AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) Explained: Securely Share Resources Across AWS Accounts

Introduction

Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides Resource Access Manager (RAM), a powerful service that enables you to share AWS resources with other AWS accounts. In multi-account AWS environments, RAM simplifies resource sharing, making it easier to manage permissions while maintaining security. AWS RAM provides a flexible solution for sharing resources like Amazon VPC subnets, Route 53 Resolver rules, and more.

What is AWS Resource Access Manager?

AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) is a service that allows users to share AWS resources across different accounts. By using RAM, organizations can achieve seamless collaboration between teams and departments while maintaining a high level of security and control over the resources being shared. RAM works particularly well in environments using AWS Organizations, where multiple accounts are centrally managed under one structure.

AWS Resource Groups

Create groups for your AWS resources. Then, you can use and manage each group as a unit instead of having to reference every resource individually. Your groups can consist of resources that are part of the same AWS CloudFormation stack, or that are tagged with the same tags. Some resource types also support applying a configuration to a resource group to affect all relevant resources in that group.

Resource share

You share resources using AWS RAM by creating a resource share. A resource share has the following three elements:

A list of one or more AWS resources to be shared.
A list of one or more principals to whom access to the resources is granted.
A managed permission for each type of resource that you include in the share. Each managed permission applies to all resources of that type in that resource share.

Sharing account

The sharing account contains the resource that is shared and the AWS RAM administrator creates the AWS resource share by using AWS RAM.

Consuming principals

The consuming account is the AWS account to which a resource is shared. The resource share can specify an entire account as the principal,

Some of the resources you can share using AWS RAM include:

Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) subnets
AWS Transit Gateway
Amazon Route 53 Resolver rules
AWS License Manager configurations

Benefits of Using AWS RAM

Simplified Multi-Account Management: RAM enables easy management of shared resources across accounts within an AWS Organization, reducing the complexity of managing separate resources for each account.

Enhanced Security: Resource sharing with RAM allows you to control which resources are accessible to specific accounts, ensuring a secure environment.

Cost-Efficiency: By sharing resources like VPC subnets and Transit Gateways, you can avoid redundant resources, minimizing costs.

Scalability: RAM is built to scale, allowing organizations to manage and share resources as they grow.

Managing and Monitoring Resource Shares

Once your resources are shared, AWS RAM provides several options for ongoing management and monitoring.

View Active Shares: From the RAM dashboard, you can view all active shares, including details of resources, permissions, and principals.
Modify Resource Shares: RAM allows you to modify existing shares if you need to add or remove resources, change permissions, or update target accounts.
Audit Resource Sharing: Use AWS CloudTrail to log RAM activities for security auditing and compliance, ensuring you can track resource-sharing actions over time.

Pricing

AWS RAM is offered at no additional charge. There are no setup fees or upfront commitments.

Best Practices for Using AWS RAM

Use AWS Organizations: If managing multiple accounts, use AWS Organizations to streamline resource sharing with OUs and individual accounts.
Follow the Principle of Least Privilege: Only grant permissions necessary for resource usage to minimize security risks.
Enable CloudTrail for Monitoring: Enable CloudTrail to monitor and audit resource-sharing actions for compliance and security.
Review Permissions Regularly: Periodically review RAM permissions and update them to reflect current usage and security requirements.

Conclusion

AWS Resource Access Manager (RAM) provides an effective and secure way to manage resource sharing across AWS accounts, helping organizations streamline their operations, reduce costs, and maintain robust security controls. AWS RAM is a valuable tool for any organization leveraging a multi-account setup, offering flexibility, security, and efficiency as you manage your cloud resources.

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