How to Build a Complete Back End System with Serverless: Complete Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on April 13, 2026
The Serverless Framework is a powerful tool for developers to configure and deploy cloud services. This complete tutorial shows you how to build and deploy a full backend system for your application using AWS and the Serverless Framework. By the end of this tutorial, you will know how to create Lambda functions, S3 storage, API Gateway endpoints, DynamoDB databases, and secure your APIs.
What You'll Learn:
- How to set up AWS account for Serverless Framework
- Step by step guide to installing and configuring Serverless
- Beginner guide to deploying AWS Lambda functions
- How to create S3 buckets and upload files
- Complete tutorial on building APIs with API Gateway and Lambda
- How to create and use DynamoDB databases
- Securing endpoints with API keys and usage plans
AWS Account Setup for Serverless
Before you can deploy serverless services, you need to set up AWS credentials for the Serverless Framework. This step by step guide shows you how to create an IAM user with the necessary permissions.
Create IAM User
Beginner guide to creating an IAM user. Navigate to AWS Console, search for IAM, click Users, and then Add user. Give it programmatic access and a name like ServerlessAccount.
Attach Permissions
Step by step guide to attaching policies. Select "Attach existing policies directly" and choose AdministratorAccess. This gives Serverless permission to create all needed resources.
Save Your Credentials
Keep the Access Key ID and Secret Access key open - you will need them in the next step. This is your only chance to see the secret key.
Installing Serverless Framework
Now that you have your AWS credentials, install the Serverless Framework on your machine. This complete tutorial uses npm to install Serverless globally.
npm install -g serverless
Configure Serverless with your AWS credentials using the profile name:
serverless config credentials --provider aws --key YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_ID --secret YOUR_SECRET_KEY --profile serverlessUser
Deploying Your First Lambda
Create a Serverless project from a template and deploy your first Lambda function. This step by step guide shows you how to get started.
serverless create --template aws-nodejs --path myServerlessProject
Update your serverless.yml to use your profile:
provider:
name: aws
runtime: nodejs10.x
profile: serverlessUser
serverless deploy
Creating API with Lambda and API Gateway
Creating an API is one of the most useful serverless capabilities. This step by step guide shows you how to create endpoints that can get data, interact with databases, and more.
Lambda Functions
AWS Lambda runs your code in response to events. Functions scale automatically and you only pay for compute time used.
API Gateway
API Gateway creates HTTP endpoints for your Lambda functions. Handles authorization, throttling, and request transformation.
functions:
getUser:
handler: lambdas/endpoints/getUser.handler
events:
- http:
path: get-user/{ID}
method: GET
cors: true
Creating DynamoDB Database
DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database that integrates perfectly with Lambda. This beginner guide shows you how to create tables and interact with them from your APIs.
resources:
Resources:
MyDynamoDbTable:
Type: AWS::DynamoDB::Table
Properties:
TableName: player-points
AttributeDefinitions:
- AttributeName: ID
AttributeType: S
KeySchema:
- AttributeName: ID
KeyType: HASH
BillingMode: PAY_PER_REQUEST
Securing APIs with API Keys
When moving to production, you need to secure your API endpoints. This complete tutorial shows you how to protect endpoints with API keys and usage plans.
| Security Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| API Keys | Require X-API-KEY header for access |
| Usage Plans | Limit requests per period |
| Throttling | Rate limit and burst control |
provider:
apiKeys:
- myFirstAPIKey
usagePlan:
quota:
limit: 1000
period: MONTH
throttle:
burstLimit: 10
rateLimit: 5
functions:
getUser:
handler: lambdas/endpoints/getUser.handler
events:
- http:
path: get-user/{ID}
method: GET
private: true
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Serverless Framework?
The Serverless Framework is an open-source tool that helps developers deploy and manage serverless applications on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other providers.
How much does AWS Serverless cost?
AWS Lambda includes a free tier with 400,000 GB-seconds of compute time per month. S3 and DynamoDB have their own free tier and pay-as-you-go pricing.
What is the difference between Lambda and EC2?
Lambda is serverless - you upload code and AWS manages the infrastructure. EC2 gives you virtual servers where you manage everything including the operating system.
Can I use DynamoDB with other cloud providers?
DynamoDB is an AWS service. For multi-cloud solutions, consider using FaunaDB, MongoDB Atlas, or other database services that work across providers.
How do I secure my serverless API?
Use API keys for simple protection, Cognito for user authentication, or IAM roles for fine-grained access control. You can also add WAF for additional security.
Need Help with Serverless Architecture?
Our experts can help you design and deploy serverless applications on AWS. From Lambda functions to DynamoDB databases and API Gateway setup, we can help you build scalable backend systems.