What is the main purpose of IAM Access Analyzer?

The main purpose of IAM Access Analyzer is to provide insights into IAM permissions within an AWS environment. It helps organizations identify any IAM roles and policies that allow access to resources from outside their AWS accounts, which can highlight potential security risks. By analyzing IAM policies and resource-based policies, Access Analyzer generates findings that indicate whether permissions are broad, potentially enabling unintended access.

This service is essential for maintaining a principle of least privilege and is instrumental in helping security and compliance teams ensure that permissions are configured correctly and securely. By offering a clear view of who can access what resources, IAM Access Analyzer supports organizations in managing their security posture effectively.