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AWS Access Keys

AWS Access Keys are a pair of credentials that allow you to access AWS services programmatically. They consist of an access key ID and a secret access key. You can use them to sign requests to AWS APIs, such as Amazon S3, Amazon EC2, and Amazon DynamoDB.

AWS Access Keys are different from passwords. Passwords are used to log in to the AWS Management Console or other web-based interfaces. AWS Access Keys are used to access AWS services through command-line tools, SDKs, or third-party applications.

AWS Access Keys are also different from IAM roles. IAM roles are temporary credentials that are assigned to an IAM user, an EC2 instance, or a Lambda function. IAM roles allow you to delegate permissions to other entities without sharing your long-term access keys.

You should follow some best practices when using AWS Access Keys:

  • Do not share your access keys with anyone. They are meant for your use only. If you need to grant access to another person or application, use IAM roles or policies instead.
  • Do not embed your access keys in your code or configuration files. This can expose them to unauthorized users or malicious actors. Instead, use environment variables, configuration files, or the AWS credentials file to store your access keys securely.
  • Do not use your root account access keys. The root account has full access to all your AWS resources and services. If your root account access keys are compromised, your entire AWS account is at risk. Instead, create an IAM user with the minimum permissions required for your tasks and use its access keys.
  • Rotate your access keys regularly. This reduces the risk of your access keys being stolen or misused. You can rotate your access keys by creating new ones and deleting the old ones. You can also use AWS Key Management Service (KMS) to encrypt and manage your access keys.
  • Monitor your access key usage. You can use AWS CloudTrail to track the API calls made with your access keys. You can also use AWS Trusted Advisor to check for unused or exposed access keys and get recommendations on how to secure them.

AWS Access Keys are an essential part of using AWS services programmatically. By following the best practices above, you can ensure that your access keys are secure and used properly.