🚀 ECS Express Mode: From an image to an HTTPS endpoint in a single step
📘 Introduction
When we work with containers, we usually need to configure a lot of
things before we can publish an application: networks, load balancers,
permissions, security, certificates, logs… and that can be
overwhelming for someone just starting out.
To make this process much simpler, AWS released ECS Express Mode, a
new way to deploy containerized applications without having to worry
about all that complicated infrastructure. In this article I explain
what it is, how it works, and why it can be very useful if you’re
learning AWS.
🌟 What is ECS Express Mode?
It’s a fast way to deploy a containerized application using Amazon ECS.
The idea is simple: you just upload your image to ECR (or use one you
already have), and ECS Express Mode takes care of the rest.
The result?
In just a few clicks or commands, you’ll have a running service with
HTTPS, load balancing, monitoring, and autoscaling ready to use.
🧩 What does it automatically create?
ECS Express Mode configures infrastructure for you that normally takes
quite a long time:
✔️ An Application Load Balancer (ALB)
So your application can receive HTTPS traffic securely.
The certificate is also configured automatically.
✔️ CloudWatch Logs
Your application will send logs from the very first minute, no extra
configuration required.
✔️ IAM Roles
It creates the necessary permissions so your tasks can pull the image,
send logs, or access secrets.
✔️ VPC, subnets, and security
If you don’t have a network created, AWS places your service inside a
new VPC already configured.
✔️ Autoscaling
Your service can increase or decrease tasks without you having to
configure advanced rules.
🎯 What do you need to configure yourself?
Very little. Just:
- The container image
- Service port (if not using the standard one)
- Any environment variables or secrets (if needed)
- Optionally, CPU and memory
Everything else can remain automatic.
🔧 Can it be customized?
Yes. If you already have experience, you can modify:
- Existing VPC and subnets
- Security group
- Log group name
- Container startup command
- Health checks
- Resource limits
- Scaling configuration
But if you’re just starting out, it’s best to leave everything in
default mode.
🧠 Why is this so useful?
Because it lets you focus on what matters: your application.
Learning cloud often means dealing with networks, permissions, security,
certificates… and ECS Express Mode reduces that initial complexity a
lot.
It’s ideal if you are:
- Learning containers
- Practicing deployments on AWS
- Creating a project for university
- Building an MVP or prototype
- Preparing for cloud certifications
You can focus on the workflow without getting lost in advanced details.
📌 Important considerations
Although very practical, keep in mind:
- The ALB has a cost; if you create several services, each one may
generate its own load balancer. - If you need a complex architecture, Express Mode might fall short.
- It’s perfect for getting started, but large projects may require
more advanced ECS configuration.
🚀 Conclusion
ECS Express Mode is an amazing tool for deploying containerized
applications quickly, easily, and securely—especially if you’re
learning AWS. It saves you from having to build all the initial
infrastructure and allows you to focus on development.
If you want to understand how cloud services work without getting
tangled in too many technical details, this is an excellent option.
📚 References
🌐 Spanish
“ECS Express Mode: de una imagen a un endpoint HTTPS en un solo paso“
