IAM Role vs. IAM User
What's the Difference?
IAM Role and IAM User are both entities in AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) that control access to AWS resources. However, there are key differences between the two. An IAM User represents an individual user within an AWS account and is typically used for long-term access to resources. On the other hand, an IAM Role is a set of permissions that can be assumed by users, services, or resources within an AWS account for temporary access to resources. Roles are often used to delegate permissions and enable cross-account access. While IAM Users are tied to specific individuals, IAM Roles are more flexible and can be assumed by multiple entities.
Comparison
| Attribute | IAM Role | IAM User |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Role-based | User-based |
| Permissions | Assigned policies | Attached policies |
| Access Key | Does not have access keys | Has access keys |
| Session Duration | Can have a maximum session duration | Does not have session duration |
| Usage | Assumed by trusted entities | Used by human or application |
Further Detail
Introduction
When it comes to managing access to resources in AWS, Identity and Access Management (IAM) plays a crucial role. Two key entities in IAM are IAM Roles and IAM Users. While both are used to control access to AWS resources, they have distinct attributes that make them suitable for different use cases.
Attributes of IAM Role
IAM Roles are used to delegate access to AWS resources to entities that are not IAM Users. This can include applications running on EC2 instances, AWS services, or external users assuming roles through AWS STS. IAM Roles are temporary credentials that are assumed by a trusted entity for a specific task or period of time. Roles are defined with policies that determine what actions can be performed on which resources.
- Delegated access to resources
- Temporary credentials
- Defined with policies
- Assumed by trusted entities
- Used for specific tasks or periods of time
Attributes of IAM User
IAM Users, on the other hand, are permanent entities within an AWS account that represent individuals or applications requiring access to AWS resources. IAM Users have long-term credentials such as a username and password or access keys. They are assigned permissions through policies that define what actions they can perform on which resources within the account.
- Permanent entities
- Long-term credentials
- Assigned permissions through policies
- Represent individuals or applications
- Access resources within the account
Use Cases
IAM Roles are commonly used in scenarios where access needs to be delegated to entities outside of the AWS account, such as applications running on EC2 instances or AWS services like Lambda functions. By assuming a role, these entities can access resources securely without the need for long-term credentials. IAM Users, on the other hand, are typically used for managing access within the AWS account itself, such as granting permissions to developers, administrators, or other users.
Security Considerations
When it comes to security, IAM Roles offer an advantage over IAM Users in terms of reducing the attack surface. Since IAM Roles are temporary and can only be assumed by trusted entities, the risk of long-term credential exposure is minimized. IAM Users, on the other hand, require careful management of credentials to prevent unauthorized access to resources within the account.
Conclusion
In conclusion, IAM Roles and IAM Users are both essential components of AWS IAM that serve different purposes. IAM Roles are ideal for delegating access to external entities or services, while IAM Users are used for managing access within the AWS account itself. Understanding the attributes and use cases of each entity is crucial for designing a secure and efficient access control strategy in AWS.
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