AWS IAM Best Practices

The popularity of Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to grow, with the ecommerce giant supporting more than one million users across 190 countries. Reportedly furnishing cloud-based solutions for notable corporations such as Netflix, Disney and Capital One, the provider has become a darling for large, small and mid-sized organizations. Offering a diverse range of options, AWS remains a secure, cost-effective opportunity in terms of agility, user-friendliness and cloud security. If you own or operate a business and harbor concerns about current cloud security, the AWS identity and access management (IAM) may be the right fit. These rank among the IAM best practices that make it worth considering.

Introduction to AWS IAM

The e-commerce operation began offering basic cloud services in 2004 before orchestrating a full-fledged AWS launch in 2026. Nearly 20 years later, the vast infrastructure provides customers with determined cloud security while accessing its resources, such as the following.

• Cloud Computing: The platform supports users running applications and the ability to drive containers absent the need for servers.
• Storage: Amazon Web Services offers three tiers of digital storage that include simple, elastic and glacier. The last option gives subscribers affordable long-term backup data storage.
• Networking: Content delivery options support global users, enabling companies to establish unique networking environments.
• Analytics: Enjoying the bandwidth to process large swaths of data, AWS gives users the power to run S3 and SQL queries.

Underlying these and other services is an identity and access management system that establishes barriers that garden variety hackers lack the skills to overcome. Even more determined threats would be forced to expend enormous time and resources to coordinate a data breach, thanks to AWS IAM roles and deterrents.

What is IAM Cloud Security?

A defined set of practices designed to impede unauthorized users from gaining access to applications, data and other digital assets, IAM cloud security strategies have proven effective. The cloud security framework that an individual or organization selects determines how, when and from which devices login credentials can be entered and given the green light.

On-premises servers and access remain relatively straightforward in terms of data protection protocols. But, the proliferation of cloud-based services creates significant cybersecurity challenges. It’s not unusual for an organization to utilize multi-cloud environments. Data security is no longer a matter of insulating in-house servers and data storage devices. In a corporate landscape that favors cloud-based information, the best place to deal with threat actors is at the point of entry. That’s why the cloud security users gain from AWS identity and access management is essential to shielding digital assets.

AWS IAM Best Practices

The AWS identity and access management solutions put wide-reaching opportunities at an organization’s fingertips. Users who gain experience and become accustomed to taking advantage of the system typically refine its effectiveness. This overview of key AWS IAM best practices can help you get ahead of the game.

Principle of Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege is a core tenet of what cybersecurity professionals call “zero trust” architecture. In zero trust, the philosophy is not one of “trust but verify.” These enhanced security measures revolve around the notion that no login attempt should be trusted. Every time someone enters a username and password, it must be verified and vetted in a variety of ways before access is granted. Even after a user has entered the network, their activities are monitored for anomalies.

The principle of least privilege grants only minimal or as-needed access to applications, digital files and areas of a network to perform tasks. These rank among the benefits associated with least privilege access.

• Reduces Attack Surface: By limiting a user’s movement within a cloud-based network, a bad actor cannot reach the most valuable and sensitive items. Things like trade secrets, intellectual property, employee Social Security numbers and banking information are kept out of reach. If a hacker cannot see digital assets, the criminal cannot steal them.
• Guards Against Insider Threats: One of the reasons some industry leaders feel a level of discomfort when discussing zero trust architecture stems from the message employees receive. Using the term seems to insinuate staff members need monitoring because they are viewed as untrustworthy. While only a small percentage of corporate spies and disgruntled employees initiate criminal activity, reports indicate insider threats are on the rise. That’s largely because hackers uncover legitimate usernames and passwords to gain entry. Least privilege refuses them access to secure data.
• Malware Containment: It may be a hard pill to swallow, but business leaders would be wise to assume cybercriminals will find a way into their operation. Should online thieves get their hands on a username and password, least privilege access contains the proliferation of their malware.

The AWS IAM roles that least privileged access supports help meet regulatory data protection compliance. It ranks among the leading deterrents to prevent hackers from leveraging personal and sensitive information stored by companies.

Use IAM Roles Over Root Users

Some systems give so-called “root users” almost ubiquitous access to areas of a network. That means a root user can just as easily perform a goal-oriented production task as access the personal identity information of the CEO or a third-party contractor. Obviously, this can be a recipe for disaster. To offset the possibility of a most privileged user going rogue or having their login credentials misappropriated, the provider suggests assigning AWS IAM roles. There’s rarely a need for anyone outside of ownership, including top-tier leadership team members, to have access to everything all the time.

Enable MFA on All Accounts

Multi-factor authentication has proven to be one of the strongest defenses against data breaches. The popular process requires users to enter their login credentials and then receive an additional security code. Often sent via text message or email, a legitimate user types in the code in order to gain final approval to enter the network. Hackers have been frustrated by the fact that they need physical possession of cell phones and tablets to get the secondary information and move forward. These are key benefits of enabling accounts with MFA.

• Combats Password Fatigue
• Not Impacted by Users Repeating Passwords
• Protections Against Phishing Schemes
• Improves Customer and Vendor Trust

Like other cybersecurity measures offered through AWS IAM, multi-factor authentication aids a business’s efforts to meet data security regulations. While laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) do not necessarily name MFA, they certainly encourage the practice. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework identifies MFA as a core component of a robust data protection program.

Rotate Access Keys Regularly

For those who have not implemented access keys, it’s important to understand they are not the same as shortcuts. Instead, they serve as a form of login authentication. Legitimate users employ keyboard combinations to gain access to specific areas of a network. They involve an access key ID and a secret access key.

The problem with operations that utilize this form of authentication revolves around static keys. Human error and complacency can result in people storing them in an unsecured location. Believe it or not, at least one major hack was reportedly the result of an intern leaving login credentials on a public platform.

Hackers can also track keyboard strokes to ascertain the information. Fortunately, the AWS IAM approach promotes access key rotation, keeping them fresh and secure.

Organizing Groups and Policies

An efficient way to manage groups and policies, the AWS IAM system allows organizations to execute permissions across entire collections of users simultaneously. These policies articulate the AWS IAM roles for a cross-section of users. Staff members, third-party vendors and others have their access and roles defined to reflect the changing need for control. With surgical precision, business leaders can implement company-wide, group, niche and select policies quickly and efficiently. That’s one of the ways AWS identity and access management helps industry leaders guide the organization.

Monitor with AWS CloudTrail and IAM Access Analyzer

The combination of AWS CloudTrail and IAM Access Analyzer has proven a powerful asset. These elements work in harmony to deliver inclusive monitoring security throughout the landscape. These are the principles of CloudTrail and Access Analyzer.

AWS CloudTrail

This service helps businesses follow user activity and application programming interface (API). These rules and processes support inter-application communication. Acting as a facilitator, API helps fetch data from wide-reaching platforms in real time. CloudTrail keeps a running log of these activities and provides a way to identify suspicious movements.

IAM Access Analyzer

Analytics have been a boon for making data-driven decisions in business. The IAM Access Analyzer adds value by supporting the implementation of least privilege policies. Taking the digital information amassed by CloudTrail, this facet of IAM aids the process of determining which users truly need access to applications and digital information. It essentially takes the guesswork out of assigning specific access.

Leveraging AWS CloudTrail and IAM Access Analyzer supports a wide range of data protection guidelines and internal needs. For instance, it can tell you whether an action is consistent with company policies, improve efficiency and identify wasted resources.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

By following IAM best practices, company leaders can maximize their organization’s defenses against intruders and unwelcome data access. The AWS IAM solution also makes great strides in terms of meeting or exceeding regulatory compliance. That being said, business professionals do not always arrive with the experience necessary to implement these effective controls. These are common mistakes you can avoid by working with a cybersecurity firm that enjoys AWS IAM experience.

Not Taking Advantage of AWS IAM Roles

Rather than thinking of the IAM roles as an option, make it a priority. By defining and continuing to refine IAM roles, your most valuable and sensitive digital assets stay out of harm’s way. If you are concerned about adding new users in a timely fashion, temporary pre-set roles can be assigned. CloudTrail and IAM Access Analyzer will help hone access options that make sense later.

Failure to Rotate Access Keys

Tracking keyboard strokes is an old trick even garden variety hackers can manage. Access keys may be an effective and time-efficient way to create secondary authentication, but they remain vulnerable due to complacency. By rotating access keys on a regular basis, you can sidestep the possibility of a cybercriminal learning the key codes and a data breach.

Excessive Root User Habits

Root user profiles seem to make navigating networks faster and easier than privileged access ones. The fact of the matter is that root user accounts provide unimpeded access throughout the digital environment. Like any type of access, a threat actor can drill down and eventually find a workaround to the defenses. When that occurs to a root account, hacking gangs can run roughshod over the entire operation. If you decide to keep root user accounts, limit their activity.

Not Assigning Permission Boundaries

Considered an advanced protection within the AWS IAM framework, permission boundary policies restrict users to as-needed access. This sometimes seems murky to those implementing parameters. One of the common mistakes involves assuming a staff member cannot gain access to items they require on rare occasions. Nothing could be further from the truth.

When a legitimate network user requires something outside their profile’s established boundaries, they need only ask an administrator for permission. With a few clicks, the request can be sent and answered.

Summary and Final Recommendations

The AWS identity and access management system gives growing businesses an opportunity to enjoy scalable, point-of-entry cybersecurity solutions. With more than a million users throughout the world, its popularity speaks volumes. It’s imperative for industry leaders to enlist the support of a cybersecurity firm with extensive experience installing and managing AWS IAM solutions.

At Red River, we understand the importance of protecting digital assets by implementing access management controls. We collaborate with companies to provide effective, scalable managed IT and cybersecurity consulting. Contact us today by calling or filling out our online form. Let’s get the process started!