Cloud Computing
IAM
Definition
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a framework of policies and technologies for ensuring that the proper people in an enterprise have the appropriate access to technology resources. In the cloud, IAM services are used to control who can access and manage your cloud resources.
Why It Matters
IAM is the cornerstone of cloud security. It allows you to define granular permissions, enforcing the principle of least privilege so that users and services have only the access they absolutely need to perform their jobs.
Contextual Example
A company uses AWS IAM to create a role for its developers. This role gives them permission to manage EC2 instances, but denies them permission to delete S3 buckets, preventing accidental data loss.
Common Misunderstandings
- IAM deals with both authentication (who are you?) and authorization (what are you allowed to do?).
- All major cloud providers have their own IAM service (e.g., AWS IAM, Azure Active Directory, Google Cloud IAM).