--- title: IAM on Google Cloud Platform description: What does IAM mean? What are members, roles, and policies on Google Cloud Platform? What is resource hierarchy? What are GCP IAM Best Practices? image: http://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/VPimage.png --- [![c2c logo blue](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/c2c-logo-blue.svg "c2c logo blue")](https://www.c2cglobal.com/) # IAM on Google Cloud Platform By [Vijeta Pai](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/author/vijeta-pai) | February 16, 2021 Vijeta Pai, a Google Cloud expert and technology leader [demystifies cloud](https://www.cloud-demystified.com/)using illustrations, comics and easy-to-understand explanations. Today, we're bringing you her post about Identity Access Management (IAM). ## What is IAM?  Simply put, it's a framework of policies and processes defined by the Cloud Provider to make sure users have appropriate permissions to access resources, applications and data on the Cloud. This helps not only secure the data and prevent unwanted threats, but also makes sure all the users have the right amount of access to get their work done. There are three main parts to Identity Access Management (IAM) in Google Cloud Platform (GCP). They are Members, Roles and Policies. You can read more about them on Pai's website, [Cloud Demystified.](https://www.cloud-demystified.com/comics/iam-gcp) ## Visual learner? Check out the comic. ![iam_part1 (1).png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f70cf3851701b454e3858f3/1613268384100-FI3X2X3BJOFGMCO7LPJC/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kM9m6n2vyydX3DXJJ3Ckbowp-pTsQ9q6vcfATh4zoMvf-74I9FafmeSplBXI_NhjNACvjvxRDOQvYnFbaJd85oiENihd8VQT3GNkgPgAEq9QugV32LAXTFQ-wqgxnyrLLq51vRkC2tYJo60v8c7zzpeGMylDWm-TpxJyxRhW_dqaKMpVOKskuS-bwtt9dYKlZQ/iam_part1+%281%29.png?format=1500w)   ## Best Practices On her blog, you'll also find some of the best practices that Google Cloud suggests for IAM, but here is a highlight. ![Manage Google Identities.png](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f70cf3851701b454e3858f3/1613275831392-NV3EH24M21OBLDMBQ49F/ke17ZwdGBToddI8pDm48kLnfZvQ9iwxKU6eubAUQjId7gQa3H78H3Y0txjaiv_0fDoOvxcdMmMKkDsyUqMSsMWxHk725yiiHCCLfrh8O1z5QPOohDIaIeljMHgDF5CVlOqpeNLcJ80NK65_fV7S1UZu4EA4VkQXskbAiP4Lo2GV8HD7TW41NQmswmX4LjmCLoRwB-dUGsSquCnVTFQcaRg/Manage+Google+Identities.png?format=1500w) ## Get Connected Find her on[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijetapai90/) or keep up with her at C2C ([join here](https://www.c2cglobal.com/?utm_campaign=c2c-internal&utm_source=c2c-internal-sb)!).    ## Extra Credit [**Google Cloud IAM Documentation**](https://cloud.google.com/iam/docs/overview) [**Cloud IAM on Qwiklabs**](https://www.qwiklabs.com/focuses/551?parent=catalog) **[Identity and Access Management (Coursera)](https://www.coursera.org/lecture/gcp-fundamentals/identity-and-access-management-iam-1zsAc)** --- ## Recent Articles [Data Analytics](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/data-analytics) ## [Generative AI: Are You Behind?!](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/generative-ai-are-you-behind) Review the latest insights from the AI Readiness Report. By Bruno Aziza [Industry Solutions](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/industry-solutions) ## [Make "Gen AI Work": Landscape, SLMs vs. LLMs, Cost & More...](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/make-gen-ai-work-landscape-slms-vs.-llms-cost-more) Discover the 5 metrics you need to know in order to be an exceptional CEO and Operator. By Bruno Aziza [Google Cloud Strategy](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/tag/google-cloud-strategy) ## [AI Cheat Sheet](https://www.c2cglobal.com/articles/ai-cheat-sheet) AI is no more and no less the drive to create robots with human minds so they can do everything we do and more. Use this cheat sheet to help decode the space. By Leah Zitter ## Subscribe to our newsletter Get the latest from C2C, direct to your inbox. [Subscribe](https://share.hsforms.com/1znKGo6ySS9uaRyvLQQzxRw4qbyr) ![c2c-logo-white-tagline](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/c2c-logo-white-tagline.svg "c2c-logo-white-tagline") C2C is the only peer-to-peer community built to support, connect, and educate Google Cloud customers across regions and industries so they can better harness the power of the cloud—and each other—to solve their biggest challenges and drive innovation. ©2024  C2C Global. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.c2cglobal.com/privacy) 20 N Wacker Drive • Suite 1810 • Chicago, IL • 60606 **Join over 60K members on C2C.** Let's connect! - [mailto:hello@c2cglobal.com](mailto:hello@c2cglobal.com) - - - [![X](https://www.c2cglobal.com/hubfs/twitter-x-icon-white.svg)](https://twitter.com/MeetC2C) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=2634489&fmt=gif)