Best practices for multi-account IAM

Managing IAM across multiple AWS accounts requires a strategic approach. Here are some important best practices to consider:

• Clear account structure: Organize AWS accounts based on function or organizational structure. This not only simplifies management but also reduces the blast radius in case of issues.
• Use IAM Identity Center: Leverage IAM Identity Center to centralize access management across multiple AWS accounts. It is also recommended to use SCPs tailored to prevent the creation of IAM users and groups in each account.
• Limit root user access: A root user has unrestricted access to all resources within its AWS account. It is crucial to use SCPs to prevent its usage.
• Regular audits: Tools such as IAM Access Analyzer can be instrumental in analyzing policies and ascertaining which resources can be accessed publicly or from other accounts. Regular audits ensure that policies remain tight and secure.

In conclusion, while managing IAM in large-scale, multi-account AWS deployments can be challenging, AWS provides the tools and methodologies to navigate this complex landscape. By centralizing, automating, and adhering to best practices, even organizations with the most complex environments can ensure a secure, efficient, and manageable IAM landscape.

Summary

In this chapter, we navigated the multifaceted world of AWS IAM. Starting with a thorough understanding of access control models, such as RBAC and ABAC, we shifted gears to managing IAM identities, covering the spectrum from human and non-human identities and credential types to the intricacies of IAM users, groups, roles, and externally managed identities. Then, IAM policies took center stage, with discussions ranging from basic concepts to advanced use cases and policy management techniques. This chapter wrapped up by addressing the challenges of IAM in large-scale environments, the merits of centralized IAM management, and the importance of automation in today’s DevOps-driven landscape.

As we transition to the next chapter, we will focus on data protection in AWS, diving into encryption methods, key management techniques, and best practices for data storage.