Configure IAM balancing security with daily practicality. Simulation Details: Nimbus Systems is a fast-growing technology company specializing in secure, scalable cloud infrastructure for industries with strict compliance needs, such as fintech and healthcare. Leveraging a broad suite of AWS services, Nimbus Systems has built a reputation for delivering tailored cloud environments that meet rigorous regulatory standards like GDPR and HIPAA. The company’s recent rapid expansion has brought both new opportunities and challenges, including the exposure of access control gaps during a recent audit. In response, Nimbus Systems has adopted a security-first approach, emphasizing least-privilege access, mandatory multi-factor authentication for all users, and standardized resource tagging. As the company prepares to launch a critical cloud project for a major European fintech client, ensuring airtight security and compliance is more important than ever. You step into the role of a Cloud DevOps Engineer at Nimbus Systems, tasked with finalizing a crucial IAM configuration document for a high-stakes fintech project. Your mission is to collaborate directly with the company’s DevOps Lead, who is highly meticulous and focused on audit readiness. Together, you will review security requirements, clarify audit expectations, and address known risks before making any changes. Using the simulation’s built-in editor, you will iteratively refine the IAM configuration, structuring roles, policies, and tagging conventions to balance strict security with the practical needs of the development team. Throughout the process, you’ll engage in real-time discussions with the DevOps Lead, responding to feedback, justifying your decisions, and negotiating solutions where operational needs and security requirements conflict. To complete the simulation, you will need to engage in focused, one-on-one conversations with the DevOps Lead, addressing their concerns and incorporating their feedback. You will review and edit the IAM configuration document in the simulation’s editor, ensuring it enforces least-privilege access, mandatory MFA, and consistent resource tagging, while remaining practical for daily workflows. Success means delivering a configuration that is audit-ready, compliant, and immediately implementable, demonstrating your ability to communicate technical decisions clearly and apply AWS IAM best practices in a real-world context.