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How to Get the AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID for Amazon: A Guide

As a data scientist or software engineer, you might have found yourself needing to interact with Amazon Web Services (AWS). One key component in this interaction is the AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, a crucial element in the process of authenticating your applications with AWS. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID.
By Saturn Cloud | | Miscellaneous

How to Get the AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID for Amazon: A Guide

As a data scientist or software engineer, you might have found yourself needing to interact with Amazon Web Services (AWS). One key component in this interaction is the AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, a crucial element in the process of authenticating your applications with AWS. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID.

What is AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID?

AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID is an identifier that is used in conjunction with the AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY to sign programmatic requests that you make to AWS. These access keys are used by AWS to identify and authenticate the caller of a service.

Prerequisites

Before getting started, make sure you have an active AWS account. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for a free tier account at https://aws.amazon.com/free/.

Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID

Step 1: Log into your AWS Management Console

Navigate to https://aws.amazon.com/console/ and log in with your credentials.

Step 2: Access the IAM (Identity and Access Management) service

Once you’re logged in, go to the Services drop-down menu in the navigation bar and select IAM under Security, Identity, & Compliance.

Step 3: Navigate to the Users section

In the IAM dashboard, you’ll see a navigation menu on the left side. Click on “Users” to get a list of all your IAM users.

Step 4: Create a new user or use an existing one

You can either create a new user by clicking on the “Add user” button or use an existing one if you have previously set up IAM users.

Step 5: Get the access key

  • For a new user: While creating a new user, make sure to tick the “Programmatic access” checkbox. This will enable an access key ID and secret access key for the AWS API, CLI, SDK, and other development tools. Continue through the process, giving the user appropriate permissions. At the final step, you’ll be provided with an access key ID and a secret access key. Make sure to download these as they cannot be accessed again once you leave the page.

  • For an existing user: Click on the username, then click on the “Security credentials” tab. Click on “Create access key” button. You’ll be provided with a new access key ID and secret access key. Again, make sure to download and securely store these credentials as you won’t be able to see them again.

And that’s it! You have successfully obtained your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID.

Conclusion

Obtaining your AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID is a straightforward process, but it’s important to handle these credentials with care. Do not share them publicly or use them in your applications' source code. Remember, they grant access to your AWS resources, so keep them secure!

Keywords

  • AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID
  • Amazon Web Services
  • AWS Management Console
  • IAM
  • Programmatic access
  • Security credentials
  • AWS API
  • AWS CLI
  • AWS SDK

Remember, if you have any questions or need further clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out or comment below. Happy coding!

Disclaimer: This post is intended for a technical audience of data scientists or software engineers. Always follow best practices when working with AWS and other similar platforms.

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