Description: Amazon EC2 security groups are virtual firewalls that control inbound and outbound traffic for EC2 instances. These groups allow users to define specific rules that determine what traffic is allowed or denied based on criteria such as IP addresses, protocols, and ports. Each security group can be associated with multiple instances, making it easier to manage security in cloud environments. The rules are applied in a ‘stateful’ manner, meaning that if inbound traffic is allowed, the response to that traffic is also automatically permitted. This provides an additional layer of security and flexibility, allowing administrators to adjust configurations based on the needs of the application or service being run. Additionally, security groups are highly scalable and can be modified in real-time, enabling organizations to quickly adapt to changes in traffic or security policies. In summary, security groups are an essential tool for protecting cloud resources, ensuring that only authorized traffic can access critical services.