IAM Policies Not Attached to Resources

Overview

The "IAM Policies Not Attached to Resources" widget highlights IAM policies that are not currently attached to any AWS resources. These unused policies can be a potential security concern, as they may be remnants from previous configurations or misconfigured policies that no longer serve a purpose.

Why It Matters

For IT Engineers:

1. Policy Cleanup:

   • Helps identify unused policies that can be safely deleted, reducing clutter and improving the overall security posture of the environment.

2. Resource Management:

   • Assists in managing policies more effectively by highlighting those that are not being used, preventing unnecessary permissions from being granted.

3. Performance Optimization:

   • Reduces the overhead of managing unused policies, leading to a more efficient IAM setup and faster policy reviews.

For Security Engineers:

1. Security Hygiene:

   • Promotes a more secure environment by identifying orphaned policies that could pose a risk if mistakenly reattached or used in future configurations.

2. Access Control Review:

   • Aids in reviewing access controls by ensuring that policies are actively being used and are properly assigned to resources, reducing the risk of outdated or incorrect configurations.

3. Compliance:

   • Supports compliance by ensuring that only actively used policies are in place, maintaining a minimal access footprint and reducing the chances of unnecessary or excessive permissions.