AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a critical web service provided by Amazon Web Services that helps organizations securely control access to AWS resources.
IAM acts as the backbone of security within an AWS account by allowing administrators to manage who is authenticated (signed in) and authorized (has permissions) to access or manipulate specific AWS services and resources.
With IAM, users can establish granular permissions, ensuring individuals or applications can only perform approved actions, thereby promoting the principle of least privilege.
IAM Infrastructure and Workflow
When an AWS account is created, it starts with a single sign-in identity called the root user, which has unrestricted access to all AWS services and resources.
However, using the root account for everyday operations is discouraged due to security risks. Instead, IAM enables creating multiple identities, such as IAM users, groups, and roles, with finely tuned permissions.
The Core Workflow of IAM Includes Two Main Stages:
1. Authentication: When a user or application attempts to access AWS resources, they first authenticate using credentials (passwords, access keys, or federated identities). IAM verifies this identity against trusted principals within the AWS account.
2. Authorization: Upon successful authentication, an authorization request checks what actions the authenticated identity is permitted to perform. Access is granted or denied based on policies attached to the user, group, or role. Policies define allowed or restricted operations on specified AWS resources.
Security Features and Benefits
IAM supports advanced security controls such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which adds a layer of protection by requiring users to provide a second factor (such as a code from a mobile app) when signing in.
Moreover, IAM is designed with a shared responsibility model, meaning AWS secures the infrastructure while customers manage identity and access security efficiently.
IAM is globally available, free of charge, and integrated with nearly every AWS service, making it essential for securing your cloud environment.
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