In this post we discuss AWS IAM Identity Center, a powerful service designed to streamline Single Sign-On (SSO) across AWS accounts and applications.
What is AWS IAM Identity Center?
AWS IAM Identity Center, formerly known as AWS Single Sign-On (SSO), is a cloud service from Amazon Web Services that simplifies the management of SSO access and user permissions across all your AWS accounts, as well as third-party applications. It allows users to sign in to a central portal to access multiple applications and services with a single set of credentials. This service aims to enhance security and streamline the management of access rights across AWS and non-AWS applications.
Key features of AWS IAM Identity Center include:
- Centralized access control: It enables centralized management of user access to AWS accounts and applications, making it easier for administrators to grant or revoke access as needed.
- Single Sign-On (SSO): Users can sign in once to access multiple AWS accounts and third-party applications without needing to remember multiple passwords.
- Integration with corporate directories: AWS IAM Identity Center can integrate with existing identity providers (IdPs) such as Microsoft Active Directory, allowing users to use their existing corporate credentials to access AWS services and applications.
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): It supports MFA, adding an additional layer of security by requiring users to provide more than one piece of evidence of their identity.
- Customizable sign-in experience: Organizations can customize the user sign-in portal to match their corporate branding, improving the user experience.
- Access control policies: Administrators can define fine-grained access control policies to manage user permissions across AWS services and applications.
AWS IAM Identity Center is designed to be scalable and secure, making it suitable for organizations of any size that want to manage access to their resources efficiently and securely. It facilitates compliance with security requirements by providing tools to manage who can access what resources, under what conditions.
How to get started…
Here’s how you can get started with AWS IAM Identity Center:
- Sign in to AWS Management Console: First, you need to sign in to the AWS Management Console using your AWS account.
- Navigate to IAM Identity Center: Once you’re in the AWS Management Console, search for IAM Identity Center (or AWS SSO) in the services search bar and select it.
- Set Up Your IAM Identity Center Environment:
- Enable IAM Identity Center: If you’re using IAM Identity Center for the first time, you’ll need to enable it. Follow the on-screen instructions to set it up.
- Choose Your Identity Source: You can choose where to manage your user identities. The options typically include managing users within IAM Identity Center itself, integrating with AWS Managed Microsoft AD, or connecting an external identity provider (IdP) like Microsoft Active Directory, Okta, or Google Workspace.
- Configure Identity Source: Depending on your choice, you’ll need to configure the identity source. This may involve importing users, setting up SAML 2.0 integration, or configuring directory settings.
- Create or Import Users and Groups: If you’re managing identities within IAM Identity Center, you’ll need to create or import users and groups. This is where you define who has access to your AWS environment and what they can access.
- Set Up Access to AWS Accounts and Applications:
- Assign Users and Groups to AWS Accounts: Define which users and groups can access specific AWS accounts. You can use permission sets, which are collections of permissions, to specify what users can do within those accounts.
- Configure Access to Applications: Besides AWS accounts, you can also configure access to cloud applications and SaaS products. IAM Identity Center supports SAML 2.0 integration, allowing users to access a wide range of applications with a single set of credentials.
- Test Your Setup: After configuring, it’s crucial to test your setup by signing in as a user with the credentials provided by IAM Identity Center. Ensure that you can access the AWS accounts and applications as expected.
- Monitor and Manage Your IAM Identity Center Environment: Use the AWS Management Console to monitor access and activities within IAM Identity Center. You can also use AWS CloudTrail for more detailed auditing.
- Documentation and Best Practices: AWS provides comprehensive documentation and best practices for setting up and managing IAM Identity Center. It’s highly recommended to review these resources to ensure you’re following security and management best practices.
Best Practices for AWS IAM Identity Center
- Use strong, multi-factor authentication (MFA):
- Enforce MFA to enhance security for user sign-in.
- Least privilege access:
- Grant users the minimum level of access necessary to perform their tasks. Review permissions regularly and adjust as necessary.
- Regularly review and audit access:
- Regularly review who has access to what resources and adjust as needed to ensure compliance with your security policies.
- Use groups for easier management:
- Organize users into groups based on their roles or functions to simplify permission management.
- Automate provisioning and deprovisioning:
- If possible, automate the provisioning and deprovisioning of users to ensure that access rights are updated in real time with employee status changes.
- Secure your directory:
- Ensure that the directory service you integrate with IAM Identity Center is secured and monitored.
- Monitor and log activity:
- Use AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config to monitor and record actions taken through IAM Identity Center for auditing and compliance.
- Educate users about security practices:
- Regularly educate users about security best practices, including phishing, password management, and the importance of MFA.
Conclusion
AWS IAM Identity Center represents a significant advancement in managing cloud access efficiently and securely. By adhering to the steps detailed above, organizations can utilize the full capabilities of AWS IAM Identity Center to improve their cloud security posture, simplify access management, and maintain compliance.
References
AWS IAM Identity Center Product Page
AWS IAM Identity Center Documentation
About
With over 20 years in the technology sector, Keith has spent the last decade providing consultancy, support, and strategic direction to customers across multiple cloud platforms.
Disclaimer: The information shared on this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. The opinions presented here are personal and independent of any affiliations with tech companies or organizations.