# Deploying to AWS: From Local to Cloud

Author: Marc Niño Christopher Ocampo
Canonical URL: https://marcocampo.dev/blog/deploying-to-aws-local-to-cloud
Markdown URL: https://marcocampo.dev/blog/deploying-to-aws-local-to-cloud/markdown
Published: 2025-09-01
Updated: 2025-09-01
Category: DevOps
Tags: AWS, Deployment, Infrastructure
Reading time: 6 min read

A practical walkthrough of deploying a full-stack application using AWS services.

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Moving from localhost to a production AWS environment can be intimidating. Here's my step-by-step approach that minimizes surprises.

## Step 1: Environment Parity

Use Docker locally to mirror your production environment. If it works in the container, it'll work in EC2. No more "but it works on my machine" moments.

## Step 2: Infrastructure as Code

I define everything in configuration files. Security groups, RDS settings, S3 bucket policies—all version controlled. Rebuilding the entire infrastructure takes minutes, not hours.

> Set up monitoring before you need it. CloudWatch logs and alarms cost almost nothing but save everything when something breaks at 2 AM.

## Step 3: Database Migration Strategy

Never run migrations directly in production. Test them locally, then in a staging environment, then production. Laravel's migration system makes this disciplined approach painless.

## Step 4: Monitoring from Day One

CloudWatch logs and basic alarms cost almost nothing but save everything when something breaks at 2 AM. Set them up before you need them.

The cloud is complex, but methodical deployment makes it manageable.