Set up your AWS Account

Introduction

As the digital landscape continues to evolve, securing online accounts and sensitive information has become increasingly challenging. To address the growing threat landscape, organizations and individuals alike are turning to Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as a powerful defense mechanism. This document serves as a comprehensive guide to setting up MFA using virtual devices, offering an additional layer of security beyond traditional password-based authentication

Set up security credentials

MFA virtual device

1. Sign-in to AWS web console

2. Navigate to IAM dashboard Users here

3. Locate your user and select the Security credentials tab.

4. Beside Assigned MFA device, click Manage

5. On your mobile phone install a virtual MFA app:

• Google authenticator

• Microsoft authenticator

• Other options for TOTP codes

1. Follow the workflow for pairing a virtual MFA device with your phone app.

Setup programmatic access

1. Sign-in to AWS web console

2. Navigate to IAM dashboard Users here

3. Locate your user and select the Security credentials tab.

4. Under Access Keys click Create access key. AWS will automatically create the keypair for you.

• Download the CSV file, copy key and secret.

5. Note the access key ID and secret access key.

• In a terminal window create a new file ~/.aws/credentials. Into this file add the following:

  CODE

  [default]
  region = us-gov-west-1
  aws_access_key_id = <ACCESS_KEY>
  aws_secret_access_key = <SECRET_KEY>

  Pasting the access and secret key from step 4.

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