How to Create an Access Key in AWS

Introduction

Access keys in Amazon Web Services (AWS) provide programmatic access to your AWS resources. These keys consist of an Access Key ID and a Secret Access Key, which allow you to interact with AWS APIs, CLI, SDKs, and other tools securely. This article will walk you through the steps to create an access key in AWS.

What are Access Keys?

Access keys are a pair of security credentials used to authenticate programmatic requests to AWS. They consist of,

• Access Key ID: A unique identifier.
• Secret Access Key: A secret string that serves as a password.

Note. Handle access keys carefully, as they grant direct access to your AWS account and resources.

Steps to Create an Access Key

Step 1. Log in to the AWS Management Console.

1. Navigate to AWS Management Console.
2. Log in using your root user or an IAM user with sufficient permissions.

Step 2. Open the IAM Console.

1. In the AWS Management Console, type IAM in the search bar and select IAM from the results.
   
2. This will take you to the Identity and Access Management dashboard.
   

Step 3. Choose the User.

1. In the IAM dashboard, click on Users in the left-hand navigation menu.
   
2. Select the user for whom you want to create the access key.
   

Step 4. Create an Access Key.

1. Once inside the user's details, navigate to the Security credentials tab.
   
2. Scroll down to the Access keys section and click on Create access key.
   

Step 5. Configure Access Key Settings.

1. Choose the access key type based on your use case.
   • Command Line Interface (CLI), SDK, or API access: For programmatic access.
   • Code signing for Amazon Key Management Service (KMS): For specific use cases.
2. Click Next to proceed.
   
3. Set the description tag (optional): Add a description tag to identify the purpose of the access key. This helps in tracking and managing access keys more effectively.
   

Step 6. View and Download the Access Key.

AWS will generate the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key.

Note. Save the access key securely by downloading it as a .csv file. The secret access key will not be displayed again.

Conclusion

Creating an access key in AWS is a straightforward process that enables secure programmatic access to AWS resources. By following the steps outlined above and adhering to best practices, you can manage your AWS environment securely and efficiently. Always remember to handle access keys responsibly and avoid exposing them in your code or public repositories.