AWS Certificate Manager (ACM)

Why AWS Certificate Manager is Important:
AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) simplifies the process of provisioning, managing, and deploying SSL/TLS certificates for use with AWS services and internal connected resources. It eliminates the need for manual certificate management, saving time and reducing the risk of errors. ACM integrates seamlessly with various AWS services, making it easier to secure your applications and domains.

What is AWS Certificate Manager?
ACM is a fully managed service that handles the complexity of creating, storing, and renewing SSL/TLS certificates. It provides certificates that are trusted by all major web browsers and can be used to secure websites, web applications, and APIs. ACM certificates can be used with AWS services such as Elastic Load Balancing, Amazon CloudFront, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.

How AWS Certificate Manager Works:
1. Request a Certificate: You can request a new certificate through the ACM console, API, or AWS CLI. Provide the domain names you want to secure and choose the validation method (email or DNS).
2. Validate Domain Ownership: ACM sends an email to the registered owner of the domain or creates DNS validation records. You need to approve the certificate request by following the instructions in the email or adding the provided CNAME records to your DNS configuration.
3. Certificate Issuance: Once the domain ownership is validated, ACM issues the SSL/TLS certificate. The certificate is automatically renewed before it expires, as long as the domain validation remains valid.
4. Integration with AWS Services: You can associate the ACM certificate with supported AWS services, such as load balancers or CloudFront distributions, to enable HTTPS traffic for your applications.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on AWS Certificate Manager (ACM)
- Understand the benefits of using ACM, such as automatic certificate renewal, centralized certificate management, and integration with AWS services.
- Know that ACM provides trusted certificates that are recognized by all major web browsers.
- Remember that ACM certificates can be used with services like Elastic Load Balancing, Amazon CloudFront, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk.
- Be familiar with the two domain validation methods: email validation and DNS validation.
- Recognize scenarios where ACM can simplify certificate management and enhance the security of applications deployed on AWS.
- Differentiate between using ACM certificates and importing third-party certificates into ACM.
- Understand that ACM certificates are free of charge, but you pay for the AWS resources you associate them with, such as load balancers or CloudFront distributions.

By understanding the concepts and benefits of AWS Certificate Manager, you'll be better prepared to answer exam questions related to securing applications and managing SSL/TLS certificates in the AWS ecosystem.