Managing access in cloud environments like AWS securely and efficiently is a critical challenge. Traditional methods often involve granting broad, standing permissions which can increase security risks. A more secure approach is implementing Just-in-Time (JIT) access, which provides temporary permissions to resources only when they are needed and for a limited duration. Combining the power of Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) with AWS IAM Identity Center offers a highly effective way to achieve this enhanced security posture.
By integrating Microsoft Entra ID as the identity source with AWS IAM Identity Center, organizations can leverage their existing identity infrastructure to manage access to multiple AWS accounts. This integration enables users to authenticate using their familiar Entra ID credentials via single sign-on (SSO). The core benefit lies in the ability to dynamically grant permissions through AWS IAM Identity Center based on user roles, groups, and policies defined in Entra ID, often combined with session duration controls.
Implementing JIT access using this combination leads to several key advantages. Firstly, it dramatically improves security by minimizing the window of opportunity for unauthorized access and significantly reducing the reduced attack surface associated with standing permissions. Secondly, it offers streamlined administration, centralizing identity management and making it easier to provision, update, and de-provision access across your AWS environments. This also contributes to better compliance with regulatory requirements that mandate least privilege access. Ultimately, this approach results in increased operational efficiency, providing a secure and efficient method for granting necessary permissions precisely when and where they are required.
Source: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/security/implementing-just-in-time-privileged-access-to-aws-with-microsoft-entra-and-aws-iam-identity-center/
