# Security in AWS AppSync
Cloud security at AWS is the highest priority. As an AWS customer, you benefit from data centers and network architectures that are built to meet the requirements of the most security-sensitive organizations.
Security is a shared responsibility between AWS and you. The [shared responsibility model](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/shared-responsibility-model/) describes this as security *of* the cloud and security *in* the cloud:
+ **Security of the cloud** – AWS is responsible for protecting the infrastructure that runs AWS services in the AWS Cloud. AWS also provides you with services that you can use securely. Third-party auditors regularly test and verify the effectiveness of our security as part of the [AWS Compliance Programs](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/programs/). To learn about the compliance programs that apply to AWS AppSync, see [AWS Services in Scope by Compliance Program](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/services-in-scope/).
+ **Security in the cloud** – Your responsibility is determined by the AWS service that you use. You are also responsible for other factors including the sensitivity of your data, your company’s requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
This documentation helps you understand how to apply the shared responsibility model when using AWS AppSync. The following topics show you how to configure AWS AppSync to meet your security and compliance objectives. You also learn how to use other AWS services that help you to monitor and secure your AWS AppSync resources.
**Topics**
+ [Data protection in AWS AppSync](data-protection.md)
+ [Compliance validation for AWS AppSync](compliance-validation.md)
+ [Infrastructure security in AWS AppSync](infrastructure-security.md)
+ [Resilience in AWS AppSync](disaster-recovery-resiliency.md)
+ [Identity and access management for AWS AppSync](security-iam.md)
+ [Logging AWS AppSync API calls with AWS CloudTrail](logging-using-cloudtrail.md)
+ [Security best practices for AWS AppSync](best-practices.md)
# Data protection in AWS AppSync
The AWS [shared responsibility model](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/shared-responsibility-model/) applies to data protection in AWS AppSync. As described in this model, AWS is responsible for protecting the global infrastructure that runs all of the AWS Cloud. You are responsible for maintaining control over your content that is hosted on this infrastructure. You are also responsible for the security configuration and management tasks for the AWS services that you use. For more information about data privacy, see the [Data Privacy FAQ](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/data-privacy-faq/). For information about data protection in Europe, see the [AWS Shared Responsibility Model and GDPR](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/security/the-aws-shared-responsibility-model-and-gdpr/) blog post on the *AWS Security Blog*.
For data protection purposes, we recommend that you protect AWS account credentials and set up individual users with AWS IAM Identity Center or AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). That way, each user is given only the permissions necessary to fulfill their job duties. We also recommend that you secure your data in the following ways:
+ Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) with each account.
+ Use SSL/TLS to communicate with AWS resources. We require TLS 1.2 and recommend TLS 1.3.
+ Set up API and user activity logging with AWS CloudTrail. For information about using CloudTrail trails to capture AWS activities, see [Working with CloudTrail trails](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-trails.html) in the *AWS CloudTrail User Guide*.
+ Use AWS encryption solutions, along with all default security controls within AWS services.
+ Use advanced managed security services such as Amazon Macie, which assists in discovering and securing sensitive data that is stored in Amazon S3.
+ If you require FIPS 140-3 validated cryptographic modules when accessing AWS through a command line interface or an API, use a FIPS endpoint. For more information about the available FIPS endpoints, see [Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-3](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/fips/).
We strongly recommend that you never put confidential or sensitive information, such as your customers' email addresses, into tags or free-form text fields such as a **Name** field. This includes when you work with AWS AppSync or other AWS services using the console, API, AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs. Any data that you enter into tags or free-form text fields used for names may be used for billing or diagnostic logs. If you provide a URL to an external server, we strongly recommend that you do not include credentials information in the URL to validate your request to that server.
## Encryption in motion
AWS AppSync, like all AWS services, makes use of TLS1.2 and beyond for communication when using the AWS published APIs and SDKs.
Using AWS AppSync with other AWS services such as Amazon DynamoDB ensures encryption in transit: All AWS services use TLS 1.2 and beyond to communicate with one another unless otherwise specified. For resolvers that utilize Amazon EC2 or CloudFront, it is your responsibility to verify that TLS (HTTPS) is configured and secure. For information on configuring HTTPS in Amazon EC2, see [Configuring SSL/TLS on Amazon Linux 2](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSEC2/latest/UserGuide/SSL-on-amazon-linux-2.html) in the Amazon EC2 user guide. For information about configuring HTTPS on CloudFront, see [HTTPS in Amazon CloudFront](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonCloudFront/latest/DeveloperGuide/using-https.html) in the CloudFront user guide.
# Compliance validation for AWS AppSync
Third-party auditors assess the security and compliance of AWS AppSync as part of multiple AWS compliance programs. AWS AppSync is compliant with SOC, PCI, HIPAA/HIPAA BAA, IRAP, C5, ENS High, OSPAR, and HITRUST CSF programs.
To learn whether an AWS service is within the scope of specific compliance programs, see [AWS services in Scope by Compliance Program](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/services-in-scope/) and choose the compliance program that you are interested in. For general information, see [AWS Compliance Programs](https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/programs/).
You can download third-party audit reports using AWS Artifact. For more information, see [Downloading Reports in AWS Artifact](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/artifact/latest/ug/downloading-documents.html).
Your compliance responsibility when using AWS services is determined by the sensitivity of your data, your company's compliance objectives, and applicable laws and regulations. For more information about your compliance responsibility when using AWS services, see [AWS Security Documentation](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/security/).
# Infrastructure security in AWS AppSync
As a managed service, AWS AppSync is protected by AWS global network security. For information about AWS security services and how AWS protects infrastructure, see [AWS Cloud Security](https://aws.amazon.com/security/). To design your AWS environment using the best practices for infrastructure security, see [Infrastructure Protection](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/security-pillar/infrastructure-protection.html) in *Security Pillar AWS Well‐Architected Framework*.
You use AWS published API calls to access AWS AppSync through the network. Clients must support the following:
+ Transport Layer Security (TLS). We require TLS 1.2 and recommend TLS 1.3.
+ Cipher suites with perfect forward secrecy (PFS) such as DHE (Ephemeral Diffie-Hellman) or ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Ephemeral Diffie-Hellman). Most modern systems such as Java 7 and later support these modes.
# Resilience in AWS AppSync
The AWS global infrastructure is built around AWS Regions and Availability Zones. AWS Regions provide multiple physically separated and isolated Availability Zones, which are connected with low-latency, high-throughput, and highly redundant networking. With Availability Zones, you can design and operate applications and databases that automatically fail over between zones without interruption. Availability Zones are more highly available, fault tolerant, and scalable than traditional single or multiple data center infrastructures.
For more information about AWS Regions and Availability Zones, see [AWS Global Infrastructure](https://aws.amazon.com/about-aws/global-infrastructure/).
In addition to the AWS global infrastructure, AWS AppSync allows most resources to be defined using AWS CloudFormation templates; for an example of using CloudFormation templates to declare AWS AppSync resources, see [Practical use cases for AWS AppSync Pipeline Resolvers](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/mobile/appsync-pipeline-resolvers-1/) on the AWS blog and the [AWS CloudFormation User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/).
# Identity and access management for AWS AppSync
AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is an AWS service that helps an administrator securely control access to AWS resources. IAM administrators control who can be *authenticated* (signed in) and *authorized* (have permissions) to use AWS AppSync resources. IAM is an AWS service that you can use with no additional charge.
**Topics**
+ [Audience](#security_iam_audience)
+ [Authenticating with identities](#security_iam_authentication)
+ [Managing access using policies](#security_iam_access-manage)
+ [How AWS AppSync works with IAM](security_iam_service-with-iam.md)
+ [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md)
+ [Troubleshooting AWS AppSync identity and access](security_iam_troubleshoot.md)
## Audience
How you use AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) differs based on your role:
+ **Service user** - request permissions from your administrator if you cannot access features (see [Troubleshooting AWS AppSync identity and access](security_iam_troubleshoot.md))
+ **Service administrator** - determine user access and submit permission requests (see [How AWS AppSync works with IAM](security_iam_service-with-iam.md))
+ **IAM administrator** - write policies to manage access (see [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md))
## Authenticating with identities
Authentication is how you sign in to AWS using your identity credentials. You must be authenticated as the AWS account root user, an IAM user, or by assuming an IAM role.
You can sign in as a federated identity using credentials from an identity source like AWS IAM Identity Center (IAM Identity Center), single sign-on authentication, or Google/Facebook credentials. For more information about signing in, see [How to sign in to your AWS account](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/signin/latest/userguide/how-to-sign-in.html) in the *AWS Sign-In User Guide*.
For programmatic access, AWS provides an SDK and CLI to cryptographically sign requests. For more information, see [AWS Signature Version 4 for API requests](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_sigv.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### AWS account root user
When you create an AWS account, you begin with one sign-in identity called the AWS account *root user* that has complete access to all AWS services and resources. We strongly recommend that you don't use the root user for everyday tasks. For tasks that require root user credentials, see [Tasks that require root user credentials](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_root-user.html#root-user-tasks) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### Federated identity
As a best practice, require human users to use federation with an identity provider to access AWS services using temporary credentials.
A *federated identity* is a user from your enterprise directory, web identity provider, or Directory Service that accesses AWS services using credentials from an identity source. Federated identities assume roles that provide temporary credentials.
For centralized access management, we recommend AWS IAM Identity Center. For more information, see [What is IAM Identity Center?](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/singlesignon/latest/userguide/what-is.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.
### IAM users and groups
An *[IAM user](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_users.html)* is an identity with specific permissions for a single person or application. We recommend using temporary credentials instead of IAM users with long-term credentials. For more information, see [Require human users to use federation with an identity provider to access AWS using temporary credentials](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/best-practices.html#bp-users-federation-idp) in the *IAM User Guide*.
An [https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_groups.html](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_groups.html) specifies a collection of IAM users and makes permissions easier to manage for large sets of users. For more information, see [Use cases for IAM users](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/gs-identities-iam-users.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### IAM roles
An *[IAM role](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles.html)* is an identity with specific permissions that provides temporary credentials. You can assume a role by [switching from a user to an IAM role (console)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_use_switch-role-console.html) or by calling an AWS CLI or AWS API operation. For more information, see [Methods to assume a role](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_manage-assume.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
IAM roles are useful for federated user access, temporary IAM user permissions, cross-account access, cross-service access, and applications running on Amazon EC2. For more information, see [Cross account resource access in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies-cross-account-resource-access.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Managing access using policies
You control access in AWS by creating policies and attaching them to AWS identities or resources. A policy defines permissions when associated with an identity or resource. AWS evaluates these policies when a principal makes a request. Most policies are stored in AWS as JSON documents. For more information about JSON policy documents, see [Overview of JSON policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html#access_policies-json) in the *IAM User Guide*.
Using policies, administrators specify who has access to what by defining which **principal** can perform **actions** on what **resources**, and under what **conditions**.
By default, users and roles have no permissions. An IAM administrator creates IAM policies and adds them to roles, which users can then assume. IAM policies define permissions regardless of the method used to perform the operation.
### Identity-based policies
Identity-based policies are JSON permissions policy documents that you attach to an identity (user, group, or role). These policies control what actions identities can perform, on which resources, and under what conditions. To learn how to create an identity-based policy, see [Define custom IAM permissions with customer managed policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_create.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
Identity-based policies can be *inline policies* (embedded directly into a single identity) or *managed policies* (standalone policies attached to multiple identities). To learn how to choose between managed and inline policies, see [Choose between managed policies and inline policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies-choosing-managed-or-inline.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### Resource-based policies
Resource-based policies are JSON policy documents that you attach to a resource. Examples include IAM *role trust policies* and Amazon S3 *bucket policies*. In services that support resource-based policies, service administrators can use them to control access to a specific resource. You must [specify a principal](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_principal.html) in a resource-based policy.
Resource-based policies are inline policies that are located in that service. You can't use AWS managed policies from IAM in a resource-based policy.
### Other policy types
AWS supports additional policy types that can set the maximum permissions granted by more common policy types:
+ **Permissions boundaries** – Set the maximum permissions that an identity-based policy can grant to an IAM entity. For more information, see [Permissions boundaries for IAM entities](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_boundaries.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ **Service control policies (SCPs)** – Specify the maximum permissions for an organization or organizational unit in AWS Organizations. For more information, see [Service control policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_scps.html) in the *AWS Organizations User Guide*.
+ **Resource control policies (RCPs)** – Set the maximum available permissions for resources in your accounts. For more information, see [Resource control policies (RCPs)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/organizations/latest/userguide/orgs_manage_policies_rcps.html) in the *AWS Organizations User Guide*.
+ **Session policies** – Advanced policies passed as a parameter when creating a temporary session for a role or federated user. For more information, see [Session policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html#policies_session) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### Multiple policy types
When multiple types of policies apply to a request, the resulting permissions are more complicated to understand. To learn how AWS determines whether to allow a request when multiple policy types are involved, see [Policy evaluation logic](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_evaluation-logic.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
# How AWS AppSync works with IAM
Before you use IAM to manage access to AWS AppSync, learn what IAM features are available to use with AWS AppSync.
**IAM features that you can use with AWS AppSync**
| IAM feature | AWS AppSync support |
| --- | --- |
| [Identity-based policies](#security_iam_service-with-iam-id-based-policies) | Yes |
| [Resource-based policies](#security_iam_service-with-iam-resource-based-policies) | No |
| [Policy actions](#security_iam_service-with-iam-id-based-policies-actions) | Yes |
| [Policy resources](#security_iam_service-with-iam-id-based-policies-resources) | Yes |
| [Policy condition keys](#security_iam_service-with-iam-id-based-policies-conditionkeys) | No |
| [ACLs](#security_iam_service-with-iam-acls) | No |
| [ABAC (tags in policies)](#security_iam_service-with-iam-tags) | Partial |
| [Temporary credentials](#security_iam_service-with-iam-roles-tempcreds) | Yes |
| [Forward access sessions (FAS)](#security_iam_service-with-iam-principal-permissions) | Partial |
| [Service roles](#security_iam_service-with-iam-roles-service) | No |
| [Service-linked roles](#security_iam_service-with-iam-roles-service-linked) | Partial |
To get a high-level view of how AWS AppSync and other AWS services work with most IAM features, see [AWS services that work with IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_aws-services-that-work-with-iam.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync
**Supports identity-based policies:** Yes
Identity-based policies are JSON permissions policy documents that you can attach to an identity, such as an IAM user, group of users, or role. These policies control what actions users and roles can perform, on which resources, and under what conditions. To learn how to create an identity-based policy, see [Define custom IAM permissions with customer managed policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_create.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
With IAM identity-based policies, you can specify allowed or denied actions and resources as well as the conditions under which actions are allowed or denied. To learn about all of the elements that you can use in a JSON policy, see [IAM JSON policy elements reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
### Identity-based policy examples for AWS AppSync
To view examples of AWS AppSync identity-based policies, see [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md).
## Resource-based policies within AWS AppSync
**Supports resource-based policies:** No
Resource-based policies are JSON policy documents that you attach to a resource. Examples of resource-based policies are IAM *role trust policies* and Amazon S3 *bucket policies*. In services that support resource-based policies, service administrators can use them to control access to a specific resource. For the resource where the policy is attached, the policy defines what actions a specified principal can perform on that resource and under what conditions. You must [specify a principal](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_principal.html) in a resource-based policy. Principals can include accounts, users, roles, federated users, or AWS services.
To enable cross-account access, you can specify an entire account or IAM entities in another account as the principal in a resource-based policy. For more information, see [Cross account resource access in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies-cross-account-resource-access.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Policy actions for AWS AppSync
**Supports policy actions:** Yes
Administrators can use AWS JSON policies to specify who has access to what. That is, which **principal** can perform **actions** on what **resources**, and under what **conditions**.
The `Action` element of a JSON policy describes the actions that you can use to allow or deny access in a policy. Include actions in a policy to grant permissions to perform the associated operation.
To see a list of AWS AppSync actions, see [Actions defined by AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html#awsappsync-actions-as-permissions) in the *Service Authorization Reference*.
Policy actions in AWS AppSync use the following prefix before the action:
```
appsync
```
To specify multiple actions in a single statement, separate them with commas.
```
"Action": [
"appsync:action1",
"appsync:action2"
]
```
To view examples of AWS AppSync identity-based policies, see [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md).
## Policy resources for AWS AppSync
**Supports policy resources:** Yes
Administrators can use AWS JSON policies to specify who has access to what. That is, which **principal** can perform **actions** on what **resources**, and under what **conditions**.
The `Resource` JSON policy element specifies the object or objects to which the action applies. As a best practice, specify a resource using its [Amazon Resource Name (ARN)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference-arns.html). For actions that don't support resource-level permissions, use a wildcard (\$1) to indicate that the statement applies to all resources.
```
"Resource": "*"
```
To see a list of AWS AppSync resource types and their ARNs, see [Resources defined by AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html#awsappsync-resources-for-iam-policies) in the *Service Authorization Reference*. To learn with which actions you can specify the ARN of each resource, see [Actions defined by AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html#awsappsync-actions-as-permissions).
To view examples of AWS AppSync identity-based policies, see [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md).
## Policy condition keys for AWS AppSync
**Supports service-specific policy condition keys:** No
Administrators can use AWS JSON policies to specify who has access to what. That is, which **principal** can perform **actions** on what **resources**, and under what **conditions**.
The `Condition` element specifies when statements execute based on defined criteria. You can create conditional expressions that use [condition operators](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_condition_operators.html), such as equals or less than, to match the condition in the policy with values in the request. To see all AWS global condition keys, see [AWS global condition context keys](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_condition-keys.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
To see a list of AWS AppSync condition keys, see [Condition keys for AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html#awsappsync-policy-keys) in the *Service Authorization Reference*. To learn with which actions and resources you can use a condition key, see [Actions defined by AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html#awsappsync-actions-as-permissions).
To view examples of AWS AppSync identity-based policies, see [Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_id-based-policy-examples.md).
## Access control lists (ACLs) in AWS AppSync
**Supports ACLs:** No
Access control lists (ACLs) control which principals (account members, users, or roles) have permissions to access a resource. ACLs are similar to resource-based policies, although they do not use the JSON policy document format.
## Attribute-based access control (ABAC) with AWS AppSync
**Supports ABAC (tags in policies):** Partial
Attribute-based access control (ABAC) is an authorization strategy that defines permissions based on attributes called tags. You can attach tags to IAM entities and AWS resources, then design ABAC policies to allow operations when the principal's tag matches the tag on the resource.
To control access based on tags, you provide tag information in the [condition element](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_condition.html) of a policy using the `aws:ResourceTag/key-name`, `aws:RequestTag/key-name`, or `aws:TagKeys` condition keys.
If a service supports all three condition keys for every resource type, then the value is **Yes** for the service. If a service supports all three condition keys for only some resource types, then the value is **Partial**.
For more information about ABAC, see [Define permissions with ABAC authorization](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/introduction_attribute-based-access-control.html) in the *IAM User Guide*. To view a tutorial with steps for setting up ABAC, see [Use attribute-based access control (ABAC)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/tutorial_attribute-based-access-control.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Using temporary credentials with AWS AppSync
**Supports temporary credentials:** Yes
Temporary credentials provide short-term access to AWS resources and are automatically created when you use federation or switch roles. AWS recommends that you dynamically generate temporary credentials instead of using long-term access keys. For more information, see [Temporary security credentials in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_credentials_temp.html) and [AWS services that work with IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_aws-services-that-work-with-iam.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Forward access sessions for AWS AppSync
**Supports forward access sessions (FAS):** Partial
Forward access sessions (FAS) use the permissions of the principal calling an AWS service, combined with the requesting AWS service to make requests to downstream services. For policy details when making FAS requests, see [Forward access sessions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_forward_access_sessions.html).
## Service roles for AWS AppSync
**Supports service roles:** No
A service role is an [IAM role](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles.html) that a service assumes to perform actions on your behalf. An IAM administrator can create, modify, and delete a service role from within IAM. For more information, see [Create a role to delegate permissions to an AWS service](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_create_for-service.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
**Warning**
Changing the permissions for a service role might break AWS AppSync functionality. Edit service roles only when AWS AppSync provides guidance to do so.
## Service-linked roles for AWS AppSync
**Supports service-linked roles:** Partial
A service-linked role is a type of service role that is linked to an AWS service. The service can assume the role to perform an action on your behalf. Service-linked roles appear in your AWS account and are owned by the service. An IAM administrator can view, but not edit the permissions for service-linked roles.
For details about creating or managing service-linked roles, see [AWS services that work with IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_aws-services-that-work-with-iam.html) in the *IAM User Guide*. Find a service in the table that includes a `Yes` in the **Service-linked role** column. Choose the **Yes** link to view the service-linked role documentation for that service.
# Identity-based policies for AWS AppSync
By default, users and roles don't have permission to create or modify AWS AppSync resources. To grant users permission to perform actions on the resources that they need, an IAM administrator can create IAM policies.
To learn how to create an IAM identity-based policy by using these example JSON policy documents, see [Create IAM policies (console)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_create-console.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
For details about actions and resource types defined by AWS AppSync, including the format of the ARNs for each of the resource types, see [Actions, resources, and condition keys for AWS AppSync](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/service-authorization/latest/reference/list_awsappsync.html) in the *Service Authorization Reference*.
To learn the best practices for creating and configuring IAM identity-based policies, see [IAM policy best practices](best-practices.md#security_iam_service-with-iam-policy-best-practices).
For a list of IAM identity-based policies for AWS AppSync, see [AWS managed policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_policy_list.md).
**Topics**
+ [Using the AWS AppSync console](#security_iam_id-based-policy-examples-console)
+ [Allow users to view their own permissions](#security_iam_id-based-policy-examples-view-own-permissions)
+ [Accessing one Amazon S3 bucket](#security_iam_id-based-policy-examples-access-one-bucket)
+ [Viewing AWS AppSync *widgets* based on tags](#security_iam_id-based-policy-examples-view-widget-tags)
+ [AWS managed policies for AWS AppSync](security_iam_policy_list.md)
## Using the AWS AppSync console
To access the AWS AppSync console, you must have a minimum set of permissions. These permissions must allow you to list and view details about the AWS AppSync resources in your AWS account. If you create an identity-based policy that is more restrictive than the minimum required permissions, the console won't function as intended for entities (users or roles) with that policy.
You don't need to allow minimum console permissions for users that are making calls only to the AWS CLI or the AWS API. Instead, allow access to only the actions that match the API operation that they're trying to perform.
To ensure that IAM users and roles can still use the AWS AppSync console, also attach the AWS AppSync `ConsoleAccess` or `ReadOnly` AWS managed policy to the entities. For more information, see [Adding permissions to a user](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_users_change-permissions.html#users_change_permissions-add-console) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## Allow users to view their own permissions
This example shows how you might create a policy that allows IAM users to view the inline and managed policies that are attached to their user identity. This policy includes permissions to complete this action on the console or programmatically using the AWS CLI or AWS API.
```
{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Sid": "ViewOwnUserInfo",
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"iam:GetUserPolicy",
"iam:ListGroupsForUser",
"iam:ListAttachedUserPolicies",
"iam:ListUserPolicies",
"iam:GetUser"
],
"Resource": ["arn:aws:iam::*:user/${aws:username}"]
},
{
"Sid": "NavigateInConsole",
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"iam:GetGroupPolicy",
"iam:GetPolicyVersion",
"iam:GetPolicy",
"iam:ListAttachedGroupPolicies",
"iam:ListGroupPolicies",
"iam:ListPolicyVersions",
"iam:ListPolicies",
"iam:ListUsers"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
```
## Accessing one Amazon S3 bucket
In this example, you want to grant an IAM user in your AWS account access to one of your Amazon S3 buckets, `examplebucket`. You also want to allow the user to add, update, and delete objects.
In addition to granting the `s3:PutObject`, `s3:GetObject`, and `s3:DeleteObject` permissions to the user, the policy also grants the `s3:ListAllMyBuckets`, `s3:GetBucketLocation`, and `s3:ListBucket` permissions. These are the additional permissions required by the console. Also, the `s3:PutObjectAcl` and the `s3:GetObjectAcl` actions are required to be able to copy, cut, and paste objects in the console. For an example walkthrough that grants permissions to users and tests them using the console, see [An example walkthrough: Using user policies to control access to your bucket](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/walkthrough1.html).
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement":[
{
"Sid":"ListBucketsInConsole",
"Effect":"Allow",
"Action":[
"s3:ListAllMyBuckets"
],
"Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::*"
},
{
"Sid":"ViewSpecificBucketInfo",
"Effect":"Allow",
"Action":[
"s3:ListBucket",
"s3:GetBucketLocation"
],
"Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::examplebucket"
},
{
"Sid":"ManageBucketContents",
"Effect":"Allow",
"Action":[
"s3:PutObject",
"s3:PutObjectAcl",
"s3:GetObject",
"s3:GetObjectAcl",
"s3:DeleteObject"
],
"Resource":"arn:aws:s3:::examplebucket/*"
}
]
}
```
------
## Viewing AWS AppSync *widgets* based on tags
You can use conditions in your identity-based policy to control access to AWS AppSync resources based on tags. This example shows how you might create a policy that allows viewing a *widget*. However, permission is granted only if the *widget* tag `Owner` has the value of that user's user name. This policy also grants the permissions necessary to complete this action on the console.
You can attach this policy to the IAM users in your account. If a user named `richard-roe` attempts to view an AWS AppSync *widget*, the *widget* must be tagged `Owner=richard-roe` or `owner=richard-roe`. Otherwise he is denied access. The condition tag key `Owner` matches both `Owner` and `owner` because condition key names are not case-sensitive. For more information, see [IAM JSON policy elements: Condition](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_condition.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
# AWS managed policies for AWS AppSync
To add permissions to users, groups, and roles, it is easier to use AWS managed policies than to write policies yourself. It takes time and expertise to [create IAM customer managed policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_create-console.html) that provide your team with only the permissions that they need. To get started quickly, you can use our AWS managed policies. These policies cover common use cases and are available in your AWS account. For more information about AWS managed policies, see [AWS managed policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_managed-vs-inline.html#aws-managed-policies) in the *IAM User Guide*.
AWS services maintain and update AWS managed policies. You can't change the permissions in AWS managed policies. Services occasionally add additional permissions to an AWS managed policy to support new features. This type of update affects all identities (users, groups, and roles) where the policy is attached. Services are most likely to update an AWS managed policy when a new feature is launched or when new operations become available. Services do not remove permissions from an AWS managed policy, so policy updates won't break your existing permissions.
Additionally, AWS supports managed policies for job functions that span multiple services. For example, the **ReadOnlyAccess** AWS managed policy provides read-only access to all AWS services and resources. When a service launches a new feature, AWS adds read-only permissions for new operations and resources. For a list and descriptions of job function policies, see [AWS managed policies for job functions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_job-functions.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## AWS managed policy: AWSAppSyncInvokeFullAccess
Use the `AWSAppSyncInvokeFullAccess` AWS managed policy to allow your administrators to access the AWS AppSync service through the console or independently.
You can attach the `AWSAppSyncInvokeFullAccess` policy to your IAM identities.
### Permissions details
This policy includes the following permissions.
+ `AWS AppSync` – Allows full administrative access to all resources in AWS AppSync
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"appsync:GraphQL",
"appsync:GetGraphqlApi",
"appsync:ListGraphqlApis",
"appsync:ListApiKeys"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
```
------
## AWS managed policy: AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor
Use the `AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor` AWS managed policy to allow IAM users to access to create, update, and query their GraphQL schemas. For information about what users can do with these permissions, see [Designing GraphQL APIs with AWS AppSync](designing-a-graphql-api.md).
You can attach the `AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor` policy to your IAM identities.
### Permissions details
This policy includes the following permissions.
+ `AWS AppSync` – Allows the following actions:
+ Creating GraphQL schemas
+ Allowing the creation, modification, and deletion of GraphQL types, resolvers, and functions
+ Evaluating request and response template logic
+ Evaluating code with a runtime and context
+ Sending GraphQL queries to GraphQL APIs
+ Retrieving GraphQL data
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"appsync:GraphQL",
"appsync:CreateResolver",
"appsync:CreateType",
"appsync:DeleteResolver",
"appsync:DeleteType",
"appsync:GetResolver",
"appsync:GetType",
"appsync:GetDataSource",
"appsync:GetSchemaCreationStatus",
"appsync:GetIntrospectionSchema",
"appsync:GetGraphqlApi",
"appsync:ListTypes",
"appsync:ListApiKeys",
"appsync:ListResolvers",
"appsync:ListDataSources",
"appsync:ListGraphqlApis",
"appsync:StartSchemaCreation",
"appsync:UpdateResolver",
"appsync:UpdateType",
"appsync:TagResource",
"appsync:UntagResource",
"appsync:ListTagsForResource",
"appsync:CreateFunction",
"appsync:UpdateFunction",
"appsync:GetFunction",
"appsync:DeleteFunction",
"appsync:ListFunctions",
"appsync:ListResolversByFunction",
"appsync:EvaluateMappingTemplate",
"appsync:EvaluateCode"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
```
------
## AWS managed policy: AWSAppSyncPushToCloudWatchLogs
AWS AppSync uses Amazon CloudWatch to monitor the performance of your application by generating logs that you can use to troubleshoot and optimize your GraphQL requests. For more information, see [Using CloudWatch to monitor and log GraphQL API data](monitoring.md).
Use the `AWSAppSyncPushToCloudWatchLogs` AWS managed policy to allow AWS AppSync to push logs to an IAM user's CloudWatch account.
You can attach the `AWSAppSyncPushToCloudWatchLogs` policy to your IAM identities.
### Permissions details
This policy includes the following permissions.
+ `CloudWatch Logs` – Allows AWS AppSync to create log groups and streams with specified names. AWS AppSync pushes log events to the specified log stream.
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"logs:CreateLogGroup",
"logs:CreateLogStream",
"logs:PutLogEvents"
],
"Resource": "*"
}
]
}
```
------
## AWS managed policy: AWSAppSyncAdministrator
Use the `AWSAppSyncAdministrator` AWS managed policy to allow your administrators to access all of AWS AppSync except for the AWS console.
You can attach `AWSAppSyncAdministrator` to your IAM entities. AWS AppSync also attaches this policy to a service role that allows it to perform actions on your behalf.
### Permissions details
This policy includes the following permissions.
+ `AWS AppSync` – Allows full administrative access to all resources in AWS AppSync
+ `IAM` – Allows the following actions:
+ Creating service-linked roles to allow AWS AppSync to analyze resources in other services on your behalf
+ Deleting service-linked roles
+ Passing service-linked roles on to other AWS services to assume the role later and to perform actions on your behalf
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"appsync:*"
],
"Resource": "*"
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"iam:PassRole"
],
"Resource": "*",
"Condition": {
"StringEquals": {
"iam:PassedToService": [
"appsync.amazonaws.com"
]
}
}
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": "iam:CreateServiceLinkedRole",
"Resource": "*",
"Condition": {
"StringEquals": {
"iam:AWSServiceName": "appsync.amazonaws.com"
}
}
},
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"iam:DeleteServiceLinkedRole",
"iam:GetServiceLinkedRoleDeletionStatus"
],
"Resource": "arn:aws:iam::*:role/aws-service-role/appsync.amazonaws.com/AWSServiceRoleForAppSync*"
}
]
}
```
------
## AWS managed policy: AWSAppSyncServiceRolePolicy
Use the `AWSAppSyncServiceRolePolicy` AWS managed policy to allow access to AWS services and resources that AWS AppSync uses or manages.
You can't attach `AWSAppSyncServiceRolePolicy` to your IAM entities. This policy is attached to a service-linked role that allows AWS AppSync to perform actions on your behalf. For more information, see [Service-linked roles for AWS AppSync](security_iam_service-with-iam.md#security_iam_service-with-iam-roles-service-linked).
### Permissions details
This policy includes the following permissions.
+ `X-Ray` – AWS AppSync uses AWS X-Ray to collect data about requests made within your application. For more information, see [Using AWS X-Ray to trace requests in AWS AppSync](x-ray-tracing.md).
This policy allows the following actions:
+ Retrieving sampling rules and their results
+ Sending trace data to the X-Ray daemon
------
#### [ JSON ]
****
```
{
"Version":"2012-10-17",
"Statement": [
{
"Effect": "Allow",
"Action": [
"xray:PutTraceSegments",
"xray:PutTelemetryRecords",
"xray:GetSamplingTargets",
"xray:GetSamplingRules",
"xray:GetSamplingStatisticSummaries"
],
"Resource": [
"*"
]
}
]
}
```
------
## AWS AppSync updates to AWS managed policies
View details about updates to AWS managed policies for AWS AppSync since this service began tracking these changes. For automatic alerts about changes to this page, subscribe to the RSS feed on the AWS AppSync Document history page.
| Change | Description | Date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor](#security-iam-awsmanpol-AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor) - Update to an existing policy | Added an `EvaluateCode` policy action to allow users to evaluate code with a runtime and context. | February 7, 2023 |
| [AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor](#security-iam-awsmanpol-AWSAppSyncSchemaAuthor) - Update to an existing policy | Added policy actions to allow the list, get, create, update, and delete functions for an API. Added an `EvaluateMappingTemplate` policy action to allow users to evaluate request and response resolver mapping template logic. Added policy actions to allow resource tagging. | August 25, 2022 |
| AWS AppSync started tracking changes | AWS AppSync started tracking changes for its AWS managed policies. | August 25, 2022 |
# Troubleshooting AWS AppSync identity and access
Use the following information to help you diagnose and fix common issues that you might encounter when working with AWS AppSync and IAM.
## I am not authorized to perform an action in AWS AppSync
If the AWS Management Console tells you that you're not authorized to perform an action, then you must contact your administrator for assistance. Your administrator is the person that provided you with your user name and password.
The following example error occurs when the IAM user `mateojackson` tries to use the console to view details about a fictional `my-example-widget` resource, but he does not have the fictional `appsync:GetWidget` permissions.
```
User: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/mateojackson is not authorized to perform: appsync:GetWidget on resource: my-example-widget
```
In this case, Mateo asks his administrator to update his policies to allow him to access the `my-example-widget` resource using the `appsync:GetWidget` action.
## I am not authorized to perform iam:PassRole
If you receive an error that you're not authorized to perform the `iam:PassRole` action, your policies must be updated to allow you to pass a role to AWS AppSync.
Some AWS services allow you to pass an existing role to that service instead of creating a new service role or service-linked role. To do this, you must have permissions to pass the role to the service.
The following example error occurs when an IAM user named `marymajor` tries to use the console to perform an action in AWS AppSync. However, the action requires the service to have permissions that are granted by a service role. Mary does not have permissions to pass the role to the service.
```
User: arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/marymajor is not authorized to perform: iam:PassRole
```
In this case, Mary's policies must be updated to allow her to perform the `iam:PassRole` action.
If you need help, contact your AWS administrator. Your administrator is the person who provided you with your sign-in credentials.
## I want to view my access keys
After you create your IAM user access keys, you can view your access key ID at any time. However, you can't view your secret access key again. If you lose your secret key, you must create a new access key pair.
Access keys consist of two parts: an access key ID (for example, `AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE`) and a secret access key (for example, `wJalrXUtnFEMI/K7MDENG/bPxRfiCYEXAMPLEKEY`). Like a user name and password, you must use both the access key ID and secret access key together to authenticate your requests. Manage your access keys as securely as you do your user name and password.
**Important**
Do not provide your access keys to a third party, even to help [find your canonical user ID](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/accounts/latest/reference/manage-acct-identifiers.html#FindCanonicalId). By doing this, you might give someone permanent access to your AWS account.
When you create an access key pair, you are prompted to save the access key ID and secret access key in a secure location. The secret access key is available only at the time you create it. If you lose your secret access key, you must add new access keys to your IAM user. You can have a maximum of two access keys. If you already have two, you must delete one key pair before creating a new one. To view instructions, see [Managing access keys](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_credentials_access-keys.html#Using_CreateAccessKey) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## I'm an administrator and want to allow others to access AWS AppSync
To allow others to access AWS AppSync, you must grant permission to the people or applications that need access. If you are using AWS IAM Identity Center to manage people and applications, you assign permission sets to users or groups to define their level of access. Permission sets automatically create and assign IAM policies to IAM roles that are associated with the person or application. For more information, see [Permission sets](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/singlesignon/latest/userguide/permissionsetsconcept.html) in the *AWS IAM Identity Center User Guide*.
If you are not using IAM Identity Center, you must create IAM entities (users or roles) for the people or applications that need access. You must then attach a policy to the entity that grants them the correct permissions in AWS AppSync. After the permissions are granted, provide the credentials to the user or application developer. They will use those credentials to access AWS. To learn more about creating IAM users, groups, policies, and permissions, see [IAM Identities](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id.html) and [Policies and permissions in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
## I want to allow people outside of my AWS account to access my AWS AppSync resources
You can create a role that users in other accounts or people outside of your organization can use to access your resources. You can specify who is trusted to assume the role. For services that support resource-based policies or access control lists (ACLs), you can use those policies to grant people access to your resources.
To learn more, consult the following:
+ To learn whether AWS AppSync supports these features, see [How AWS AppSync works with IAM](security_iam_service-with-iam.md).
+ To learn how to provide access to your resources across AWS accounts that you own, see [Providing access to an IAM user in another AWS account that you own](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_common-scenarios_aws-accounts.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ To learn how to provide access to your resources to third-party AWS accounts, see [Providing access to AWS accounts owned by third parties](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_common-scenarios_third-party.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ To learn how to provide access through identity federation, see [Providing access to externally authenticated users (identity federation)](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_roles_common-scenarios_federated-users.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ To learn the difference between using roles and resource-based policies for cross-account access, see [Cross account resource access in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies-cross-account-resource-access.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
# Logging AWS AppSync API calls with AWS CloudTrail
AWS AppSync is integrated with AWS CloudTrail, a service that provides a record of actions taken by a user, role, or an AWS service in AWS AppSync. CloudTrail captures API calls for AWS AppSync as events. The calls captured include calls from the AWS AppSync console and code calls to the AWS AppSync API operations. If you create a trail, you can enable continuous delivery of CloudTrail events to an Amazon S3 bucket, including events for AWS AppSync. If you don't configure a trail, you can still view the most recent events in the CloudTrail console in **Event history**. Using the information collected by CloudTrail, you can determine the request that was made to AWS AppSync, the IP address from which the request was made, who made the request, when it was made, and additional details.
To learn more about CloudTrail, see the [AWS CloudTrail User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-user-guide.html).
## AWS AppSync information in CloudTrail
CloudTrail is enabled on your AWS account when you create the account. When activity occurs in AWS AppSync, that activity is recorded in a CloudTrail event along with other AWS service events in **Event history**. You can view, search, and download recent events in your AWS account. For more information, see [Viewing events with CloudTrail Event history](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/view-cloudtrail-events.html).
For an ongoing record of events in your AWS account, including events for AWS AppSync, create a trail. A *trail* enables CloudTrail to deliver log files to an Amazon S3 bucket. By default, when you create a trail in the console, the trail applies to all AWS Regions. The trail logs events from all Regions in the AWS partition and delivers the log files to the Amazon S3 bucket that you specify. Additionally, you can configure other AWS services to further analyze and act upon the event data collected in CloudTrail logs. For more information, see the following:
+ [Overview for creating a trail](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-create-and-update-a-trail.html)
+ [CloudTrail supported services and integrations](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-aws-service-specific-topics.html)
+ [Configuring Amazon SNS notifications for CloudTrail](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/configure-sns-notifications-for-cloudtrail.html)
+ [Receiving CloudTrail log files from multiple regions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/receive-cloudtrail-log-files-from-multiple-regions.html) and [Receiving CloudTrail log files from multiple accounts](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-receive-logs-from-multiple-accounts.html)
AWS AppSync supports logging of calls made through the AWS AppSync API. At this time, calls to your APIs, as well as calls made to resolvers are not logged by AWS AppSync into CloudTrail.
Every event or log entry contains information about who generated the request. The identity information helps you determine the following:
+ Whether the request was made with root or AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) user credentials.
+ Whether the request was made with temporary security credentials for a role or federated user.
+ Whether the request was made by another AWS service.
For more information, see the [CloudTrail userIdentity element](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/awscloudtrail/latest/userguide/cloudtrail-event-reference-user-identity.html).
## Understanding AWS AppSync log file entries
A trail is a configuration that enables delivery of events as log files to an Amazon S3 bucket that you specify. CloudTrail log files contain one or more log entries. An event represents a single request from any source and includes information about the requested action, the date and time of the action, request parameters, and so on. CloudTrail log files aren't an ordered stack trace of the public API calls, so they don't appear in any specific order.
The following example shows a CloudTrail log entry that demonstrates the `GetGraphqlApi` action made through the AWS AppSync console:
```
{
"eventVersion": "1.08",
"userIdentity": {
"type": "AssumedRole",
"principalId": "ABCDEFXAMPLEPRINCIPAL:nikkiwolf",
"arn": "arn:aws:sts::111122223333:assumed-role/admin/nikkiwolf",
"accountId": "111122223333",
"accessKeyId": "AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE",
"sessionContext": {
"sessionIssuer": {
"type": "Role",
"principalId": "AIDAJ45Q7YFFAREXAMPLE",
"arn": "arn:aws:iam::111122223333:role/admin",
"accountId": "111122223333",
"userName": "admin"
},
"webIdFederationData": {},
"attributes": {
"mfaAuthenticated": "false",
"creationDate": "2021-03-12T22:41:48Z"
}
}
},
"eventTime": "2021-03-12T22:46:18Z",
"eventSource": "appsync.amazonaws.com",
"eventName": "GetGraphqlApi",
"awsRegion": "us-west-2",
"sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.69",
"userAgent": "aws-internal/3 aws-sdk-java/1.11.942 Linux/4.9.230-0.1.ac.223.84.332.metal1.x86_64 OpenJDK_64-Bit_Server_VM/25.282-b08 java/1.8.0_282 vendor/Oracle_Corporation",
"requestParameters": {
"apiId": "xhxt3typtfnmidkhcexampleid"
},
"responseElements": null,
"requestID": "2fc43a35-a552-4b5d-be6e-12553a03dd12",
"eventID": "b95b0ad9-8c71-4252-a2ec-5dc2fe5f8ae8",
"readOnly": true,
"eventType": "AwsApiCall",
"managementEvent": true,
"eventCategory": "Management",
"recipientAccountId": "111122223333"
}
```
The following example shows a CloudTrail log entry that demonstrates the `CreateApikey` action made through the AWS CLI:
```
{
"eventVersion": "1.08",
"userIdentity": {
"type": "IAMUser",
"principalId": "ABCDEFXAMPLEPRINCIPAL",
"arn": "arn:aws:iam::111122223333:user/nikkiwolf",
"accountId": "111122223333",
"accessKeyId": "AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE",
"userName": "nikkiwolf"
},
"eventTime": "2021-03-12T22:49:10Z",
"eventSource": "appsync.amazonaws.com",
"eventName": "CreateApiKey",
"awsRegion": "us-west-2",
"sourceIPAddress": "203.0.113.69",
"userAgent": "aws-cli/2.0.11 Python/3.7.4 Darwin/18.7.0 botocore/2.0.0dev15",
"requestParameters": {
"apiId": "xhxt3typtfnmidkhcexampleid"
},
"responseElements": {
"apiKey": {
"id": "***",
"expires": 1616191200,
"deletes": 1621375200
}
},
"requestID": "e152190e-04ba-4d0a-ae7b-6bfc0bcea6af",
"eventID": "ba3f39e0-9d87-41c5-abbb-2000abcb6013",
"readOnly": false,
"eventType": "AwsApiCall",
"managementEvent": true,
"eventCategory": "Management",
"recipientAccountId": "111122223333"
}
```
# Security best practices for AWS AppSync
Securing AWS AppSync is more than simply turning on a few levers or setting up logging. The following sections discuss security best practices that vary depending on how you use the service.
## Understand authentication methods
AWS AppSync provides multiple ways to authenticate your users to your GraphQL APIs. Each method has trade-offs in security, auditability, and usability.
The following common authentication methods are available:
+ Amazon Cognito user pools allow your GraphQL API to use user attributes for fine-grained access control and filtering.
+ API tokens have a limited lifetime and are appropriate for automated systems, such as Continuous Integration systems and integration with external APIs.
+ AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is appropriate for internal applications managed in your AWS account.
+ OpenID Connect allows you to control and federate access with the OpenID Connect protocol.
For more information on authentication and authorization in AWS AppSync, see [Configuring authorization and authentication to secure your GraphQL APIs](security-authz.md).
## Understand how API configuration changes propagate
When you save changes to your API configuration, AWS AppSync starts to propagate the changes. Until your configuration change is propagated, AWS AppSync continues to serve your content from the previous configuration. After your configuration change is propagated, AWS AppSync immediately starts to serve your content based on the new configuration. While AWS AppSync is propagating your changes for an API, we can't determine whether the API is serving your content based on the previous configuration or the new configuration.
## Use TLS for HTTP resolvers
When using HTTP resolvers, make sure to use TLS-secured (HTTPS) connections wherever possible. For a full list of the TLS certificates that AWS AppSync trusts, see [Certificate Authorities (CA) Recognized by AWS AppSync for HTTPS Endpoints](http-cert-authorities.md).
## Use roles with the least permissions possible
When using resolvers such as the [DynamoDB resolver](tutorial-dynamodb-resolvers.md), use roles that provide the most restrictive view to your resources, such as your Amazon DynamoDB tables.
## IAM policy best practices
Identity-based policies determine whether someone can create, access, or delete AWS AppSync resources in your account. These actions can incur costs for your AWS account. When you create or edit identity-based policies, follow these guidelines and recommendations:
+ **Get started with AWS managed policies and move toward least-privilege permissions** – To get started granting permissions to your users and workloads, use the *AWS managed policies* that grant permissions for many common use cases. They are available in your AWS account. We recommend that you reduce permissions further by defining AWS customer managed policies that are specific to your use cases. For more information, see [AWS managed policies](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_managed-vs-inline.html#aws-managed-policies) or [AWS managed policies for job functions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_job-functions.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ **Apply least-privilege permissions** – When you set permissions with IAM policies, grant only the permissions required to perform a task. You do this by defining the actions that can be taken on specific resources under specific conditions, also known as *least-privilege permissions*. For more information about using IAM to apply permissions, see [ Policies and permissions in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ **Use conditions in IAM policies to further restrict access** – You can add a condition to your policies to limit access to actions and resources. For example, you can write a policy condition to specify that all requests must be sent using SSL. You can also use conditions to grant access to service actions if they are used through a specific AWS service, such as CloudFormation. For more information, see [ IAM JSON policy elements: Condition](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/reference_policies_elements_condition.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ **Use IAM Access Analyzer to validate your IAM policies to ensure secure and functional permissions** – IAM Access Analyzer validates new and existing policies so that the policies adhere to the IAM policy language (JSON) and IAM best practices. IAM Access Analyzer provides more than 100 policy checks and actionable recommendations to help you author secure and functional policies. For more information, see [Validate policies with IAM Access Analyzer](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access-analyzer-policy-validation.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
+ **Require multi-factor authentication (MFA)** – If you have a scenario that requires IAM users or a root user in your AWS account, turn on MFA for additional security. To require MFA when API operations are called, add MFA conditions to your policies. For more information, see [ Secure API access with MFA](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_credentials_mfa_configure-api-require.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.
For more information about best practices in IAM, see [Security best practices in IAM](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/IAM/latest/UserGuide/best-practices.html) in the *IAM User Guide*.