Previously, EC2 Image Builder launched new instances for each image build, incurring startup time. With ASG integration, Image Builder reuses already running instances from the specified Auto Scaling Group, applying build components and creating images more rapidly by avoiding instance bootstrapping.
The Auto Scaling Group replenishes instances continuously to maintain readiness for subsequent builds, ensuring consistent pipeline performance. This opt-in feature is available across AWS Regions and maintains compatibility with existing pipelines not opting into the ASG usage.
Source & further reading
EC2 Image Builder now integrates with ASG for faster image builds ↗Source published 2026-10-19. This report was prepared with AI assistance from the linked primary-source material. Claims and limitations should be checked against the original announcement or research.