Yes, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a free service.
As stated in the provided reference from December 11, 2018, GCP IAM "comes as a free service that is available by default to all users of the Google Cloud Platform."
Understanding GCP IAM
Google Cloud IAM allows administrators to authorize who can take action on specific resources, providing granular control over your Google Cloud resources. It acts as the central authorization layer for GCP.
IAM helps you manage access by defining:
- Who (identity): Can be a Google Account (for end users), a service account (for applications and virtual machines), a Google Group, or a Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) domain.
- What (role): A collection of permissions. Predefined roles are available for common use cases, or you can create custom roles.
- On which resource: The GCP services (like Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, BigQuery) and their specific resources (like VM instances, storage buckets, datasets).
Why is IAM Offered for Free?
IAM is fundamental to securing your cloud environment. By offering it for free, Google encourages all users to implement strong access control practices from the beginning, enhancing the overall security posture of the platform and user projects.
It's a core component necessary for effectively and securely managing any cloud infrastructure. Think of it as the essential lock on your digital door – a feature critical for basic security and therefore provided without direct cost.
Key Benefits of Using GCP IAM
Utilizing GCP IAM provides numerous advantages for managing cloud resources securely:
- Centralized Control: Manage access permissions for all your GCP resources from a single interface.
- Least Privilege Principle: Grant only the necessary permissions to users or services, minimizing potential security risks.
- Integration: Works seamlessly across all Google Cloud services.
- Auditing: Provides detailed audit logs to track who did what, where, and when.
Here's a quick overview of key aspects:
| Feature | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Access Control | Granting permissions to users/services | Free |
| Role Management | Using predefined or custom roles | Free |
| Identity Types | Managing various identity types (users, services) | Free |
| Integration | Works across GCP services | Free |
In conclusion, while the cloud resources you use and the operations you perform might incur costs, the underlying IAM service used to control access to those resources is provided free of charge to all Google Cloud Platform users.
