What is IAM (Identity and Access Management)?
A system for managing who has access to which cloud resources and what they can do with them.
Why It Matters
IAM prevents unauthorised access to your cloud infrastructure by enforcing fine-grained permissions.
Real-World Example
Creating an IAM role that allows a deployment service to update your app but not delete the database.
“Understanding terms like IAM (Identity and Access Management) matters because it helps you have better conversations with developers and make smarter decisions about your software. You do not need to be technical. You just need to know enough to ask the right questions.”
Related Terms
Authorisation
Determining what actions or data a verified user is allowed to access
Authentication
The process of verifying who someone is, usually through a username and password
Least Privilege
Giving users and systems only the minimum permissions they need to do their job.
AWS
Amazon Web Services, the world's largest cloud computing platform offering hundreds of services
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Related Terms
Authentication
The process of verifying who someone is, usually through a username and password
Authorisation
Determining what actions or data a verified user is allowed to access
AWS
Amazon Web Services, the world's largest cloud computing platform offering hundreds of services
Least Privilege
Giving users and systems only the minimum permissions they need to do their job.
Server
A computer that runs continuously to handle requests, store data, and serve your application to users
Serverless
A way to run code without managing your own servers, where the cloud provider handles everything