How to Set Up Your First IAM User in 5 Minutes on AWS

Introduction

IAM means Identity and Access Management. It allows you to create separate users for yourself (and your teammates) and give them only the permissions they actually need.

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Log in to your AWS account

3. Navigate to the IAM

4. Go to Users and Add User

5. Set User Details

6. Set Permissions for the User

7. Review and Create

8. Download Credentials

Log in to Your AWS Management Console

1. Open your web browser and navigate to https://aws.amazon.com/console/
2. Enter your login details

Navigate to the IAM Dashboard

1. Use the search bar at the top, then type IAM and press Enter.
2. You can also navigate to IAM through "Services" then "Security, Identity & Compliance" then click on "IAM"

Go to Users and Add User

1. Click on "Users" in the left navigation pane
2. Click on the "Create User" button

Set User Details

1. Input a name for the new user

1. Click on the "Provide user access to the AWS Management Console" box.

2. Click on the "I want to create an IAM user" Box.

3. Click on the "Custom password" box

4. Enter a password that matches all the password requirements.

NOTE: When there is someone or a camera close to you, do not click on "Show Password" to prevent Shoulder Surfing

Click on the "Users must create a new password at next sign-in - Recommended "

Click on the "Next" button

Set Permissions for the User

1. Click on the "Attach policies directly" box
2. Choose the policies you want to set, and the type of policies, and you can also create your own policies
3. Click "Next"

Review and Create

1. Confirm the Username, Access Type and Permission boundary. Click "Create User" if everything is correct.

Download Credentials

1. You would see your username, password and a sign-in URL and download it for the new user to sign in and be able to change their passwords. Click the "Download CSV" to download the files.

CLICK CLOSE

Conclusion

Congratulations! By following the steps you've successfully recreated a new IAM user account