A VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) is an isolated virtual network inside a cloud provider where users can launch and manage resources securely. VPCs include subnets, routing tables, NAT gateways, firewalls, and endpoint configurations. They allow fine-grained control over inbound and outbound traffic and support secure multi-tier architectures.
Why it matters
VPCs are foundational to cloud security and architecture. They provide controlled, private environments for running applications, databases, and internal services while still enabling public access where necessary.
Examples
Hosting an application backend in private subnets while exposing only an API gateway to the public internet. Lessons like What Is a Firewall? and cloud networking modules reference VPCs.