Summary

This chapter provided a comprehensive overview of IAM, an essential service in AWS for securely controlling access to AWS resources. You explored the key components of IAM, users, roles, groups, and policies, each of which serves a distinct yet interconnected function. IAM users, akin to individual identities within AWS, can be granted varying levels of access to AWS services and resources. IAM groups simplify permission management by categorizing users with similar access needs, while IAM roles offer a flexible approach to assigning temporary permissions, especially useful in scenarios such as cross-account access and identity federation. IAM policies, written in JSON format, are the core mechanism for defining and regulating access permissions. We also delved into advanced features such as permission boundaries and IAM Access Analyzer, which add layers of security and compliance. The chapter emphasized the importance of best practices, such as the principle of least privilege...