🔹 Types of Accounts in AWS
AWS has different types of accounts that serve various purposes in managing access, security, and resources. Below is a detailed breakdown of each type:
1️⃣ AWS Root Account
✅ What is it?
- The Root Account is the primary AWS account created when signing up for AWS.
- It has unlimited access to all AWS resources and billing settings.
- Uses: Managing AWS Organizations, enabling/disabling services, account-level settings.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Full administrative control over AWS services and accounts.
- Cannot be restricted by IAM policies.
- Required for: Changing billing settings, closing the AWS account, enabling MFA.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- ❌ Do NOT use the root account for daily operations.
- ✅ Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication).
- ✅ Create IAM users/roles for regular tasks.
2️⃣ AWS IAM Account (IAM User)
✅ What is it?
- IAM (Identity and Access Management) accounts are used to manage user access and permissions.
- IAM users are NOT AWS accounts, but rather identities within an AWS account.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- IAM users log in using IAM credentials, not root credentials.
- Permissions are defined using IAM Policies.
- IAM users can have limited or full access to AWS resources.
✅ Example Use Case:
- Developers, DevOps Engineers, and Admins use IAM accounts to access AWS securely.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- Use IAM Roles instead of long-term IAM user credentials.
- Enable MFA for IAM users.
- Use IAM groups to manage permissions efficiently.
3️⃣ AWS IAM Role
✅ What is it?
- An IAM Role is an identity that AWS services, users, or applications assume to get temporary permissions.
- Unlike IAM users, IAM roles do not have a username/password.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Can be assumed by AWS services (EC2, Lambda, ECS, etc.).
- Used for cross-account access (e.g., allowing one AWS account to access another).
- IAM Roles use temporary security credentials.
✅ Example Use Case:
- An EC2 instance needs to access S3 → Attach an IAM Role to the EC2 instance.
- Developers switch roles instead of using IAM user credentials.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- Use IAM roles instead of IAM users wherever possible.
- Restrict role assumptions using
sts:AssumeRole
.
4️⃣ AWS Organizations Account
✅ What is it?
- AWS Organizations groups multiple AWS accounts under a single management account.
- It allows centralized billing, security, and policy enforcement.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Root Account manages the AWS Organization.
- Member Accounts are individual AWS accounts under the organization.
- Delegated Administrators can manage AWS services across multiple accounts.
✅ Example Use Case:
- Large enterprises with multiple AWS accounts (Prod, Dev, UAT, Staging).
- Centralized billing and access control.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- Use Service Control Policies (SCPs) to restrict permissions across accounts.
- Enable AWS CloudTrail and AWS Config for centralized logging.
5️⃣ AWS Billing Account
✅ What is it?
- AWS Billing Account is the account that manages consolidated billing in an AWS Organization.
- It can view, pay, and manage AWS bills for linked accounts.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- The management (payer) account in AWS Organizations controls billing.
- Linked accounts share the same billing but have separate resources.
✅ Example Use Case:
- A company has 5 AWS accounts (Prod, Dev, Staging, Security, Logging) under a single Billing Account.
- The Finance team manages AWS spending through AWS Cost Explorer.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- Restrict IAM access to billing settings (
aws-portal:*
). - Enable Cost & Usage Reports to track spending.
6️⃣ AWS IAM Identity Center (AWS SSO) Account
✅ What is it?
- AWS IAM Identity Center (formerly AWS SSO) provides centralized user authentication across multiple AWS accounts.
✅ Key Characteristics:
- Users log in using a single set of credentials (like Okta, Azure AD, or Google Workspace).
- Provides federated access to AWS.
- Eliminates the need for creating IAM users.
✅ Example Use Case:
- A developer logs in once and switches between Prod, UAT, and Dev accounts.
- Integrates with corporate identity providers.
✅ Security Best Practices:
- Use AWS IAM Identity Center (SSO) instead of IAM users for enterprise authentication.
- Enable MFA for SSO logins.
🔹 Summary: Different AWS Accounts and Their Uses
Type of AWS Account | Purpose | Who Uses It? |
---|---|---|
AWS Root Account | Full AWS control, billing, security | Only for emergency tasks |
IAM User Account | Limited AWS access based on policies | Developers, Admins, DevOps |
IAM Role | Temporary permissions for AWS services | EC2, Lambda, Cross-Account Access |
AWS Organizations Account | Manages multiple AWS accounts centrally | Enterprises, IT Admins |
AWS Billing Account | Consolidated billing & payment management | Finance Team |
AWS IAM Identity Center (SSO) Account | Federated authentication across AWS accounts | Enterprise Users |
🎯 Final Thoughts
✅ Use AWS Organizations to manage multiple AWS accounts centrally.
✅ Use IAM Roles instead of IAM users wherever possible.
✅ Use AWS IAM Identity Center (SSO) for enterprise authentication.
✅ Keep the Root Account secure (MFA enabled, minimal usage).
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