IAM Policies

Learn how identity-based and resource-based policies are used to define user authorization.

An IAM policy is a JSON document attached either to an IAM entity (such as a user or role) or to an AWS resource. It defines the scope of permissions that the principal entity has for accessing the resource securely.

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Types of IAM policies

Based on their usage, IAM has six types of policies. These types are as follows:

  • Identity-based policies: Define permissions of IAM identities. These are attached with IAM identities.

  • Resource-based policies: Define the access that an entity has to the AWS resources. These are attached to the IAM resources to which the entity requires access.

  • Permissions boundaries: Specify the highest level of permissions that an identity-based policy can grant to an entity.

  • Session policies: Specify the ...