Identifying your AWS account when using multiple sessions

Last month, AWS announced multi-session support natively in the AWS console; previously I’d relied on Firefox containers to separate logins between accounts. This can be easily enabled from the account drop-down in the top right of the console.

Once enabled, this feature supports up to five sessions simultaneously and allows you to switch between them from the account drop-down. Identifying accounts can be tricky, and previously, with Firefox containers I could just set different tab colours. One way to identify an account, other than memorising the account ID, is by setting an alias. If you haven’t already set one you’ll only see the account number and IAM role in the top right corner.

An IAM account alias is normally used to set a sign-in URL for IAM users but can also be used to easily identify an account. In order to set an account alias, visit the IAM console and click Create next to Account Alias, type an alias in and save your changes. Now, in the top right, you’ll see your alias, account ID, and the current role assumed. Handy!

Now, only if AWS actually used the account name instead, which is required while creating an account, it wouldn’t require this extra step. Maybe I’m asking too much.