What is the main purpose of an IAM policy?

An IAM (Identity and Access Management) policy primarily serves to define resource access and permissions within a cloud environment. This means that an IAM policy outlines who (users, groups, or roles) has what level of access to specific resources and operations within an infrastructure. By specifying permissions, IAM policies ensure that users can only perform actions that align with their roles and responsibilities, thereby enforcing the principle of least privilege.

Effective management of access rights helps in maintaining security within a cloud environment, as it controls who can view, modify, or delete resources. IAM policies are critical for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. They allow organizations to configure fine-grained access controls, including read, write, and delete permissions, across various cloud resources.

In summary, defining access and permissions is central to the functionality of IAM policies, making this the correct choice for understanding their main purpose in a cloud environment.