service.

      2. Step 2: Check Free Tier limits for Lambda

        Lambda offers 1 million free requests per month under Free Tier, ideal for learning serverless.

      3. Step 3: Compare other options

        EC2 is not serverless, S3 storage is not unlimited, and RDS multi-AZ is not free.

      4. Final Answer:

        Amazon Lambda with 1 million free requests per month -> Option A

      5. Quick Check:

        Serverless = Lambda 1M free requests [OK]
      Hint: Serverless means Lambda; check its Free Tier limits [OK]
      Common Mistakes:
      • Confusing EC2 with serverless
      • Assuming unlimited free storage on S3
      • Thinking RDS multi-AZ is free