AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a powerful and flexible web service for controlling access to AWS resources. IAM enables customers to leverage the agility and efficiency of the cloud while maintaining secure control of their organization’s AWS infrastructure. IAM Administrators new to AWS can be sometimes overwhelmed by the options available as they face competing goals: securing the environment while quickly enabling new users to accomplish their jobs. Further complicating the task, the initial controls they implement must grow and adapt without disrupting productivity as the company navigates its path to the cloud

This webpage provides best practices and guidance to help IAM administrators quickly establish an initial set of controls that protect their infrastructure, empower users, and allow for growth and change in their organization’s use of AWS. The following sections assume a working knowledge of how to configure the IAM service.