Every great product experience starts with a smooth beginning. But in the world of cloud security, onboarding can sometimes feel like an obstacle course. Detailed fine-grained Identity and Access Management (IAM) configurations, lengthy deployment steps, and manual permission setups can turn what should be an exciting first impression into a tedious chore.
That’s changing. Rapid7 has enhanced the onboarding experience for Exposure Command and InsightCloudSec by integrating with AWS IAM temporary delegation - a new AWS capability that lets customers approve deployment access directly in the AWS console. The result? A faster, simpler, and more secure path to getting up and running in the cloud.
Why onboarding matters - and why it often fails
The first minutes with a new platform matter. It’s the difference between “this is amazing” and “I’ll come back to it later.”
In cloud environments, setup usually involves multiple AWS services - compute, storage, networking, access management - all of which must be configured precisely to maintain security. Traditionally, customers have had to manually create IAM roles, adjust trust relationships, and fine-tune permissions just to let a partner solution like Rapid7 deploy resources.
It’s not just time-consuming; it’s error-prone. Misconfigured roles can cause deployment failures or unnecessary security risk. Support teams spend hours walking customers through the process, and the friction delays time-to-value. When scaling across dozens or hundreds of AWS accounts, those delays multiply fast.
Meet AWS IAM temporary delegation: What it is and why it matters
AWS IAM temporary delegation simplifies the entire setup journey. It allows trusted partners like Rapid7 to automate deployment securely - but only after the customer grants explicit, time-bound approval.
Here’s how it works: When you initiate onboarding from within Rapid7’s interface, you’re redirected to the AWS console. There, you can review the exact permissions Rapid7 is requesting and how long access will last. Once approved, AWS provides Rapid7 with temporary credentials to complete the setup. After the time window expires, that access ends automatically.
No long-term IAM keys, no manual role creation, and no guesswork. Customers stay in control, with full visibility and auditability. It’s automation with accountability built in.
How Rapid7 is putting this into action
With the latest release, Rapid7 has integrated this capability directly into Exposure Command and InsightCloudSec, creating a guided onboarding experience that happens almost entirely inside the Rapid7 interface.
Here’s the new flow:
- Customers configure deployment options in Rapid7’s InsightCloudSec environment.
- A temporary delegation request appears via an AWS console pop-up.
- An authorized AWS user reviews and approves the request.
- Rapid7 automatically deploys the necessary resources on the customer’s behalf.
This streamlined workflow eliminates dozens of manual steps and reduces onboarding time from hours to minutes. It’s faster, simpler, and still fully aligned with AWS’s strict security model.
Speed, simplicity, and security
This integration hits the sweet spot between automation and trust:
Speed: Customers can start realizing value from Rapid7’s cloud security solutions in minutes instead of days.
Simplicity: The UI-driven process means no wrestling with IAM policies or JSON templates.
Security: Access is temporary and permission-scoped. Customers retain complete oversight through the AWS console and CloudTrail logs.
For organizations with compliance or security governance requirements, this is the ideal balance: operational efficiency without compromising control.
Beyond onboarding: What this says about Rapid7 and AWS alignment
This update isn’t just about faster onboarding. It’s a glimpse into Rapid7’s broader partnership with AWS. Rapid7 has long been an AWS Advanced Tier Partner, building integrations that help customers manage security across cloud-native environments. From leveraging AWS telemetry in MXDR to integrating with AWS services like CloudTrail and GuardDuty, Rapid7’s platform has been designed to meet customers where they already operate within AWS.
By adopting AWS IAM temporary delegation early, Rapid7 reinforces its commitment to cloud-first innovation and shared responsibility principles. Customers get the assurance that their onboarding, deployment, and operations all align with AWS security best practices.
What this means for customers
If you’re deploying Rapid7 Exposure Command (Advanced or Ultimate) or InsightCloudSec on AWS, here’s what to expect:
- A guided onboarding experience that automates AWS resource setup.
- A faster, less error-prone workflow that still keeps you in control.
- The ability for authorized users to approve temporary access requests directly in the AWS console.
Before onboarding, make sure someone in your organization has the permissions to approve delegation requests. After deployment, review your CloudTrail logs as part of normal governance; you’ll see every action logged and time-bounded.
Value from day one
Onboarding shouldn’t be a hurdle. And now with AWS IAM Temporary Delegation and Rapid7’s enhanced experience, it no longer is. Together, AWS and Rapid7 have reimagined what “getting started” looks like in the cloud - faster, more intuitive, and just as secure as you need it to be.
It’s one more way Rapid7 is helping organizations unlock value from day one, while staying aligned with AWS’s best practices for identity, access, and automation.
See how easy secure onboarding can be.Explore Rapid7’s listings for Exposure Command and InsightCloudSec straight from the AWS Marketplace.
- AWS