AWS-Vault and IAM Identity Center solve different access problems. AWS-Vault is a local credential management tool for developers and administrators who still use IAM user bootstrap credentials. IAM Identity Center, formerly AWS Single Sign-On (AWS SSO), is a workforce access platform for centrally managing user access across AWS accounts and applications.
If you are choosing between the two, the right question is not which tool is more secure in the abstract. It is the identity model that fits your environment.
Note: AWS renamed AWS SSO to IAM Identity Center, but many AWS APIs and CLI namespaces still use sso for backward compatibility.
Quick comparison
| Area | AWS-Vault | IAM Identity Center |
|---|---|---|
| Primary use case | Local CLI and console workflows for individual operators | Organisation-wide workforce access to AWS accounts and apps |
| Starting credential | Usually, an IAM-user bootstrap key is stored locally | Federated workforce identity and centrally managed assignments |
| Where secrets live | Local operating-system secure backend | Central AWS access platform and your identity provider |
| Best for | Power users, engineers, and admins with CLI-heavy workflows | Larger teams, multiple accounts, and lifecycle-managed access |
| MFA and sessions | Handled during role assumption and local session creation | Handled by the central access platform and IdP policies |
When AWS-Vault is the better fit
- You need a local tool to keep bootstrap access keys out of plaintext files.
- Your workflow is CLI-heavy and assumes roles across several AWS accounts.
- You are improving an existing IAM-user model rather than redesigning the entire organisation’s identity stack.
In that scenario, AWS-Vault Guide: Install, Configure, and Use It Securely is the right next stop.
When IAM Identity Center is the better fit
- You are managing workforce access for a team or company rather than a single workstation.
- You want central joiner, mover, and leaver controls, as well as external identity-provider integration.
- You want to stop handing out long-lived IAM-user access keys as a bootstrap pattern.
If you are designing a new multi-account AWS organisation from scratch, IAM Identity Center is often the better default.
Can you use both?
Yes, but only when the split is clear. Some teams keep IAM Identity Center for workforce access and still use AWS-Vault for specific legacy or specialist operator workflows. If you do this, document the boundary so engineers know when to use each model.
Bottom line
Choose AWS-Vault when you need a local operator tool for safer CLI sessions, and you still rely on IAM-user bootstrap credentials. Choose IAM Identity Center when you need centrally managed workforce access across AWS accounts and applications.