Separate stop from terminate
Before either action, identify the application’s important data and its storage. I would check volume deletion settings instead of assuming that every file disappears or every disk survives. The instance and its supporting resources have related but distinct lifecycles.
Read the protection scope
Different lifecycle mechanisms have different behaviour. Review the limitations for your configuration, including automated groups and interruptible capacity where applicable. A protection setting cannot substitute for understanding how the workload is managed.
Practise intentional retirement
A protected server can still suffer application errors and data loss. Test suitable backups separately. For cleanup, record how protection is disabled deliberately, what dependencies need review and how you confirm that unwanted resources are gone.
Try it yourself
Create a server-retirement checklist covering data, dependencies, protection, volumes and a final resource review.
A common question
Does termination protection back up data?
No. It controls certain termination actions; data protection and recovery are separate tasks.
References & video notes
Use the video to follow the topic with me. Console screens and older offers can change, so check the current AWS documentation before performing a lab.
Keep learning
- What is Amazon EC2? A beginner’s guide
- What is an AMI? Understanding EC2 machine images
- Plan and launch your first EC2 instance