Hey Devs 👋
As I was building PulseGuard, I realized something...
Most monitoring tools focus only on uptime — but cloud control matters too.
If I could monitor my server and start or stop the EC2 instance from the same dashboard, that would save time (and cost). So I built it.
Why Add EC2 Controls?
- Avoid logging into the AWS Console every time you need to reboot
- Turn off staging/dev servers when not in use
- Save $$$ on idle EC2 time
- React quickly when something goes wrong
⚙️ How It Works (Under the Hood)
Instead of using Lambda, PulseGuard uses IAM Assume Role to securely access your AWS account.
- You create a role in your AWS account with permissions like
ec2:StartInstances,StopInstances, etc. - That role is assumable by PulseGuard's AWS identity
- When you press the start/stop button in the dashboard, PulseGuard assumes the role, executes the action, and returns the result
No permanent credentials are shared, and all activity is logged.
Bonus: It Integrates with Monitoring
You can monitor your server's uptime and control it — from the same dashboard.
It’s especially useful for short-lived dev or test environments.
Is It Secure?
Yes. Here's how:
- You control the IAM role, permissions, and which instances are allowed
- PulseGuard uses AssumeRole with external ID for added security
- Only minimal EC2 permissions are needed (start/stop/reboot)
- Your servers are never exposed directly
If you're tired of switching between monitoring tools and AWS just to reboot or shut down your EC2 instances, give PulseGuard a try.
Would love feedback, ideas, or just to connect if you're building something similar 🚀
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