Access keys and password policies are fundamental security components in AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) that help protect your AWS resources and maintain compliance standards.
Access Keys are long-term credentials used for programmatic access to AWS services. Each access key consists of …Access keys and password policies are fundamental security components in AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) that help protect your AWS resources and maintain compliance standards.
Access Keys are long-term credentials used for programmatic access to AWS services. Each access key consists of two parts: an Access Key ID (similar to a username) and a Secret Access Key (similar to a password). These credentials are used when making API calls through the AWS CLI, SDKs, or other development tools. Best practices include rotating access keys regularly, never sharing them, storing them securely, and deleting unused keys. You should avoid embedding access keys in application code and instead use IAM roles when possible.
Password Policies in AWS IAM allow administrators to enforce strong password requirements for IAM users who access the AWS Management Console. You can configure various password policy settings including minimum password length (up to 128 characters), requiring specific character types such as uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters, password expiration periods requiring users to change passwords after a specified number of days, preventing password reuse by remembering a certain number of previous passwords, and allowing users to change their own passwords.
Implementing robust password policies helps organizations meet compliance requirements such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and SOC standards. AWS recommends enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) alongside strong passwords for enhanced security.
For the root account, AWS strongly recommends not creating access keys and instead using IAM users with appropriate permissions. The root account should have MFA enabled and use a very strong password.
These security measures follow the shared responsibility model where AWS secures the infrastructure, while customers are responsible for managing their credentials, access policies, and user permissions to maintain a secure cloud environment.
Access Keys and Password Policies - AWS Cloud Practitioner Guide
Why Access Keys and Password Policies Are Important
Access keys and password policies are fundamental security controls in AWS that protect your cloud resources from unauthorized access. Poor credential management is one of the leading causes of security breaches in cloud environments. Understanding these concepts is crucial for both the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam and real-world cloud security.
What Are Access Keys?
Access keys are long-term credentials used to authenticate programmatic requests to AWS services. They consist of two parts:
• Access Key ID - A unique identifier (similar to a username) • Secret Access Key - A secret string used to sign requests (similar to a password)
Access keys are used by: • AWS CLI (Command Line Interface) • AWS SDKs (Software Development Kits) • API calls to AWS services • Third-party applications that need AWS access
Important: Access keys are associated with IAM users, not the root account. AWS strongly recommends never creating access keys for the root account.
What Are Password Policies?
Password policies are rules that define requirements for IAM user passwords. AWS allows you to create custom password policies that enforce:
• Minimum password length (6 to 128 characters) • Character requirements - uppercase, lowercase, numbers, special characters • Password expiration - requiring periodic password changes • Password reuse prevention - preventing users from reusing old passwords • Password change requirements - allowing users to change their own passwords
How Access Keys Work
1. An IAM administrator creates an access key for an IAM user 2. The user downloads and securely stores both the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key 3. When making API calls, the credentials are used to sign the request 4. AWS validates the signature and grants access based on the associated IAM permissions
Best Practices for Access Keys: • Rotate access keys regularly • Use IAM roles instead of access keys when possible • Never embed access keys in application code • Delete unused access keys • Use AWS Secrets Manager to store and rotate credentials • Each user should have their own access keys (no sharing)
How Password Policies Work
1. An administrator configures the account-level password policy in IAM 2. The policy applies to all IAM users in that AWS account 3. When users create or change passwords, they must meet policy requirements 4. AWS enforces expiration and rotation based on policy settings
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Access Keys and Password Policies
Key Concepts to Remember:
• Access keys are for programmatic access, passwords are for console access • Access keys come in pairs: Access Key ID + Secret Access Key • The Secret Access Key is shown only once at creation time • Users can have a maximum of two active access keys (to allow rotation) • Password policies apply account-wide to all IAM users • IAM roles are preferred over access keys for EC2 instances and Lambda functions
Common Exam Scenarios:
• If asked about securing programmatic access, think access keys and rotation • If asked about enforcing strong passwords, think password policies • If asked about an application on EC2 needing AWS access, prefer IAM roles over access keys • If asked about CLI access for developers, access keys are the answer • Questions about MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) often appear alongside access key questions
Remember: Security is a shared responsibility. AWS secures the infrastructure, but you are responsible for managing access keys and implementing strong password policies.