Connect AWS

This guide explains how to configure AWS connections in the CloudBolt Platform to support billing functions.

You can deploy the required AWS resources as part of this connection, or connect a stack you already deployed separately (see Configure AWS accounts).

Prerequisites

• A CloudBolt Platform user with the Operations or Admin role. Refer to Manage roles.
• The AWS account prerequisites described in Configure AWS accounts.

Connect a new AWS account

Use this option if you haven’t deployed the CloudBolt CloudFormation template. This flow opens CloudFormation in a new browser tab using your current AWS Console session, so make sure you’re signed in to the AWS Console for the account you’re connecting before you start.

1. Log in to the CloudBolt Platform. The address depends on where your organization’s tenant is hosted; see Sign in.

2. Go to Settings > Connections.

3. In the AWS section, select Add Connection.

4. Review the ACTION REQUIRED dialog, then select Got it. See Configure AWS accounts for prerequisites.

5. Complete the connection details:

   Field	Description
   Connection Name	A name to identify this connection in CloudBolt.
   Account ID	Your 12-digit AWS management account number.

6. Select Deploy Stack. CloudBolt opens the AWS CloudFormation console in a new tab, in us-east-1, with the CloudBolt template already loaded.

7. Complete the CloudFormation stack (stack name, S3 bucket name, deployment scope, and CloudBolt tenant region), acknowledge the required capabilities, then select Submit. See CloudFormation template parameters for the full reference.

8. Return to CloudBolt. The connection appears under Settings > Connections and completes setup automatically.

Connect a stack already deployed

If the CloudBolt template is already deployed in this account, for example if you deployed it directly in the AWS Console per Configure AWS accounts:

1. Follow steps 1–5 above.
2. Select Connect Existing Stack.
3. In Stack Name, enter the name of the CloudFormation stack you deployed.
4. Select Connect Existing Stack again to confirm.

If the stack was created from an older CloudBolt template, CloudBolt reports that it needs updating and provides a link to update it in place.

Connect a Terraform deployment

If your organization can’t use CloudFormation, you can create the management-account resources with a CloudBolt-provided Terraform module and connect with Connect Terraform Deployment. This is a beta option, enabled on request, and it covers the management account only, so CloudFormation remains the recommended path. Refer to AWS onboarding with Terraform.

What happens next

Once the stack reaches CREATE_COMPLETE, CloudBolt finishes setup automatically:

1. Reads the stack’s configuration.
2. Assumes the created cross-account IAM role.
3. Verifies the account prerequisites.
4. Creates any of the cost report exports that don’t already exist.

The connection card shows progress, then displays Connected. If setup can’t be completed, the card displays a specific error and a Retry action.

Manage the connection

• Test Connection: Runs health checks and refreshes the status.
• Re-Sync: Re-reads the CloudFormation stack and creates any missing exports. Use after updating your stack, or if exports were deleted.
• Manage: Edit the connection Name. FOCUS Bucket, Resource Prefix, and Stack Name are read-only.