IAM AWS Service

IAM AWS Service

ยท

13 min read

Network/Authentication service in AWS

IAM:

In AWS, IAM (Identity and Access Management) is a service that allows you to manage users, groups, and permissions for accessing AWS resources. It provides a way to control who can access what resources in your AWS account. IAM allows you to create and manage users and groups, assign them specific permissions, and control access to AWS resources. This helps you to ensure that only authorized users can access your AWS resources, which is important for security and compliance purposes.

Why IAM is important?

IAM is important in AWS because it provides a centralized way to manage user access to AWS resources. With IAM, you can create and manage users and groups, assign them specific permissions, and control access to AWS resources. This helps you ensure that only authorized users can access your AWS resources, which is crucial for security and compliance purposes. IAM also makes it easy to grant or revoke permissions as needed and provides detailed logging and auditing capabilities to help you monitor user activity. Overall, IAM plays a critical role in securing your AWS environment and ensuring that your resources are only accessible to authorized users.

What is the difference between a user and a group in IAM?

In IAM, a user is a single identity that represents a person or service that needs to interact with AWS resources. Each user can have individual permissions assigned to them, allowing them to access specific resources as needed.

On the other hand, a group is a collection of users that can be managed as a single entity. Instead of assigning permissions to individual users, you can assign them to groups and manage the permissions of multiple users at once. This simplifies the process of managing access to AWS resources, particularly for large organizations with many users.

So to summarize, a user is a single identity, while a group is a collection of users that can be managed together.

  1. How do you create a new user in IAM?

    To create a new user in IAM, you need to follow these steps:

    1. Log in to your AWS Console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Click on the "Add User" button.

    5. Enter a name for the new user.

    6. Select the "Access type" for the user. This can be either "Programmatic access", which allows the user to interact with AWS resources using APIs, or "AWS Management Console access", which allows the user to log in to the AWS Console.

    7. Set a password for the user if you selected "AWS Management Console access".

    8. Choose whether to require the user to reset their password on their first login.

    9. Add any necessary tags to the user.

    10. Review the user details and click "Create User".

Once you have created the user, you can assign them specific permissions by creating and attaching policies or adding them to groups with pre-defined permissions.

  1. How do you grant permissions to a user in IAM?

    step-by-step instructions to grant permissions to a user in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Select the user you want to grant permissions to from the list.

    5. Click on the "Permissions" tab.

    6. Click on the "Attach Policy" button.

    7. Select the policy you want to attach to the user.

    8. Click on the "Attach Policy" button again.

That's it! Now the user has the permissions defined in the policy you attached.

  1. How do you revoke permissions from a user in IAM?

    step-by-step instructions to revoke permissions from a user in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Select the user you want to revoke permissions from.

    5. Click on the "Permissions" tab.

    6. Find the policy that grants the user the permissions you want to revoke and click on the "x" next to it to remove it.

    7. Click on the "Detach" button to confirm that you want to revoke the policy from the user.

That's it! Now the user no longer has the permissions defined in the policy you removed.

  1. How do you create a new group in IAM?

    step-by-step instructions to create a new group in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Groups" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Click on the "Create New Group" button.

    5. Enter a name for the new group.

    6. Click on the "Next Step" button.

    7. Select the policies that you want to attach to the group.

    8. Click on the "Create Group" button.

That's it! Now you have created a new group in IAM, and you can add users to the group and assign permissions to the group as needed.

  1. How do you add users to a group in IAM?

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to add users to a group in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Groups" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Select the group you want to add users to.

    5. Click on the "Add Users to Group" button.

    6. Select the users you want to add to the group from the list.

    7. Click on the "Add Users" button.

That's it! Now the selected users have been added to the group in IAM, and you can assign permissions to the group as needed.

  1. How do you remove a user from a group in IAM?

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to remove a user from a group in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Groups" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Select the group you want to remove a user from.

    5. Click on the user you want to remove from the group.

    6. Click on the "Remove" button.

    7. Click on the "Yes, Remove" button to confirm that you want to remove the user from the group.

That's it! Now the selected user has been removed from the group in IAM.

  1. How do you delete a user or group in IAM?

    Here are the step-by-step instructions to delete a user or group in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. For a user:

      • Click on the "Users" option in the left-hand menu.

      • Select the user you want to delete.

      • Click on the "Delete User" button.

      • Enter the user's name to confirm the deletion.

    4. For a group:

      • Click on the "Groups" option in the left-hand menu.

      • Select the group you want to delete.

      • Click on the "Delete Group" button.

      • Enter the group's name to confirm the deletion.

That's it! Now the selected user or group has been deleted from IAM.

what is MFA and what types of MFA?

MFA stands for Multi-Factor Authentication, which is a security feature that adds an extra layer of protection to your AWS account.

There are several types of MFA available in IAM, including virtual MFA devices, hardware MFA devices, and SMS text message MFA.

Virtual MFA devices use a software application on your smartphone or tablet to generate a unique code.

while hardware MFA devices are physical devices that you carry with you, such as key fobs.

what are key fobs?

A key fob is a small physical device used for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) that generates a unique code for added security when accessing your AWS account. It is a convenient and secure way to add an extra layer of protection to your account. You carry it with you and enter the code it generates along with your password to access your AWS resources.

What are key fobs and do they improve security?

SMS text message MFA sends a unique code to your phone via SMS message.

All of these MFA types provide an extra layer of security to help protect your AWS account from unauthorized access.

  1. How do you enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) for a user in IAM?

    here are the step-by-step instructions to enable MFA for a user in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Select the user you want to enable MFA for.

    5. Click on the "Security credentials" tab.

    6. Click on the "Manage" button next to "Assigned MFA device".

    7. Select the type of MFA device you want to use (e.g. virtual MFA device or hardware MFA device).

    8. Follow the instructions to set up the MFA device.

    9. Once the MFA device is set up, click on the "Activate MFA" button to enable MFA for the user.

That's it! Now the user has MFA enabled for their AWS account, which provides an extra layer of security to help prevent unauthorized access.

  1. How do you create a new policy in IAM?

    To create a new policy in IAM, follow these easy and understandable step-by-step instructions:

    1. Log in to your AWS Console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Policies" option in the left-hand menu.

    4. Click on the "Create Policy" button.

    5. Select the type of policy you want to create (either "JSON" or "Visual Editor").

    6. Enter a name and description for the policy.

    7. Define the policy by adding statements that specify which actions are allowed or denied for which resources.

    8. Review the policy and click "Create Policy" to save it.

Once you have created the policy, you can attach it to users or groups to grant or deny them specific permissions.

what is the policy?

A policy is a set of permissions that define what actions are allowed or denied for a specific user or group in AWS. It is a way to control access to AWS resources and ensure that only authorized users can access them. Policies can be created using either JSON or the Visual Editor, and they can be attached to users, groups, or roles in IAM to grant or deny specific permissions. Policies are an important part of securing your AWS environment and ensuring that your resources are only accessible to authorized users.

  1. How do you attach a policy to a user or group in IAM?

    here are the step-by-step instructions to attach a policy to a user or group in IAM:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" or "Groups" option in the left-hand menu, depending on which one you want to attach a policy to.

    4. Select the user or group you want to attach the policy to.

    5. Click on the "Permissions" tab.

    6. Click on the "Attach Policy" button.

    7. Select the policy you want to attach to the user or group.

    8. Click on the "Attach Policy" button again.

That's it! Now the user or group has the permissions defined in the policy you attached.

  1. How do you test IAM permissions for a user or group?

    here are the step-by-step instructions to test IAM permissions for a user or group in AWS:

    1. Log in to your AWS console.

    2. Go to the IAM service.

    3. Click on the "Users" or "Groups" option in the left-hand menu, depending on which one you want to test.

    4. Select the user or group you want to test.

    5. Click on the "Permissions" tab.

    6. Click on the "Add Permissions" button.

    7. Select the "Add Test Permissions" option.

    8. Choose the AWS service and the action you want to test.

    9. Click on the "Add Permissions" button.

    10. Go to the AWS service you selected in step 8.

    11. Attempt to perform the action you selected in step 8.

    12. If you can act, the user or group has the necessary permissions. If not, you may need to adjust the permissions or policies assigned to the user or group.

That's it! These steps will help you test IAM permissions for a user or group in AWS.

  1. What are IAM Roles and how do they differ from IAM Users?

    IAM Roles and IAM Users are both used to manage access to resources in AWS, but they serve different purposes. Here's a step-by-step explanation of what IAM Roles are and how they differ from IAM Users:

    IAM Roles:

    1. IAM Roles are similar to IAM Users in that they are used to manage access to AWS resources.

    2. However, IAM Roles are not associated with a specific user or group of users.

    3. Instead, IAM Roles are assigned to AWS resources, such as EC2 instances or Lambda functions.

    4. When an AWS resource is assigned an IAM Role, the resource can assume that role and access other AWS resources based on the permissions granted to the role.

    5. IAM Roles are often used for applications or services that run on AWS resources so that the application or service can access other AWS resources without requiring the use of long-term access keys.

IAM Users:

  1. IAM Users are individual users who are granted access to AWS resources.

  2. IAM Users can be assigned specific permissions or policies that control their access to AWS resources.

  3. IAM Users can also be grouped into IAM Groups, which can be assigned permissions or policies that apply to all users in the group.

  4. IAM Users are often used for managing access to AWS resources for human users, such as developers or administrators.

In summary, IAM Roles are used to manage access to AWS resources for applications or services, while IAM Users are used to managing access to AWS resources for individual human users.

  1. How do you assume an IAM Role in AWS?

    Here's a step-by-step process on how to assume an IAM Role in AWS:

    1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.

    2. Navigate to the AWS resource that you want to access with the IAM Role.

    3. Select the resource and choose "Actions" or "Connect".

    4. Choose "Assume Role" from the dropdown menu.

    5. Enter the ARN (Amazon Resource Name) of the IAM Role that you want to assume.

    6. Choose the "External ID" if required.

    7. Choose the "Duration" of the role session.

    8. Choose "Switch Role" to assume the role.

    9. Once the role is assumed, you will be able to access the AWS resource based on the permissions granted to the IAM Role.

That's it! By following these simple steps, you can assume an IAM Role in AWS and access the resources to which the role has permission.

Hands-on :

Create a User :

Copy this password

How do add permission

click on user

How to delete a user

How to create Group :

How to add the user to the group :

Programmatic - Access:

Programmatic access in IAM refers to the ability to access AWS services and resources programmatically using an access key ID and secret access key. It allows you to automate tasks and integrate AWS services into applications and workflows.

create a user

click on user

install aws cli

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/getting-started-install.html

aws configure

click on devsafia

upload somefile

aws s3 ls s3://devsafia

Thank you for reading this blog๐Ÿ™

I hope it helps ๐Ÿ’•

โ€” Safia Khatoon

Happy Learning ๐Ÿ˜Š

ย