Week 2: Mastering AWS IAM

I delved into AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and learned how to apply fine-grained permissions to AWS services and resources. This knowledge enables precise specification of which entities can access particular services and resources. Additionally, I explored how IAM manages permissions for users and applications, ensuring adherence to the principle of least privilege.

AWS IAM: A web service that securely controls access to AWS resources, managing who is authenticated (signed in) and authorized (has permissions) to use them.

IAM Users: Entities created in AWS representing users or applications that interact with AWS.

IAM User Groups: Collections of IAM users sharing specific permissions.

IAM Roles: Short-term, temporary credentials that can be assumed by an identity.

Here's a breakdown of what I did:

1. Creating IAM Users: I created IAM users and attached permissions to grant them administrative privileges.
2. Managing IAM Groups: I set up IAM groups with necessary permissions and added IAM users to these groups.
3. Establishing IAM Roles: I created IAM roles, developed policies, and attached these policies to the roles.
4. Configuring Access Keys: I generated access keys and configured the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) to enable programmatic access to AWS resources.
5. Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): I enforced MFA for users to enhance security.

In summary, I acquired a comprehensive understanding of AWS IAM and its crucial role in securing AWS resources. Through creating IAM users, groups, and roles, I effectively applied fine-grained permissions to control access. Enforcing the principle of least privilege and implementing MFA further fortified security. This knowledge equips me to manage AWS permissions meticulously, ensuring robust security and efficient access management for users and applications.