IAM Roles are a set of permissions that define what actions can be performed by non-human identities in a cloud environment.
Description
In the context of Non-Human Identity Management, IAM (Identity and Access Management) Roles are crucial for managing access to resources without using permanent credentials. Instead of assigning specific users individual permissions, IAM roles allow for the creation of a set of permissions that can be assumed by non-human entities such as applications, services, or automated processes. This promotes a more secure and flexible approach to access management. For instance, when an application needs to access a database, it can assume an IAM role that provides the necessary permissions to perform that task. The role can be configured with specific policies that define the actions allowed and the resources that can be accessed. This model also supports the principle of least privilege, ensuring that non-human entities only have access to the resources they need to perform their functions, and nothing more. As a result, IAM roles are integral to maintaining security and compliance in cloud environments, enabling dynamic permissions management and reducing the risk associated with credential management.
Examples
- An application accessing AWS S3 buckets with a role that grants read/write permissions.
- A CI/CD pipeline using a role to deploy applications to a cloud service with necessary permissions.
Additional Information
- IAM roles can be assumed by multiple non-human identities without needing to manage individual credentials.
- They can be used to delegate access to resources across different AWS accounts or services.