Securely sharing resources across AWS accounts (for example, by using AWS Resource Access Manager [AWS RAM])

What is AWS Resource Access Manager (AWS RAM), and why is it important for securely sharing resources across AWS accounts?

AWS Resource Access Manager (AWS RAM) is a service that enables you to easily and securely share AWS resources with any AWS account or within your AWS Organization. It is important for securely sharing resources because it eliminates the need to create duplicate resources, centrally manages access to shared resources, and helps maintain compliance and security while collaborating across accounts.

Can you explain the key benefits of using AWS RAM from a security perspective?

AWS RAM enhances security by providing a mechanism where resources are shared with only the intended accounts, reducing the risk of accidental exposure. It also allows for central management of shared resources which aids in consistent policy enforcement. Additionally, it supports resource sharing within AWS Organizations, enabling governance at scale and the use of Service Control Policies (SCPs) for control.

How can AWS RAM help to reduce costs when sharing resources across multiple AWS accounts?

By using AWS RAM, you can avoid the cost associated with creating duplicate resources in each account. Since resources such as subnets, AWS Transit Gateway, or License Manager configurations can be shared, the cost savings are realized through economies of scale and more efficient use of resources.

How does AWS RAM integrate with AWS Organizations, and what are the benefits of this integration?

AWS RAM integrates with AWS Organizations to enable automatic sharing of specified resources with all accounts in an organization or organizational unit (OU). This integration simplifies the process of sharing resources at scale and ensures that as new accounts are added to the organization, they automatically gain access to the shared resources, consistent with the organization’s policies and SCPs.

Can AWS RAM be used to share resources with accounts that are not part of an AWS Organization?

Yes, AWS RAM can be used to share resources with accounts that are not part of an AWS Organization. You can share resources by creating a Resource Share and inviting external AWS accounts. Those accounts need to accept the invitation to access the shared resources.

What types of AWS resources can be shared using AWS RAM?

AWS RAM supports sharing of several AWS resource types such as VPC subnets, AWS Transit Gateways, AWS License Manager configurations, Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules, and more. The specific types of resources that can be shared may change over time as AWS updates the service’s capabilities.

Is it possible to share resources across different AWS Regions using AWS RAM?

No, AWS RAM does not support cross-region resource sharing. Resources can only be shared with accounts within the same AWS Region as the shared resources.

How does AWS RAM handle resource permissions, and what options are available for fine-grained access control?

AWS RAM utilizes resource-based policies and IAM policies to control access to shared resources. Resource-based policies define which accounts or OUs can access the resource, while IAM policies control what actions principals within those accounts can perform on the shared resources. This combination allows for fine-grained access control based on the needs of each individual resource and user.

Can you describe the process to share a subnet with another AWS account using AWS RAM?

To share a subnet with another AWS account, you would start by creating a Resource Share in AWS RAM and adding the subnet as a resource to be shared. You then invite the other AWS account by specifying its account ID. The owner of the invited account must accept the resource share invitation. Once the invitation is accepted, the shared subnet will be available for use by the recipient account.

What is the significance of sharing a License Configuration using AWS RAM?

Sharing License Configurations using AWS RAM allows centralized management of software license usage across AWS accounts. This helps to ensure compliance with software licensing rules by controlling where, how, and to whom licenses are allocated.

How can AWS RAM simplify network management across multiple AWS accounts?

AWS RAM simplifies network management by allowing resources like subnets or transit gateways to be shared across accounts. This sharing capability means that a single network can span multiple AWS accounts, enabling centralized management and reducing the complexity of creating and managing separate networks for each account.

How does AWS RAM ensure that only authorized personnel within shared accounts can access shared resources?

Within shared accounts, access to shared resources can be controlled using AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies. Resource share owners can define which operations can be performed on the shared resources. IAM policies then specify who within the account can perform those operations, providing a layer of control to ensure that only authorized personnel can access them.

Note: These answers are based upon information available up to the beginning of 2023 and may not reflect any changes made to the AWS platform or AWS RAM features after that time.