What is AWS IAM?
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a web service that helps you securely control access to AWS resources. You can use IAM to manage users, groups, roles, and permissions to allow or deny access to AWS services and resources.
IAM controls:- Who can access AWS
- What actions they can perform
- Which resources they can access
Key Features of AWS IAM
- Users and Groups: Create individual users and group them to manage permissions collectively.
- Roles: Define roles with specific permissions that can be assumed by users or services.
- Policies: Use JSON-based policies to define permissions for users, groups, and roles.
- MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): Enhance security by requiring additional authentication factors.
- Integration with AWS Services: Seamlessly integrate IAM with other AWS services for secure access control.
Best Practices for Using AWS IAM
- Least Privilege Principle: Grant only the permissions necessary for users to perform their tasks.
- Regularly Review Permissions: Periodically audit and adjust permissions to ensure they are still appropriate.
- Use Roles for Applications: Assign roles to applications instead of using long-term access keys.
- Enable MFA: Require multi-factor authentication for sensitive operations and privileged users.
- Monitor IAM Activity: Use AWS CloudTrail to log and monitor IAM activities for security auditing.