Thursday, August 28, 2025

Modernize Amazon Redshift authentication by migrating consumer administration to AWS IAM Identification Middle

Amazon Redshift is a strong cloud-based knowledge warehouse that organizations can use to research each structured and semi-structured knowledge by way of superior SQL queries. As a completely managed service, it gives excessive efficiency and scalability whereas permitting safe entry to the information saved within the knowledge warehouse. Organizations worldwide depend on Amazon Redshift to deal with huge datasets, improve their analytics capabilities, and ship precious enterprise intelligence to their stakeholders.

AWS IAM Identification Middle serves as the popular platform for controlling workforce entry to AWS instruments, together with Amazon Q Developer. It permits for a single connection to your current id supplier (IdP), making a unified view of customers throughout AWS functions and making use of trusted id propagation for a easy and constant expertise.

You may entry knowledge in Amazon Redshift utilizing native customers or exterior customers. A neighborhood consumer in Amazon Redshift is a database consumer account that’s created and managed instantly throughout the Redshift cluster itself. Amazon Redshift additionally integrates with IAM Identification Middle, and helps trusted id propagation, so you should use third-party IdPs resembling Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD), Okta, Ping, OneLogin, or use IAM Identification Middle as an id supply. The IAM Identification Middle integration with Amazon Redshift helps centralized authentication and SSO capabilities, simplifying entry administration throughout multi-account environments. As organizations develop in scale, it is suggested to make use of exterior customers for cross-service integration and centralized entry administration.

On this put up, we stroll you thru the method of easily migrating your native Redshift consumer administration to IAM Identification Middle customers and teams utilizing the RedshiftIDCMigration utility.

Answer overview

The next diagram illustrates the answer structure.

The RedshiftIDCMigration utility accelerates the migration of your native Redshift customers, teams, and roles to your IAM Identification Middle occasion by performing the next actions:

  • Create customers in IAM Identification Middle for each native consumer in a given Redshift occasion.
  • Create teams in IAM Identification Middle for each group or position in a given Redshift occasion.
  • Assign customers to teams in IAM Identification Middle in accordance with current assignments within the Redshift occasion.
  • Create IAM Identification Middle roles within the Redshift occasion matching the teams created in IAM Identification Middle.
  • Grant permissions to IAM Identification Middle roles within the Redshift occasion primarily based on the present permissions given to native teams and roles.

Conditions

Earlier than operating the utility, full the next stipulations:

  1. Allow IAM Identification Middle in your account.
  2. Comply with the steps within the put up Combine Identification Supplier (IdP) with Amazon Redshift Question Editor V2 and SQL Consumer utilizing AWS IAM Identification Middle for seamless Single Signal-On (particularly, comply with Steps 1–8, skipping Steps 4 and 6).
  3. Configure the IAM Identification Middle utility assignments:
    1. On the IAM Identification Middle console, select Utility Assignments and Functions.
    2. Choose your utility and on the Actions dropdown menu, select Edit particulars.
    3. For Person and group assignments, select Don’t require assignments. This setting makes it attainable to check Amazon Redshift connectivity with out configuring particular knowledge entry permissions.
  4. Configure IAM Identification Middle authentication with administrative entry from both Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) or AWS CloudShell.

The utility will probably be run from both an EC2 occasion or CloudShell. When you’re utilizing an EC2 occasion, an IAM position is hooked up to the occasion. Guarantee that the IAM position used in the course of the execution has the next permissions (if not, create a brand new coverage with these permissions and connect it to the IAM position):

  • Amazon Redshift permissions (for serverless):
{     "Model": "2012-10-17",     "Assertion": [         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor0",             "Effect": "Allow",             "Action": [                 "redshift-serverless:GetCredentials",                 "redshift-serverless:GetNamespace",                 "redshift-serverless:GetWorkgroup"             ],             "Useful resource": [                 "arn:aws:redshift-serverless:${region}:${account-id}:namespace/${namespace-id}",                 "arn:aws:redshift-serverless:${region}:${account-id}:workgroup/${workgroup-id}"             ]         },         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor1",             "Impact": "Permit",             "Motion": [                 "redshift-serverless:ListNamespaces",                 "redshift-serverless:ListWorkgroups"             ],             "Useful resource": "*"         },         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor2",             "Impact": "Permit",             "Motion": [                 "redshift:CreateClusterUser",                 "redshift:JoinGroup",                 "redshift:GetClusterCredentials",                 "redshift:ExecuteQuery",                 "redshift:FetchResults",                 "redshift:DescribeClusters",                 "redshift:DescribeTable"             ],             "Useful resource": [                 "arn:aws:redshift:${region}:${account-id}:cluster:redshift-serverless-${workgroup-name}",                 "arn:aws:redshift:${region}:${account-id}:dbgroup:redshift-serverless-${workgroup-name}/${dbgroup}",                 "arn:aws:redshift:${region}:${account-id}:dbname:redshift-serverless-${workgroup-name}/${dbname}",                 "arn:aws:redshift:${region}:${account-id}:dbuser:redshift-serverless-${workgroup-name}/${dbuser}"             ]         }     ] }

  • Amazon Redshift permissions (for provisioned):
{     "Model": "2012-10-17",     "Assertion": [         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor0",             "Effect": "Allow",             "Action": "redshift:GetClusterCredentials",             "Resource": [                 "arn:aws:redshift: ${region}:${account-id}:dbname:${cluster_name}/${dbname}",                 "arn:aws:redshift: ${region}: ${account-id}:dbuser:${cluster-name}/${dbuser}"             ]         },         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor1",             "Impact": "Permit",             "Motion": [                 "redshift:DescribeClusters",                 "redshift:ExecuteQuery",                 "redshift:FetchResults",                 "redshift:DescribeTable"             ],             "Useful resource": "*"         }     ] }

{     "Model": "2012-10-17",     "Assertion": [         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor0",             "Effect": "Allow",             "Action": [                 "s3:PutObject",                 "s3:GetObject",                 "s3:GetEncryptionConfiguration",                 "s3:ListBucket",                 "s3:DeleteObject"             ],             "Useful resource": [                 "arn:aws:s3:::${s3_bucket_name}/*",                 "arn:aws:s3:::${s3_bucket_name}"             ]         }     ] }

  • Identification retailer permissions:
{     "Model": "2012-10-17",     "Assertion": [         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor0",             "Effect": "Allow",             "Action": "identitystore:*",             "Resource": [                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::group/*",                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::user/*",                 "arn:aws:identitystore::${account_id}:identitystore/${identity_store_id}",                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::membership/*"             ]         },         {             "Sid": "VisualEditor1",             "Impact": "Permit",             "Motion": "identitystore:*",             "Useful resource": [                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::membership/*",                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::user/*",                 "arn:aws:identitystore:::group/*"             ]         }     ] }

Artifacts

Obtain the next utility artifacts from the GitHub repo:

  • idc_redshift_unload_indatabase_groups_roles_users.py – A Python script to unload customers, teams, roles and their associations.
  • redshift_unload.ini – The config file used within the previous script to learn Redshift knowledge warehouse particulars and Amazon S3 places to unload the recordsdata.
  • idc_add_users_groups_roles_psets.py – A Python script to create customers and teams in IAM Identification Middle, after which affiliate the customers to teams in IAM Identification Middle.
  • idc_config.ini – The config file used within the previous script to learn IAM Identification Middle particulars.
  • vw_local_ugr_to_idc_urgr_priv.sql – A script that generates SQL statements that carry out two duties in Amazon Redshift:
    • Create roles that precisely match your IAM Identification Middle group names, including a specified prefix.
    • Grant acceptable permissions to those newly created Redshift roles.

Testing state of affairs

This take a look at case is designed to supply sensible expertise and familiarize you with the utility’s performance. The state of affairs is structured round a hierarchical nested roles system, beginning with object-level permissions assigned to technical roles. These technical roles are then allotted to enterprise roles. Lastly, enterprise roles are granted to particular person customers. To reinforce the testing atmosphere, the state of affairs additionally incorporates a consumer group.The next diagram illustrates this hierarchy.

Create datasets

Arrange two separate schemas (tickit and tpcds) in a Redshift database utilizing the create schema command. Then, create and populate just a few tables in every schema utilizing the tickit and tpcds pattern datasets.

Specify the suitable IAM position Amazon Useful resource Identify (ARN) within the copy instructions if vital.

Create customers

Create customers with the next code:

-- ETL customers create consumer etl_user_1 password 'EtlUser1!'; create consumer etl_user_2 password 'EtlUser2!'; create consumer etl_user_3 password 'EtlUser3!'; -- Reporting customers create consumer reporting_user_1 password 'ReportingUser1!'; create consumer reporting_user_2 password 'ReportingUser2!'; create consumer reporting_user_3 password 'ReportingUser3!'; -- Adhoc customers create consumer adhoc_user_1 password 'AdhocUser1!'; create consumer adhoc_user_2 password 'AdhocUser2!'; -- Analyst customers create consumer analyst_user_1 password 'AnalystUser1!';

Create enterprise roles

Create enterprise customers with the next code:

-- ETL enterprise roles create position role_bn_etl_tickit; create position role_bn_etl_tpcds; -- Reporting enterprise roles create position role_bn_reporting_tickit; create position role_bn_reporting_tpcds; -- Analyst enterprise roles create position role_bn_analyst_tickit;

Create technical roles

Create technical roles with the next code:

-- Technical roles for tickit schema create position role_tn_sel_tickit; create position role_tn_dml_tickit; create position role_tn_cte_tickit; -- Technical roles for tpcds schema create position role_tn_sel_tpcds; create position role_tn_dml_tpcds; create position role_tn_cte_tpcds;

Create teams

Create teams with the next code:

-- Adhoc customers group create group group_adhoc;

Grant rights to technical roles

To grant rights to the technical roles, use the next code:

-- role_tn_sel_tickit grant utilization on schema tickit to position role_tn_sel_tickit; grant choose on all tables in schema tickit to position role_tn_sel_tickit; -- role_tn_dml_tickit grant utilization on schema tickit to position role_tn_dml_tickit; grant insert, replace, delete on all tables in schema tickit to position role_tn_dml_tickit; -- role_tn_cte_tickit grant utilization, create on schema tickit to position role_tn_cte_tickit; grant drop on all tables in schema tickit to position role_tn_cte_tickit; -- role_tn_sel_tpcds grant utilization on schema tpcds to position role_tn_sel_tpcds; grant choose on all tables in schema tpcds to position role_tn_sel_tpcds; -- role_tn_dml_tpcds grant utilization on schema tpcds to position role_tn_dml_tpcds; grant insert, replace, delete on all tables in schema tpcds to position role_tn_dml_tpcds; -- role_tn_cte_tpcds grant utilization, create on schema tpcds to position role_tn_cte_tpcds; grant drop on all tables in schema tpcds to position role_tn_cte_tpcds;

Grant technical roles to enterprise roles

To grant the technical roles to the enterprise roles, use the next code:

-- Enterprise position role_bn_etl_tickit grant position role_tn_sel_tickit to position role_bn_etl_tickit; grant position role_tn_dml_tickit to position role_bn_etl_tickit; grant position role_tn_cte_tickit to position role_bn_etl_tickit; -- Enterprise position role_bn_etl_tpcds grant position role_tn_sel_tpcds to position role_bn_etl_tpcds; grant position role_tn_dml_tpcds to position role_bn_etl_tpcds; grant position role_tn_cte_tpcds to position role_bn_etl_tpcds; -- Enterprise position role_bn_reporting_tickit grant position role_tn_sel_tickit to position role_bn_reporting_tickit; -- Enterprise position role_bn_reporting_tpcds grant position role_tn_sel_tpcds to position role_bn_reporting_tpcds; -- Enterprise position role_bn_analyst_tickit grant position role_tn_sel_tickit to position role_bn_analyst_tickit;

Grant enterprise roles to customers

To grant the enterprise roles to customers, use the next code:

-- etl_user_1 grant position role_bn_etl_tickit to etl_user_1; -- etl_user_2 grant position role_bn_etl_tpcds to etl_user_2; -- etl_user_3 grant position role_bn_etl_tickit to etl_user_3; grant position role_bn_etl_tpcds to etl_user_3; -- reporting_user_1 grant position role_bn_reporting_tickit to reporting_user_1; -- reporting_user_2 grant position role_bn_reporting_tpcds to reporting_user_2; -- reporting_user_3 grant position role_bn_reporting_tickit to reporting_user_3; grant position role_bn_reporting_tpcds to reporting_user_3; -- analyst_user_1 grant position role_bn_analyst_tickit to analyst_user_1;

Grant rights to teams

To grant rights to the teams, use the next code:

-- Group group_adhoc grant utilization on schema tickit to group group_adhoc; grant choose on all tables in schema tickit to group group_adhoc; grant utilization on schema tpcds to group group_adhoc; grant choose on all tables in schema tpcds to group group_adhoc;

Add customers to teams

So as to add customers to the teams, use the next code:

alter group group_adhoc add consumer adhoc_user_1; alter group group_adhoc add consumer adhoc_user_2;

Deploy the answer

Full the next steps to deploy the answer:

  1. Replace Redshift cluster or serverless endpoint particulars and Amazon S3 location in redshift_unload.ini:
    • cluster_type = provisioned or serverless
    • cluster_id = ${cluster_identifier} (required if cluster_type is provisioned)
    • db_user = ${database_user}
    • db_name = ${database_name}
    • host = ${host_url} (required if cluster_type is provisioned)
    • port = ${port_number}
    • workgroup_name = ${workgroup_name} (required if cluster_type is serverless)
    • area = ${area}
    • s3_bucket = ${S3_bucket_name}
    • roles = roles.csv
    • customers = customers.csv
    • role_memberships = role_memberships.csv
  2. Replace IAM Identification Middle particulars in idc_config.ini:
    • area = ${area}
    • account_id = ${account_id}
    • identity_store_id = ${identity_store_id} (accessible on the IAM Identification Middle console Settings web page)
    • instance_arn = ${iam_identity_center_instance_arn} (accessible on the IAM Identification Middle console Settings web page)
    • permission_set_arn = ${permission_set_arn}
    • assign_permission_set = True or False (True if permission_set_arn is outlined)
    • s3_bucket = ${S3_bucket_name}
    • users_file = customers.csv
    • roles_file = roles.csv
    • role_memberships_file = role_memberships.csv
  3. Create a listing in CloudShell or by yourself EC2 occasion with connectivity to Amazon Redshift.
  4. Copy the 2 .ini recordsdata and obtain the Python scripts to that listing.
  5. Run idc_redshift_unload_indatabase_groups_roles_users.py both from CloudShell or your EC2 occasion:python idc_redshift_unload_indatabase_groups_roles_users.py
  6. Run idc_add_users_groups_roles_psets.py both from CloudShell or your EC2 occasion:python idc_add_users_groups_roles_psets.py
  7. Join your Redshift cluster utilizing the Amazon Redshift question editor v2 or most well-liked SQL consumer, utilizing superuser credentials.
  8. Copy the SQL within the vw_local_ugr_to_idc_urgr_priv.sql file and run it within the question editor to create the vw_local_ugr_to_idc_urgr_priv view.
  9. Run following SQL command to generate the SQL statements for creating roles and permissions:
    choose existing_grants,idc_based_grants from vw_local_ugr_to_idc_urgr_priv;

    For instance, think about the next current grants:

    CREATE GROUP "group_adhoc"; CREATE ROLE "role_bn_etl_tickit"; GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA tpcds TO position "role_tn_sel_tpcds" ;

    These grants are transformed to the next code:

    CREATE position "AWSIDC:group_adhoc"; CREATE position "AWSIDC:role_bn_etl_tickit"; GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA tpcds TO position "AWSIDC:role_tn_sel_tpcds";

  10. Overview the statements within the idc_based_grants column.
    This may not be a complete record of permissions, so overview them fastidiously.
  11. If all the things is appropriate, run the statements from the SQL consumer.

When you could have accomplished the method, it’s best to have the next configuration:

  • IAM Identification Middle now accommodates newly created customers from Amazon Redshift
  • The Redshift native teams and roles are created as teams in IAM Identification Middle
  • New roles are established in Amazon Redshift, similar to the teams created in IAM Identification Middle
  • The newly created Redshift roles are assigned acceptable permissions

When you encounter a difficulty whereas connecting to Amazon Redshift with the question editor utilizing IAM Identification Middle, consult with Troubleshooting connections from Amazon Redshift question editor v2.

Concerns

Think about the next when utilizing this answer:

  • On the time of writing, creating permissions in AWS Lake Formation will not be in scope.
  • IAM Identification Middle and IdP integration setup is out of scope for this utility. Nevertheless, you should use the view vw_local_ugr_to_idc_urgr_priv.sqlto create roles and grant permissions to the IdP customers and teams handed by way of IAM Identification Middle.
  • When you have permissions given on to native consumer IDs (not utilizing teams or roles), you have to change that to a role-based permission method for IAM Identification Middle integration. Create roles and supply permissions utilizing roles as a substitute of instantly giving permissions to customers.

Clear up

When you have accomplished the testing state of affairs, clear up your atmosphere:

  1. Take away the brand new Redshift roles that had been created by the utility, similar to the teams established in IAM Identification Middle.
  2. Delete the customers and teams created by the utility inside IAM Identification Middle.
  3. Delete the customers, teams, and roles specified within the testing state of affairs.
  4. Drop the tickit and tpcds schemas.

You should utilize the FORCE parameter when dropping the roles to take away related assignments.

Conclusion

On this put up, we confirmed find out how to migrate your Redshift native consumer administration to IAM Identification Middle. This transition affords a number of key benefits to your group, resembling simplified entry administration by way of centralized consumer and group administration, a streamlined consumer expertise throughout AWS providers, and lowered administrative overhead. You may implement this migration course of step-by-step, so you possibly can take a look at and validate every step earlier than absolutely transitioning your manufacturing atmosphere.

As organizations proceed to scale their AWS infrastructure, utilizing IAM Identification Middle turns into more and more precious for sustaining safe and environment friendly entry administration, together with Amazon SageMaker Unified Studio for an built-in expertise for all of your knowledge and AI.


Concerning the authors

Ziad Wali

Ziad Wali

Ziad is an Analytics Specialist Options Architect at AWS. He has over 10 years of expertise in databases and knowledge warehousing, the place he enjoys constructing dependable, scalable, and environment friendly options. Outdoors of labor, he enjoys sports activities and spending time in nature.

Satesh Sonti

Satesh Sonti

Satesh is a Sr. Analytics Specialist Options Architect primarily based out of Atlanta, specializing in constructing enterprise knowledge platforms, knowledge warehousing, and analytics options. He has over 19 years of expertise in constructing knowledge property and main advanced knowledge platform applications for banking and insurance coverage shoppers throughout the globe.

Maneesh Sharma

Maneesh Sharma

Maneesh is a Senior Database Engineer at AWS with greater than a decade of expertise designing and implementing large-scale knowledge warehouse and analytics options. He collaborates with varied Amazon Redshift Companions and prospects to drive higher integration.

Sumanth Punyamurthula

Sumanth Punyamurthula

Sumanth is a Senior Knowledge and Analytics Architect at AWS with greater than 20 years of expertise in main massive analytical initiatives, together with analytics, knowledge warehouse, knowledge lakes, knowledge governance, safety, and cloud infrastructure throughout journey, hospitality, monetary, and healthcare industries.

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