Simplifying AWS IAM with a Bank System Analogy

Introduction

• AWS primarily focuses on Identity and Access Management (IAM) to control who is authenticated (signed in) and authorized (has permissions) to use resources.

Understanding IAM Through the bank system analogy

• IAM (Authentication & Authorization)

  • IAM to the security system of a bank that verifies and authenticated individuals before granting access.

• Bank Sections (Representing AWS Resources):

  • Sensitive Data: Equivalent to restricted AWS resources that require strict permissions.

  • Employee Desk: Represents standard AWS resources accessible to employees with appropriate roles.

  • Service Desk: Symbolizes public or semi-public AWS resources with fewer restrictions.

Why IAM is important in AWS

• Controlling access to resources is crucial for security and operational efficiency.

• IAM policies define who can access what resources. For example:

  • If someone needs access to an AWS database (like Amazon RDS), specific permissions can be assigned.

  • If another team member needs access to EC2 instances, permissions can be tailored to just those services.