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AWS networking works through several settings working together: a resource’s VPC and subnet, the subnet’s route table, its IP addresses, and the security controls on the path. A subnet is not internet-accessible just because it is named “public” or because an internet gateway is attached to its VPC.
This guide explains how those parts fit together, how to distinguish public and private subnets, and what to check when a connection fails.
What is an AWS VPC?
An Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated virtual network that you define in AWS. It has one or more IP address ranges. Subnets divide that address space into smaller ranges where you can place resources such as EC2 instances. Each subnet belongs to one Availability Zone (AZ), so workloads that need to remain available through an AZ disruption generally need resources in subnets across multiple AZs.
For ordinary subnets, AWS requires an IPv4 CIDR range. You can also associate IPv6 addressing when the VPC has an IPv6 range. An IPv6-only subnet provides IPv6, not IPv4, and requires instances on the Nitro System. See the Amazon VPC User Guide overview and subnet and route table documentation.
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How do route tables work in AWS?
A route table maps a destination range to a target, such as a VPC’s local network, an internet gateway, a NAT gateway, or a peering connection. Each subnet uses one route table at a time: it may be explicitly associated with a custom table, or it uses the VPC’s main route table by default. Every route table includes a local route for communication within the VPC.
AWS chooses the most specific matching route (longest-prefix match). The IPv4 catch-all route 0.0.0.0/0 and the IPv6 catch-all route ::/0 are separate; adding one does not add the other. A more specific route wins over a broader matching route.
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Private connectivity does not always require a direct internet route. For example, a private subnet can send outbound traffic through a NAT device, or reach AWS services using VPC endpoints without an internet gateway or NAT device. The right route target depends on the architecture. AWS describes these behaviors in its route table guide.
What is the difference between a public and private subnet in AWS?
A subnet is public when its associated route table has a route to an internet gateway. Without that route, AWS considers it private. The subnet’s name, CIDR range, or the mere presence of an internet gateway attached to the VPC does not determine whether it is public.
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For an IPv4 instance to communicate with the internet through an internet gateway, it also needs a public IPv4 address or Elastic IP. An IPv6 instance needs IPv6 addressing and an applicable IPv6 route. IPv6 addresses are globally unique and public by default, so access should be controlled deliberately. In either case, routing and security rules still affect whether traffic can pass.
| Setting | What it determines |
|---|---|
| Subnet route table | Whether the subnet has a route to an internet gateway for the relevant IP family |
| Instance address | For IPv4 internet communication through an internet gateway, whether the instance has a public IPv4 address or Elastic IP; for IPv6, whether it has IPv6 addressing |
| Security controls | Whether the intended traffic is allowed by the resource’s security group and the subnet’s network ACL |
The AWS internet gateway guide explains that an internet gateway must be attached to the VPC and used as a route target. It also performs one-to-one NAT for public IPv4 traffic. An internet gateway route alone is not enough to give an IPv4 instance internet access.
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What does an internet gateway do?
An internet gateway (IGW) is a VPC component that enables communication between a VPC and the internet when the necessary routing, addressing, and security settings are in place. To configure internet connectivity for a subnet, use this sequence:
- Attach an internet gateway to the VPC.
- Associate the subnet with a route table that sends the intended IPv4 or IPv6 traffic to that gateway.
- Ensure the instance has the required public address for the IP family being used.
- Allow the intended traffic through the security group and network ACL.
A public IP cannot compensate for a missing route, and a route to an IGW cannot compensate for a missing IPv4 public address. AWS’s internet gateway documentation covers the configuration requirements.
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What is the difference between a security group and a network ACL?
Both control traffic, but they apply at different scopes and behave differently. A security group is associated with resources; a network ACL (NACL) is associated with a subnet. AWS describes NACLs as an additional security layer, not a substitute for security groups.
| Control | Scope | Rules and evaluation | Return traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security group | Resource | Allows specified traffic; it is not an ordered allow/deny list | Stateful: responses to permitted traffic are allowed automatically |
| Network ACL | Subnet | Allows or denies traffic; numbered rules are evaluated from lowest number upward, and the first matching rule decides | Stateless: return traffic must be allowed separately |
Security group rules specify protocol, port range, and source or destination. Limit administrative ports such as SSH and RDP to the address ranges that need access, rather than opening them broadly. NACLs have separate inbound and outbound rule sets; because they are stateless, a permitted inbound flow does not automatically permit its response traffic. AWS explains the distinction in its network ACL guide and security group guide.
Why can’t my AWS workload connect?
Check the dependencies in order. This helps distinguish a routing problem from an addressing or filtering problem:
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- Confirm the resource is in the intended VPC and subnet.
- Check which route table the subnet uses, including whether it inherits the main route table.
- Find the most specific route matching the destination, and confirm its target is attached and valid.
- If internet access is intended, check the required public IPv4 or IPv6 address and the corresponding route.
- Review the resource’s security group ingress and egress rules.
- Review the subnet’s numbered NACL rules in both directions, including the return path.
For an IPv4 destination, look for an applicable IPv4 route; for IPv6, check the separate IPv6 route. If a NACL is involved, verify that both the outbound and return traffic match permitted rules. These checks reflect the dependencies described across the VPC overview, internet gateway guide, NACL guide, and security group guide.
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