What is a VPC (Virtual Private Cloud)?

Updated Apr 28, 2026

Short answer

A VPC is a logically isolated section of a cloud environment where you can launch resources in a virtual network you define.

Deep explanation

It provides complete control over networking, including IP address ranges, subnets, route tables, and network gateways. A typical setup involves Public Subnets (routing to an Internet Gateway) for Load Balancers, and Private Subnets (no direct internet access) for Databases and Application servers.

Real-world example

Creating a secure cloud architecture where backend databases are placed in private subnets, unreachable from the public internet.

Common mistakes

  • Placing all EC2 instances in a public subnet, exposing internal microservices directly to the internet.

Follow-up questions

  • What is a NAT Gateway?

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