AWS RAM
AWS Resource Access Manager lets you share resources across AWS accounts within your organization without creating duplicates.
What is RAM? (Simple Explanation)
RAM is an AWS service in the Security category. AWS Resource Access Manager lets you share resources across AWS accounts within your organization without creating duplicates.
When Would You Use RAM?
- VPC subnet sharing
- Transit Gateway sharing
- Route 53 Resolver rule sharing
- License Manager configuration sharing
Who Uses RAM?
From startups to enterprises, RAM powers:
What Makes RAM Powerful
RAM Pricing & Free Tier
Core security services (IAM, KMS, CloudTrail, Shield Standard) are always free. Advanced features (GuardDuty, WAF, Shield Advanced) have per-usage pricing.
RAM Best Practices
- 1Enable MFA on all IAM users and root account
- 2Never use root account for daily tasks — create IAM users with least privilege
- 3Enable CloudTrail across all regions with log file validation
- 4Rotate access keys every 90 days and never commit them to source control
- 5Use IAM roles for EC2/Lambda/ECS instead of long-term access keys
Getting Started with RAM in 5 Minutes
- 1Open the AWS Console and navigate to RAM
- 2Review the default settings — most security services are pre-configured with best-practice defaults
- 3Define your policies, rules, or detection scope based on your environment
- 4Enable logging to CloudTrail and set up alerts to SNS for critical findings
RAM CLI Quick Reference
2 production-ready commands. Full CLI Library (225+ services) →
aws ram helpView all RAM CLI v2 commands and subcommandsaws ram describe-ram --helpView options for describing RAM resourcesPros & Cons of RAM
Pros
- Share with specific accounts or entire Organization
- Managed permissions for fine-grained access
- Resource discovery across shared accounts
- CloudWatch Events for lifecycle notifications
- No additional cost
Cons
- ✕Proper IAM policy design has a steep learning curve — overly permissive policies are common
- ✕Root account is a single point of failure if MFA is lost
- ✕CloudTrail logs can become expensive at scale without lifecycle management
RAM vs Alternatives
RAM vs Organizations
Choose RAM for VPC subnet sharing and Transit Gateway sharing. It excels at share with specific accounts or entire organization.
Choose Organizations as an alternative when your requirements differ. Each service in the Security category serves different architectural patterns.
Services That Work with RAM
RAM is rarely used alone. It is typically combined with:
Compliance & Security
How AWS RAM fits into major compliance standards. Browse all 41 frameworks →
RAM configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults.
NIST 800-53RAM access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families.
PCI DSS 4.0RAM encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments.
SOC 2RAM security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria.
ISO 27001RAM configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
Frequently Asked Questions About RAM
What is AWS RAM?
AWS Resource Access Manager lets you share resources across AWS accounts within your organization without creating duplicates.
What is RAM used for?
RAM is commonly used for: VPC subnet sharing; Transit Gateway sharing; Route 53 Resolver rule sharing; License Manager configuration sharing. It's a core service in the security category of AWS.
Is RAM free?
Core security services (IAM, KMS, CloudTrail, Shield Standard) are always free. Advanced features (GuardDuty, WAF, Shield Advanced) have per-usage pricing.
What are the key features of RAM?
RAM's most important capabilities include: Share with specific accounts or entire Organization. Managed permissions for fine-grained access. Resource discovery across shared accounts. CloudWatch Events for lifecycle notifications. No additional cost. Each of these is designed to help teams vpc subnet sharing.
How does RAM compare to alternatives?
RAM competes with both AWS-native alternatives (Organizations, VPC, Transit Gateway) and third-party equivalents. The right choice depends on your specific requirements for scalability, cost, and operational overhead. See the comparisons section below for detailed guidance.
Which compliance frameworks apply to RAM?
CIS AWS v3.0: RAM configuration is audited by CIS Benchmarks v1.5–v3.0 for secure cloud defaults. NIST 800-53: RAM access controls, encryption, and audit logging map to NIST 800-53 AC, SC, and AU control families. PCI DSS 4.0: RAM encryption, access control, and logging support PCI DSS for cardholder data environments. SOC 2: RAM security, availability, and confidentiality controls evaluated under SOC 2 Trust Services Criteria. ISO 27001: RAM configuration and monitoring controls map to ISO 27001 Annex A information security management.
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