Introduction
Managing multiple AWS accounts within an organization can be challenging, especially for enterprises with diverse teams and projects. Federated multi-account access enables secure, centralized management of AWS services using identity providers and cross-account roles. This approach simplifies access control, enhances security, and promotes collaboration by streamlining authentication and permissions management across AWS accounts.
Enhancing Multi-Account Access
Benefits of Federated Access
Federated access offers:
- Centralized Identity Management: Manage all user identities through a single provider, such as AWS IAM Identity Center or a third-party IdP.
- Improved Security: Use temporary credentials to minimize long-term risks.
- Streamlined Permissions: Simplify user access across multiple AWS accounts and services.
Key Services to Leverage
- AWS Organizations: Consolidates accounts and enforces policies.
- IAM Roles: Provides cross-account permissions.
- AWS Single Sign-On (SSO): Facilitates centralized login and role switching.
Implementing Federated Access
Setting Up Access
- Choose an Identity Provider: Use AWS SSO, Active Directory, or a custom IdP.
- Configure IAM Roles: Assign specific permissions to each role for different AWS services.
- Set Policies: Use resource-level policies to restrict access as needed.
Automating Multi-Account Management
- Use CloudFormation or Terraform to standardize configurations.
- Leverage AWS Organizations to apply policies and manage accounts at scale.
For guidance, see Simplify Your AWS CodeCommit Access: A Guide to Federated Multi-Account Access.
Federated multi-account access is a powerful strategy for managing permissions and authentication across AWS services. By centralizing identity management and leveraging IAM roles, organizations can enhance security, simplify workflows, and ensure scalability.
