AWS IAM vs Teleport: What are the differences?

Key Differences between AWS IAM and Teleport

AWS IAM and Teleport both offer access management solutions, but they differ in several key areas. Here are the key differences between AWS IAM and Teleport:

1. Deployment Method: AWS IAM is a cloud-based identity and access management service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS), while Teleport is an open-source, self-hosted access management platform. This means that AWS IAM requires a subscription to AWS and is hosted on their infrastructure, while Teleport can be deployed on-premises or in any cloud environment.

2. Integration with Cloud Providers: AWS IAM is tightly integrated with AWS services and allows granular control over access to AWS resources. On the other hand, Teleport is designed to be cloud-agnostic and can be integrated with multiple cloud providers, allowing users to manage access to resources across different environments.

3. Feature Set: AWS IAM provides a comprehensive set of features for managing access to AWS resources, including user and group management, role-based access control, and fine-grained permissions. Teleport, on the other hand, focuses on providing secure access to infrastructure resources and supports features like SSH access management, multi-factor authentication, and session recording.

4. Ease of Use: AWS IAM has a web-based console that provides a user-friendly interface for managing access control policies and permissions. Teleport, on the other hand, requires some technical expertise for installation and configuration, as it is a self-hosted solution. However, Teleport provides a command-line interface and a simple web interface for managing access, which can be more flexible for advanced use cases.

5. Scalability: AWS IAM is designed to scale automatically to accommodate the needs of large organizations and can handle a high volume of access requests. Teleport is also scalable, but as a self-hosted solution, the scalability depends on the infrastructure it is deployed on.

6. Pricing: AWS IAM is a service provided by AWS, so the pricing is based on usage and depends on the number of users, groups, and roles. Teleport, being an open-source solution, is free to use, but organizations may incur costs for infrastructure and support if they choose to deploy it on a commercial platform.

In summary, while both AWS IAM and Teleport offer access management solutions, they differ in deployment method, integration with cloud providers, feature set, ease of use, scalability, and pricing. Choosing between the two depends on specific requirements, such as the need for cloud integration, the level of customization needed, and the deployment preferences of the organization.