Do we need OPA if we’re all-in on AWS?

Not strictly. If you’re deep on AWS, Cedar with Verified Permissions plus SCPs/permissions boundaries can cover a lot. We still use OPA for cross-cloud and for checking Terraform/Kubernetes because it’s provider-agnostic and fits CI nicely.

How do we balance least-privilege with developer autonomy?

ABAC + JIT. Use attributes like team, env, and data_classification for coarse access, and grant time-bound elevation via PIM for sensitive actions. Put strong guardrails around the edges so teams can self-serve safely.

What’s the fastest path off long-lived keys?

Turn on OIDC federation for CI/CD first (GitHub → AWS/GCP/Azure). For humans, move to short-lived sessions via SSO and enforce via guardrails. Then rotate and delete remaining keys with a deadline and a deny policy after grace.

How do we prove compliance without a GRC tool?

Emit decision logs from policy engines, retain CloudTrail/Audit Logs with object lock, and generate periodic conformance reports. We bundle these with IaC provenance into an exportable evidence pack. Most auditors accept this if it’s consistent and complete.

What about break-glass?

Keep a minimal, MFA-enforced emergency role with session recording and tight monitoring. Practice quarterly. Every use opens an incident, captures context, and is reviewed in a blameless postmortem.

Security-compliance · Oct 23, 2025 · 10 minute read

The IAM Architecture That Won’t Collapse Under Real-World Complexity

Translating policy into guardrails, checks, and automated proofs—without grinding delivery to a halt.

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The IAM Architecture That Won’t Collapse Under Real-World Complexity

Key takeaways

Implementation checklist