This assumes you have already configured the aws command line tool. If not, check out my article on Getting Started with the AWS CLI.

• An IAM Policy allows certain actions (such create) on certain resources (such as EC2)
• An IAM User is typically a users account (such as john.doe) that contains an IAM Identity-Based Policy that allows certain actions (such as list) on certain resources (such S3)
• An IAM Role contains an IAM Policy that allows certain actions (such create) on certain resources (such as EC2) - Let's say the Identity-Based Policy attached to john.doe does NOT allow create S3 - john.doe could Assume a Role that allows create S3
  • Assume Role or Switch Role using Python boto3
  • Assume Role or Switch Role using Terraform
  • Assume Role or Switch Role using the AWS CLI
  • Often, a Role will have two Policies:
    • Trust Relationship
    • Permission Policy

The aws iam list-users command can be used to list your IAM user accounts.

~]$ aws iam list-users
{
    "Users": [
        {
            "Path": "/",
            "UserName": "john.doe",
            "UserId": "AIDAABCDL76GLUA6B21234",
            "Arn": "arn:aws:iam::711234074567:user/john.doe",
            "CreateDate": "2022-09-13T11:13:03+00:00"
        }
    ]
}

The aws iam create-login-profile can be used to set or reset a users password.

~]$ aws iam create-login-profile --user-name john.doe --password itsasecret
{
    "LoginProfile": {
        "UserName": "john.doe",
        "CreateDate": "2023-06-16T01:38:43+00:00",
        "PasswordResetRequired": false
    }
}

The --password-reset-required flag is often used to require the user to reset their password.

~]$ aws iam create-login-profile --user-name john.doe --password itsasecret --password-reset-required
{
    "LoginProfile": {
        "UserName": "john.doe",
        "CreateDate": "2023-06-16T01:38:43+00:00",
        "PasswordResetRequired": true
    }
}