Skip to main content

How to Create IAM User Access Credentials in AWS

In this tutorial we will learn how to create an individual IAM user along with the access credentials.

1. Definitions​

IAM or Identity and Access Management is used to securely control individual and group access to your AWS resources. You can create and manage user identities (IAM users) and grant permissions for those IAM users to access your resources.

The IAM user is similar to a AWS account user, the only differences are IAM user's permission towards AWS resources are controlled (by the AWS account user).

2. Create new IAM User​

To create IAM user, you (as the owner of AWS account) need to login to AWS console first. Then do open AWS IAM page and click the manage users menu.

AWS - Create IAM User

You will directed to new page that show list of created IAM users. Next, click the Add user, then fill the name.

If the particular user will be used on 3rd party or AWS SDK, then do check check the Programmatic Access option.

AWS - Create IAM User - programmatic access

Then click next to open the user group page. In here do create new group with certain access checked. For example in the image below, a new group named user is created with full access to EC2 features.

AWS - Create IAM User - iam user group

Do click next few times, then the user creation process will be done.

AWS - Create IAM User - access key and secret key

Copy the access key ID and secret access key, save it into some notes because you won't be able to see the secret key again.

Ok, that's it. The keys are ready to use.