> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.automq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Overview

> Get started with AutoMQ Cloud, a Kafka-compatible, cloud-native messaging service. This guide walks you through the initial setup, from prerequisites to deploying your first cluster.

This guide provides a high-level overview of the steps required to get started with AutoMQ Cloud. It outlines the prerequisites and the core workflow for deploying your first Kafka-compatible cluster in your cloud environment.

<Info>
  Throughout this document, "AutoMQ" refers to AutoMQ HK Limited and its affiliates.
</Info>

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure your cloud environment meets the following requirements:

* **Cloud Infrastructure:** Your applications must be deployed within a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) on a supported public cloud platform. You will need access to core services like object storage (e.g., Amazon S3) and virtual machines (e.g., Amazon EC2).

* **Cloud Account:** An active public cloud account with sufficient IAM permissions to create and manage the required IaaS resources (VPC, S3, EC2, etc.).

## Getting Started Workflow

The process of deploying AutoMQ Cloud involves two main steps:

1. **Create an Environment:** An AutoMQ Environment is a logical management boundary that contains your cluster configurations, networking details, and integrations. It's the first resource you need to create. For a detailed explanation, see [Environments Overview▸](/automq-cloud/manage-environments/overview).

2. **Create an Instance:** Once the Environment is provisioned, you can create an AutoMQ Instance. An Instance is equivalent to an Apache Kafka® cluster. After creation, you can obtain the bootstrap-server endpoint to connect your Kafka clients and start producing and consuming messages.