Email is an essential part of communication for both individuals and businesses. While Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) is a popular choice for sending emails on AWS, there are situations where you might prefer a self-hosted solution. Whether you’re concerned about costs, customization, or independence, building your own email service provider on AWS is a powerful option.
This blog will guide you through creating a scalable, secure, and self-hosted email service on AWS without relying on SES. You will learn how to set up your infrastructure, configure email server software, optimize deliverability, and implement advanced features for a robust email system.
Why Build Your Own Email Service on AWS?
Creating your own email service may seem complex, but it offers key benefits:
- Cost Savings: Bypass SES fees, especially for bulk email sending.
- Customization: Full control over architecture, software, and features.
- Scalability: Build a solution that grows with your business.
- Independence: Avoid vendor lock-in with open-source alternatives.
Now, let’s break down the process step by step.
Infrastructure on AWS
To get started, we’ll build the foundation of the email service on AWS. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Host Email Server on EC2 Instances
- Choose an EC2 instance type: Use a general-purpose instance (e.g., t3.medium or t3.large) for a small to medium-sized service. Scale up for higher traffic.
- Operating System: Use Ubuntu or CentOS for compatibility with popular email server tools.
- Security Groups: Open ports for SMTP (25), IMAP (143), POP3 (110), and webmail access (80/443).
- Manage DNS with Route 53
Set up your domain’s DNS records using AWS Route 53 to ensure seamless email communication. Key records include:
- MX records: Direct inbound emails to your server.
- SPF/DKIM/DMARC: For email authentication (we’ll cover this in detail later).
- A and CNAME records: Map IP addresses and enable webmail access.
