Can I Connect to a VPC-only Instance From the Internet?

No. VPC-only instances cannot be accessed directly from the internet. Instances deployed without a public IP are reachable only within the VPC and are isolated from inbound public traffic by default. This design prevents direct exposure and enforces private-by-default networking.

To connect to a VPC-only instance, you must use one of the following supported methods:

• NAT Gateway with port forwarding to expose specific services or ports.
• VPN access to securely connect to the VPC network.
• A bastion host deployed within the same VPC or a connected network to provide controlled administrative access.