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    Resource Access Management:Create a RAM user

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    Resource Access Management:Create a RAM user

    Last Updated:Dec 13, 2024

    A Resource Access Management (RAM) user is a physical identity. You can create RAM users for an Alibaba Cloud account and authorize the RAM users to access different resources.

    Procedure

    1. Log on to the RAM console by using an Alibaba Cloud account or a RAM user who has administrative rights.

    2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Identities > Users.

    3. On the Users page, click Create User. image

    4. In the User Account Information section of the Create User page, configure the following parameters:

      • Logon Name: The logon name can be up to 64 characters in length, and can contain letters, digits, periods (.), hyphens (-), and underscores (_).

      • Display Name: The display name can be up to 128 characters in length.

      • Tag: Click the edit icon and enter a tag key and a tag value. You can add one or more tags to the RAM user. This way, you can manage the RAM user based on the tags.

      Note

      You can click Add User to create multiple RAM users at a time.

    5. In the Access Mode section, select an access mode and configure the required parameters.

      To ensure the security of your Alibaba Cloud account, we recommend that you select only one access mode for the RAM user. This way, the RAM user for an individual is separated from the RAM user for a program.

      • Console Access

        If the RAM user represents an individual, we recommend that you select Console Access for the RAM user. This way, the RAM user can use a username and password to access Alibaba Cloud. If you select Console Access, you must configure the following parameters:

        • Set Console Password: You can select Automatically Regenerate Default Password or Reset Custom Password. If you select Reset Custom Password, you must specify a password. The password must meet the complexity requirements. For more information, see Configure a password policy for RAM users.

        • Password Reset: specifies whether the RAM user is required to reset the password upon the next logon.

        • Enable MAF: specifies whether to enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) for the RAM user. After you enable MFA, you must bind an MFA device to the RAM user. For more information, see Bind an MFA device to a RAM user.

      • Using permanent AccessKey to access

        If the RAM user represents a program, you can select Using permanent AccessKey to access for the RAM user. This way, the RAM user can use an AccessKey pair to access Alibaba Cloud. If you select OpenAPI Access, the system automatically generates an AccessKey ID and AccessKey secret for the RAM user. For more information, see Obtain an AccessKey pair.

        Important

        • An AccessKey secret for a RAM user is displayed only when you create an AccessKey pair. You cannot query the AccessKey secret in subsequent operations. Therefore, you must back up your AccessKey secret.

        • An AccessKey pair is a permanent credential for application access. If the AccessKey pair of an Alibaba Cloud account is leaked, the resources that belong to the account are exposed to potential risks. To prevent credential leak risks, we recommend that you use Security Token Service (STS) tokens. For more information, see Best practices for using an access credential to call API operations.

    6. Click OK.

    7. Complete security verification as prompted.

    What to do next

    1. Grant permissions to the RAM user.

      The newly created RAM user has no permissions. You must grant relevant permissions to the RAM user. Then, the RAM user can access the required Alibaba Cloud resources. For more information, see Grant permissions to RAM users.

    2. Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Management Console as the RAM user or call an operation.

      For more information, see Log on to the Alibaba Cloud Management Console as a RAM user and RAM APIs.