What does the AWS Security Token Service (STS) provide to users?

The AWS Security Token Service (STS) provides temporary security credentials to users, which is a crucial aspect of managing permissions in a secure cloud environment. These temporary credentials allow users to access AWS resources without needing to manage long-term access keys, enhancing security by reducing the risk of static credentials being compromised.

When users assume roles via STS, they receive a set of temporary credentials that last for a limited duration, which can also be defined in terms of how long they are valid before expiring. This is particularly useful for scenarios like federated user access, where external users or applications can gain limited access to AWS resources based on defined roles.

In a security-focused context, using temporary credentials helps in implementing the principle of least privilege since the permissions can be finely scoped and revoked automatically when the temporary credentials expire. This reduces the surface area for potential attacks and addresses concerns with long-lived credentials.

By providing this capability, STS contributes significantly to a more dynamic and secure approach to managing access in AWS environments.