Granting View Access to AWS Billing Costs with IAM User Policy

While IAM users can't directly see cost breakdowns by service, you can create an IAM policy that allows them to view specific billing information within the AWS Billing and Cost Management console. This empowers them to analyze costs associated with different services within your account.

Important Considerations:

• Root User Access: Granting access to billing information requires activating IAM user and role access in the account settings. This is a one-time step performed by the root user.
• Security Best Practices: Always adhere to the principle of least privilege. Grant only the necessary permissions for users to perform their tasks. Avoid using the root user for everyday activities.

Creating the IAM Policy:

Here's how to create an IAM policy that allows users to view billing breakdowns:

1. Policy Editor: Navigate to the IAM service in the AWS Management Console. Select "Policies" from the left navigation pane. Click on "Create policy".
2. Choose Policy Type: Select the "JSON" tab to define the policy document manually.

Policy Structure:

The IAM policy document defines the permissions granted to the user. Here's a breakdown of the key elements:

JSON

{
  "Version": "2012-10-17",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "billing:GetBillingReport",
        "billing:GetCostAndUsage",
        "ce:GetCostAndUsageWithResources"
      ],
      "Resource": "*"
    }
  ]
}

•  Version: Specifies the schema version used for the policy document.
• Statement: Defines the permissions granted to the user. An IAM policy can have multiple statements.
• Effect: Indicates whether the statement allows ("Allow") or denies ("Deny") access.
• Action: Specifies the specific AWS actions permitted by the policy. Here, we allow three actions:
  • billing:GetBillingReport: Grants access to generate custom billing reports.
  • billing:GetCostAndUsage: Allows retrieval of cost and usage data.
  • ce:GetCostAndUsageWithResources: Enables viewing cost and usage data with associated resources (optional).
• Resource: Defines the resources on which the actions can be performed. Here, "*" allows access to all resources within the account.

Attaching the Policy:

Once you've created the policy document, save it with a descriptive name. Now, you can attach this policy to the IAM user who requires access to billing information.

Accessing Billing Information:

With the attached policy, users can access billing information through the AWS Billing and Cost Management console. They can view cost breakdowns by service, identify trends, and gain insights into resource utilization.

Additional Considerations:

• Granular Control: For more granular control, you can define specific resources within the "Resource" section of the policy statement. This allows you to restrict access to specific cost reports or limit visibility to certain services.
• Cost Explorer: While the policy allows viewing cost data, users cannot modify billing settings or manage payment methods. These actions require separate permissions.

Conclusion:

By creating a well-defined IAM policy, you can grant IAM users controlled access to view billing breakdowns within the AWS Billing and Cost Management console. This empowers them to analyze costs and make informed decisions about resource utilization. Remember to adhere to security best practices and grant only the minimum permissions necessary for users to perform their tasks effectively.