What happens automatically when you create a new Amazon VPC?

When you create a new Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), a main route table is automatically created by default. This main route table serves as the default routing mechanism for the VPC, determining how traffic is directed both within the VPC and to external networks. The presence of this route table is essential because it enables the configuration of routes that allow communication between instances within the VPC and also governs traffic flow out of the VPC, such as access to the internet if an internet gateway is attached.

While it may seem that other resources, such as an Internet Gateway or NAT Gateway, would also be automatically created, these components are not included by default. The creation of an Internet Gateway or a NAT Gateway is an additional step the user must take to enable internet access for the instances within the VPC. Similarly, Elastic IPs are not assigned automatically when a VPC is created and must be allocated as needed, often depending on individual instance requirements. The default route table establishes a foundational setup for the VPC, enabling users to further customize their network configurations as needed.