AWS RAM (Resource Access Manager)

Posted on by wpadmin

AWS RAM (Resource Access Manager) is a service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that enables customers to share AWS resources across different AWS accounts or within their organization in AWS Organizations. It helps streamline resource management by making it easier to share resources securely with other accounts or organizational units (OUs), reducing the need to replicate resources across multiple accounts.

Key Features of AWS RAM:

  1. Sharing Resources Across Accounts:
    • AWS RAM allows you to share AWS resources with other AWS accounts within your organization or with external AWS accounts.
    • Resources such as Amazon VPC subnets, Route 53 Resolver rules, AWS Transit Gateway, and License Manager configurations can be shared.
  2. Granular Access Control:
    • You can define permissions for each shared resource, allowing fine-grained control over who has access to what.
    • For example, when sharing an Amazon VPC subnet, you can specify which accounts or organizational units (OUs) can use the subnet and assign the level of access.
  3. Support for AWS Organizations:
    • If your accounts are part of an AWS Organization, you can share resources with specific organizational units (OUs) or individual accounts within the organization.
    • This enables centralized management of shared resources and makes it easier to maintain control over who can access what within the organization.
  4. Cross-Account Resource Sharing:
    • You can share resources not just within your AWS Organization, but also with external AWS accounts, enabling cross-account resource sharing.
    • This is particularly useful for scenarios like managing multi-account environments or collaborating with external partners.
  5. Resource Sharing with Other AWS Services:
    • AWS RAM integrates with several AWS services, allowing for resource sharing across services. For example, Amazon VPC, AWS Transit Gateway, Amazon License Manager, and Route 53 Resolver all support sharing through AWS RAM.
  6. Simplified Management:
    • The AWS RAM console provides a centralized location where you can manage and monitor the resources you have shared, and the resources that have been shared with you.
    • You can track the resources that are shared and ensure that the proper permissions are in place.
  7. Audit and Logging:
    • AWS CloudTrail can be used to log all API calls related to resource sharing, which helps in auditing and tracking who accessed or modified shared resources.

Common Use Cases for AWS RAM:

  1. Shared VPCs:
    • You can create a central VPC in one AWS account and share subnets with other accounts in your organization. This helps to centralize network management while still providing different accounts with access to specific resources in the VPC.
  2. Multi-Account Architecture:
    • In a multi-account AWS environment, AWS RAM allows you to share resources such as AWS Transit Gateways and Route 53 Resolver rules across accounts without duplicating resources.
  3. Collaborating with External Partners:
    • AWS RAM enables sharing resources like license configurations with external partners or vendors who may need access to certain AWS resources in your account.
  4. License Management:
    • AWS License Manager can use AWS RAM to share licensing configurations with other accounts, enabling organizations to manage and track their software licenses across multiple accounts.
  5. Cost Optimization:
    • By sharing resources like VPC subnets or Transit Gateways, organizations can reduce the need to replicate expensive resources across multiple accounts, thus optimizing costs.