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In this lesson we cover EC2 Image Builder — a managed AWS service that automates creation, testing, versioning, and distribution of customized AMIs and container images. You can orchestrate image builds and deployments using the AWS Management Console, CLI, SDKs, or APIs.
A diagram showing the AWS EC2 Image Builder workflow: a user uses the Console or CLI to run Amazon EC2 Image Builder, which produces an AMI that is deployed to EC2 instances.
EC2 Image Builder is designed to produce reproducible “golden images” — hardened, pre-configured AMIs containing the OS, required software, configurations, and security settings your organization requires. Golden images are the canonical artifacts from which production EC2 instances are launched. Why use EC2 Image Builder
  • Automates and standardizes image build, test, and distribution.
  • Enables scheduled or event-driven rebuilds for patching and compliance.
  • Provides versioning and reproducibility for rollback and auditing.
  • Supports both VM (AMI) and container image builds.
Core image lifecycle Below is a concise overview of the core lifecycle steps when creating a golden image. Best practice: keep images minimal. Install only required packages and remove unnecessary components to reduce attack surface and simplify maintenance. Build -> Test -> Distribute (pipeline overview)
  • Build phase: apply build components to install or remove software, configure the OS, and perform setup tasks.
  • Customization: set system settings, network parameters, user accounts, logging, and environment-specific items.
  • Testing phase: require tests to pass before the image is approved — use AWS tests or custom scripts for functional and security validation.
  • Distribution phase: declare Regions and target accounts for AMI distribution and sharing.
A flowchart-style diagram titled "EC2 Image Builder" illustrating an image build pipeline. It shows steps with orange icons: choose a base image, add/remove software and customize with build components, then test the image, distribute AMIs to AWS regions/accounts, and run instances from the custom image.
How an Image Builder pipeline works (components and configuration)
  • Image recipe: describes the source AMI and an ordered list of build components (for example, install packages, run configuration scripts). The recipe defines the inputs and the sequence of actions to create the AMI.
  • Components: reusable documents (YAML/JSON) containing shell or PowerShell commands and metadata. Components encapsulate installation, configuration, and cleanup tasks and can be shared across recipes.
  • Infrastructure configuration: declares the ephemeral EC2 instance settings used to run builds and tests — instance type, subnet, security groups, IAM instance profile, and VPC. Image Builder launches temporary build instances and then creates an AMI from the finalized instance.
  • Distribution configuration: specifies target Regions and account sharing settings for the produced AMI (copy settings and launch permissions).
  • Image pipeline: ties recipes, components, infra, tests, and distribution together. Pipelines can be scheduled (e.g., nightly patch builds) or triggered by events.
Key items to configure: the image recipe (what to run), infrastructure configuration (where/how to run it), and distribution configuration (where to publish the AMI). Image Builder launches a temporary EC2 instance to execute the recipe, run tests, create an AMI, and distribute it as configured.
Testing and security
  • Define automated tests to validate functionality and hardening before images are published.
  • Use AWS-provided tests or author custom validation scripts to verify patches, software versions, service availability, and security posture.
  • Include OS updates and security patches in the build process to reduce manual patching and ensure baseline compliance.
  • Integrate scanning tools (vulnerability scanners, CIS benchmarks) in the test phase to catch issues early.
Benefits
  • Consistent golden images across teams and accounts, reducing configuration drift.
  • Reduced manual effort for patching through scheduled or automated rebuilds.
  • Versioning and reproducibility: track image changes, audit builds, and roll back to previous versions.
  • Unified approach for AMI and container images, minimizing tool fragmentation.
Quick example: simple component and recipe Below is a minimal example to illustrate how components and a recipe are structured. Use this as a conceptual starting point; production components will include detailed steps, error handling, and tests. Example component (YAML)
Example recipe (YAML)
Links and references EC2 Image Builder centralizes and automates the image lifecycle so teams can reliably produce, validate, and distribute standardized images across AWS accounts and Regions.

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