CIS Hardened Image Level 1 on Amazon Linux 2023

I use Amazon Linux  on EC2  machines for different kinds of servers. I typically run automation scripts, deploy fast web servers, and use Docker  machines for testing purposes and any other proprietary software that requires a running Linux machine.

A major project I have implemented using Amazon Linux  was deploying a GitLab  worker node to run GitLab  workflows in a CI/CD pipeline.

Amazon Linux is usually deployed in my organization on the private cloud, with the main usage being for automation scripts and some kind of fast usage and small deployments.

I have found that the prices of Amazon Linux are competitive and their compatibility with the Red Hat way of usage is advantageous. One other option that came up when I decided to use Amazon Linux was to substitute CentOS  Linux.

In my experience, the best feature Amazon Linux offers is the Red Hat package manager way of working because sometimes I receive automations and scripts that are compatible with Red Hat and CentOS  Linux. I usually do not have to edit the scripts to run on other Linux flavors, so the great option is to use Amazon Linux. This impacts my work by not wasting time refactoring a script, and this is the main advantage.

Amazon Linux has saved me time when deploying something that uses the Red Hat package management.

The outcomes are not different from other Linux flavors, so the other results remain the same. I would say that there is not a great advantage in using Amazon Linux from my perspective. The only advantage was really the package management.

Amazon Linux made a great change with the last version and made some features incompatible with the old version, so I did not like the new version and still prefer not to use Amazon Linux.

Some options in the basic packages of Amazon Linux could contain open tools that run containers, such as using open-sourcing tools like Podman or some other easy way to deploy the main packages I use, like Docker , and some ways to easily deploy the main and common packages that all other Linux flavors already come with installed, but Amazon Linux does not come with these basic packages.

I chose a six out of ten because compared to other Linux distributions, it is not a great distribution and could be better, and when I have to use Amazon Linux, the only advantage is the package management. However, when I need to fast install Docker or a new Python release, I have to waste a bit more time than using another distribution like Ubuntu .

Amazon Linux is stable in all my experience.

Amazon Linux is scalable like any other EC2  instance machines that AWS  provides to all users, and it runs as any other expected Linux behavior server.

I previously used Ubuntu Linux  as my main choice, and CentOS Linux as the second one, but with the discontinuity of CentOS OS Linux, I had to switch to Amazon Linux.

I purchased Amazon Linux through the AWS Marketplace .

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that I usually consult the pricing in the EC2 console and I think it is a cheap machine.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that I usually consult the pricing in the EC2 console and I think it is a cheap machine.

I evaluated Ubuntu Linux before choosing Amazon Linux.

All Linux distributions have stability and security. The only advantage of Amazon Linux is the package system. I did not see any other great advantage. I prefer to use Ubuntu as my main option when I deploy EC2 machines, but when I have to deploy or work with some kind of yum or Red Hat package manager, my first option is to use Amazon Linux.

I rate Amazon Linux a six out of ten.

My only advice would be to use Ubuntu Linux, not Amazon Linux.

My main use case for Amazon Linux  is that I use it in EC2 . A quick, specific example of how I use Amazon Linux  in my day-to-day work is that I use Amazon Linux 2023 in EC2 , so I can use Linux for my field. I am deploying applications using Amazon Linux.

The best features Amazon Linux offers, in my experience, are that everything in Amazon Linux is very nice, and I use it every day.

The features that stand out to me in Amazon Linux are the integration with AWS  services, as well as security, stability, and performance, which are all very strong.

Amazon Linux has positively impacted my organization by making deployment easier and improving performance. By using Amazon Linux, we saved significant time and resources.

Amazon Linux improved performance and made deployments easier because of blue-green deployment.

Amazon Linux 2023 is very well-designed, and there is nothing to be added to it.

User interface and documentation could be improved in Amazon Linux to make it easier for newcomers.

I have used Amazon Linux for about two years.

Amazon Linux is very stable in my experience.

Amazon Linux's scalability is very strong.

I used customer support for Amazon Linux many times, and it was very helpful.

I previously used Ubuntu  and Red Hat before Amazon Linux.

I have seen a return on investment with Amazon Linux, and I think it has resulted in money saved and time saved as well.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is based on my experience with setup cost.

I evaluated Ubuntu  before choosing Amazon Linux, and my experience was not very good, which is why I switched to Amazon Linux.

Everything is very strong regarding my use case and how I deploy applications with Amazon Linux. There is nothing to add about the features of Amazon Linux. My advice for others looking into using Amazon Linux is that they should use Amazon Linux, as its performance is very strong and it saves time and money. I have given this review a rating of 10.

My main use case for Amazon Linux  is for getting virtual servers of EC2  instances.

For example, in my recent project, I have built one virtual server using Amazon Linux  2023, which gives the virtual server, creates the environment, and shows our project.

The best feature Amazon Linux offers is its security, which is the most concern.

These features help me because it is secure to open to anyone on the internet and it does not crash.

It is the main feature and it has also been improved, contributing to performance and integration with other AWS  services.

Amazon Linux has impacted my organization positively by making processes faster.

It has made things faster because it is easy to deploy the application with Linux.

Amazon Linux can be improved by making it better.

Overall, Amazon Linux has better performance, and as of now, I see no need to change anything.

I have used Amazon Linux for two months.

Amazon Linux is stable.

Amazon Linux is scalable for running the applications.

I have seen a return on investment in terms of money and time.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is good and nice.

Before choosing Amazon Linux, I did not look for another option and chose Amazon Linux instead.

My advice for others looking into using Amazon Linux is that it has easy features. I would rate this review a 9 out of 10.

My main use case for Amazon Linux  is a reliable and cost-effective operating system for hosting web applications on EC2  instances. A specific example is deploying a standard LAMP stack—Linux, Apache, MariaDB , and PHP—to run a dynamic database-driven web application for a training lab.

As a user data scripting target, I find it a predictable environment for running user data scripts to automate the installation of web services like Apache HTTPd and database services. Amazon Linux 's seamless integration with EC2  and inclusion in the free tier make it the default choice for hands-on labs and proof of concept projects within the AWS  ecosystem. It serves as the operating system layer where network configurations like security groups and rules for HTTP and SSH are ultimately applied to enable application access.

Amazon Linux offers the best features as it is built to work perfectly with AWS  services and tools like EC2, Systems Manager, and IAM  roles right out of the box. The operating system is tuned specifically for the EC2 environment, offering stable performance with no extra licensing costs. Both Amazon Linux 2 and 2023 offer years of security updates and maintenance, making for a reliable choice for production workloads. It comes with a lockdown default configuration and receives timely security patches directly from AWS, simplifying maintenance.

My experience with Amazon Linux's security features highlights that security is practical and deployed integrated with the AWS environment, which is the main strength compared to other operating systems I have used. The newer Amazon Linux 2023 is very lean; the fact that core packages like a database service were not even in the default repository is a security feature in itself as it reduces the attack surface by not installing unnecessary software. This represents a more aggressive security posture than a standard Ubuntu  and CentOS  installation, which often comes with more packages. The most critical security layer I interacted with was the EC2 security group. Amazon Linux is designed to rely on the external firewall for primary network defense, and my troubleshooting proved this. The server was completely unreachable via SSH until I explicitly allowed port 22. This is a more robust and manageable approach than relying solely on an internal OS firewall like iptables or firewalld, which is the primary method on on-premises servers. Additionally, the instance defaults to requiring IMDSv2, the secure metadata service, which is a significant security enhancement over older systems and shows that AWS is pushing best practices by default, whereas on other operating systems, you might have to manually harden similar services.

My experience with Amazon Linux's performance and reliability are excellent and they are arguably its strong selling points. On performance, even on a small T2 micro or T3 micro instance, the operating system is incredibly responsive. Boot times are fast and package management with both YUM on Amazon Linux 2 or DNF on Amazon Linux 2023 is snappy. When running the web server, Apache started instantly and PHP applications served pages with no noticeable lag. The performance is clearly optimized for EC2 hardware it runs on, feeling lightweight and efficient. Reliability has been flawless throughout the entire troubleshooting process, which involved installing and removing packages, starting and stopping services, and running a live web application; the operating system itself never once crashed, hung, or produced unexpected kernel-level errors. It remained stable and practically predictable. Even when my own scripts and commands failed, the operating system handled those failures gracefully, providing clear error messages such as unit not found or no such file or directory that were crucial for debugging. It proved to be a rock-solid foundation even when the software running on top of it was being misconfigured. In short, Amazon Linux performed exactly as would be expected from a purpose-built cloud operating system. It is fast, stable, and gets out of your way so you can focus on your application.

I think Amazon Linux can be improved, particularly in that the package names for core services like MariaDB  should be consistent between major versions. For example, the MariaDB server is available in Amazon Linux 2 but is absent from Amazon Linux 2023 default repositories. This lack of consistency complicates migration and breaks existing automation scripts.

In discussing the needed improvements, I note that Amazon Linux 2023 is very minimal, but it is not immediately obvious that essential packages like a database server are missing from the default repositories. Better documentation or a web server package group would be helpful. While newer tools like DNF and systemctl are standard, providing more robust legacy links or clear migration guides for YUM and service check config would ease the transition for users accustomed to Amazon Linux 2.

I have been working in my current field for over twenty years, and I previously worked in telecommunications.

Amazon Linux is exceptionally stable. Throughout the entire troubleshooting process, which involved incorrect scripts, failed package installations, starting and stopping services, and finally  running a live web application, the operating system itself never once faltered. It handled every error gracefully, providing clear feedback without crashing or becoming unresponsive. The stability of the underlying operating system was the one constant that allowed me to diagnose and fix the problems at the application and configuration layer. It proved to be a rock-solid and reliable foundation.

Amazon Linux's scalability is excellent because it is designed to be a core component of AWS's automated and scalable architecture. It is a lightweight minimal operating system that boots quickly, making it perfect for auto-scaling groups where new instances need to be launched rapidly in response to traffic. Its real scalability comes from its seamless integration with AWS tools like CloudFormation , Auto Scaling, and user data scripts, which allow me to deploy and configure hundreds of identical ready-to-use instances automatically.

I previously used a different solution, often opting for Ubuntu  server. I chose Ubuntu initially because of its massive community support, excellent documentation, and user-friendliness of its APT package manager. It is a fantastic general-purpose operating system that is easy to learn and widely used, making it a great starting point. The switch to Amazon Linux for this lab was driven by the context of the Amazon ecosystem, and the primary reason for switching was to use the solution that is natively built, optimized, and supported by the cloud provider itself.

While my experience was in a training lab context and not a large-scale commercial deployment, I can say there is a clear return on investment in terms of time saved and operational efficiency, which directly translates to cost savings. I do not have hard financial metrics, but I can share this key observation.

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is straightforward as the pricing is simple; it is free. Amazon Linux is provided by AWS at no additional cost. I only pay for the EC2 instance and any other AWS resources I use, but the operating system itself has no licensing fees, which is a significant advantage over commercial operating systems like Red Hat Enterprise Linux  or Windows servers, which incur extra hourly charges. There is zero setup cost associated with the operating system as it is available as a standard Amazon Machine Image, an AMI, directly in the EC2 launch console.

I briefly evaluated other options available with the AWS EC2 launch console, primarily Ubuntu server. My thought process was that Ubuntu server was a strong contender. I have prior experience with it and it is known for its extensive documentation and massive community support. For a general-purpose web server, it is a very reliable and popular choice. Amazon Linux 2023 was the other main option. The key factor that made me choose it over Ubuntu for this specific task was that it is the native solution that is provided and maintained by AWS itself. My goal was to learn the AWS ecosystem, so using the native, purpose-built operating system seemed like the most logical and correct path for a lab environment.

Based on my hands-on experience, automating tasks on Amazon Linux is incredibly powerful, though it is easy depending heavily on which version you are using.

Amazon Linux's compatibility with third-party applications and tools is excellent as it is an RPM-based distribution, closely related to CentOS  and RHEL . This means it has excellent compatibility with the vast ecosystem of software packages for that world. As I observed, standard applications like Apache HTTPD, PHP, and their various modules are readily available in the official repositories. The installation process is straightforward using the native package manager, YUM or DNF. On Amazon Linux 2, MariaDB was a first-class citizen, making it perfectly compatible. The issue faced on Amazon Linux 2023 was not an incompatibility with MariaDB itself, but a packaging and distribution choice by AWS to not include it in the default repositories. If I were to compile it from source or find a third-party repository, it would likely run without issue.

My advice to others looking into using Amazon Linux is to verify your version, master the AWS ecosystem, not just the operating system, and adopt a minimalist mindset. For the first option, verifying your version is the most critical piece of advice. The differences between Amazon Linux 2 and Amazon Linux 2023 are significant. Before running any script or following any tutorial, it is important to confirm which version you are using.

My journey with Amazon Linux has been a perfect real-world lesson in cloud computing. It is an ecosystem where every layer is interconnected. The operating system is not just an operating system; it is a piece of a larger puzzle that includes networking, security, automation, and package management. While the initial incompatibility between Amazon Linux 2 and Amazon Linux 2023 was a source of frustration, it ultimately forced me to learn and appreciate that puzzle. It taught me that being a cloud professional is not just about knowing how to run common commands; it is about understanding why they might fail and how to diagnose issues from the firewall all the way down to the file permissions. My final thought is that Amazon Linux is an excellent operating system, but its true value is as a learning tool. It perfectly embodies the power and complexity of the AWS environment. It can be challenging, but mastering its quirks provides a much deeper and more practical understanding of how to build resilient and automated solutions in the cloud. I would rate this product an eight out of ten.

My main use case for Amazon Linux  is to deploy websites or applications directly using NGINX , and I also use a containerized platform like Docker  on Amazon Linux  as well as using Amazon Linux as an NFS server or client for my projects.

Recently, I deployed an event management platform for the institute using NGINX  on Amazon Linux, which helped me take inputs from all the students of the institute and give it to the faculty in the form of CSV sheets and notifications, along with feedback forms. We even integrated an automatic certificate generation AI tool, and I found it much easier and better to deploy on Amazon Linux instead of Ubuntu  or other operating systems, making it a nice experience as I have been using it for a very long time.

Currently, I am also using Amazon Linux as the server for several projects where I store databases, backends, and the frontend. Since I started using Amazon Linux, I always tell everyone to choose Amazon Linux as it is very much better than other operating systems and provides a proper guide for manual deployment.

Amazon Linux offers several features such as easy access, a proper command-line interface, and simple development and deployment capabilities, including all the features present in other operating systems but with better functionality.

The proper command-line interface in Amazon Linux helps me configure settings easily, and after comparing it to the command-line interface in RHEL  and other operating systems, I find Amazon Linux to be absolutely better, making me very satisfied with its features.

When my students ask about which operating system to use, I always recommend Amazon Linux due to its easy access and additional features, positively impacting my institution and enabling my students to work efficiently.

After my institute's faculty and students started using Amazon Linux, their efficiency increased significantly, leading to improvements in their work.

Amazon Linux can be improved by adding more built-in features, allowing easy access to services directly when the operating system is obtained instead of requiring a manual installation.

I have been working on Amazon Linux for the last one year, deploying many websites using Amazon Linux, and I like the file system, similar to RHEL . In fact, they are much better than other operating systems, which is why I prefer Amazon Linux above all others.

Amazon Linux is much more stable than all the other operating systems, particularly compared to Ubuntu , and is easy to access for my needs.

The scalability of Amazon Linux is very significant compared to other operating systems. Since I continually use it, I recognize its advantages, such as the absence of imposed scalability limits by Amazon, and the compatibility of container scalability with Amazon ECS  and Amazon EKS , along with performance optimizations and low latency for workloads.

The customer support for Amazon Linux is very much improved. When I try to contact them, I always receive a fast and satisfying reply that resolves my issues.

Before switching to Amazon Linux, I was continuously using Ubuntu as my operating system, but after being introduced to Amazon Linux, I became inspired and made the switch due to my agreement with its capabilities.

I purchased Amazon Linux from the AWS Marketplace .

Recently, by deploying the event management platform, we saved money due to improved efficiency and required fewer employees for the project, highlighting the advantages of using Amazon Linux.

The pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Amazon Linux are valid for the services provided. I find it fair because it is much better than other operating systems and offers more features, which makes me satisfied with what Amazon Linux provides.

I evaluated other options such as RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux ), Ubuntu, and Fedora before choosing, but Amazon Linux proves to be far better than all of these.

My advice for others considering Amazon Linux is to trust it, as it is a modern, cloud-optimized operating system that provides strong security, predictable updates, seamless cloud platform integrations, and is lightweight and tuned for high-performance applications, making it highly reliable.

Amazon Linux introduces significant improvements in security, update management, and AWS  integration, making it a cloud-optimized operating system with features such as SELinux enforced by default, kernel live patching, deterministic upgrades, and flexible version locking, all enhancing its efficiency, scalability, and reliability.

If I were to express my thoughts about Amazon Linux, I would say: In the cloud it rises, light yet strong. A home for workloads all day long. Secure by default, updates in stride. Scaling with EC2  at AWS ' side. From kernel patches without a pause to SELinux enforcing every clause. Amazon Linux, tuned and free, the cloud-native heart of efficiency. I rate my experience with Amazon Linux a 9 out of 10.