AWS's Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) leverages tags—a form of key-value pairs—for defining permissions, presenting a dynamic alternative to the static, resource-centric access policies traditionally used. Tags can be attached to both IAM entities, such as users or roles, and to AWS resources themselves, facilitating fine-tuned access control based on entity attributes.
Advantages of ABAC:
Dynamic Permissions: ABAC adapts to organizational growth, reducing the need to revise policies for new resources or teams.
Efficient Management: Utilizing tags streamlines the management of access permissions, sidestepping the cumbersome process of enumerating resources.
Deployment of ABAC:
To employ ABAC in AWS, you integrate tag-based conditions within your IAM policies. This strategy permits access determined by the tags associated with the principal (the user or role in question), rendering the management of permissions more agile and suited to the evolving demands of cloud infrastructures.
ABAC, with its focus on adaptability and ease of management, is ideally suited to the dynamic and scalable nature of AWS environments.