> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.fastfoundation.nimble.la/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Getting Started with AWS Single Sign-On (SSO)

> Learn how to securely set up AWS Single Sign-On (SSO) for Fast Foundation, enabling centralized authentication, easy access to multiple AWS accounts, and a smoother local development experience.

<Note>
  💡 This guide is tailored for Fast Foundation. If your company has customized settings, some details may look a little different.
</Note>

## Introduction

Welcome! 🎉

This guide will walk you through setting up **AWS Single Sign-On (SSO)** so you can securely access your Fast Foundation infrastructure and use it in your local development environment.

Think of SSO as your **one set of keys** 🔑: instead of remembering separate logins for every AWS account, you'll sign in once and seamlessly switch between accounts with the right permissions. We'll also show you how this integrates with your development tools, so everything works smoothly whether you're building locally or in the cloud.

By the end of this setup, you'll be ready to:

* **Log in to multiple AWS accounts** using single set of credentials
* **Authenticate securely with role-based permissions** and enforced **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**
* **Use your SSO credentials** directly in your development workflow
* **Solve common setup issues** on your own with our troubleshooting tips

***

## Before You Begin

To make sure the setup goes smoothly, there are a couple of things you'll need:

### Required Software

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) v2" icon="terminal">
    The **AWS CLI** is a tool you'll use to interact with AWS services from your terminal. For the most up-to-date installation steps, refer to the [official AWS CLI installation guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/getting-started-install.html), as local instructions may become outdated over time.

    Here's how to install it:

    <Tabs>
      <Tab title="macOS">
        ```bash theme={null}
        # Using Homebrew
        brew install awscli

        # Or download the installer
        curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.pkg" -o "AWSCLIV2.pkg"
        sudo installer -pkg AWSCLIV2.pkg -target /
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Linux">
        ```bash theme={null}
        # Download and install
        curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
        unzip awscliv2.zip
        sudo ./aws/install
        ```
      </Tab>

      <Tab title="Windows">
        1. Download the AWS CLI MSI installer from [AWS CLI Installation Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/userguide/getting-started-install.html)
        2. Run the installer and follow the setup wizard
        3. Open **Command Prompt** or **PowerShell** to verify installation
      </Tab>
    </Tabs>

    **Verify installation:**

    ```bash theme={null}
    aws --version
    ```

    You should see something like:\
    `aws-cli/2.x.x Python/3.x.x ...`
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Access Requirements

Before starting, make sure you have:

* **An AWS SSO user account**: This will be created for you by your Cloud Administrator.
* **A setup email**: You'll receive temporary credentials in your inbox to begin the process.
* **Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)**: You'll need either a virtual authenticator app (e.g. Google Authenticator) or a hardware MFA device.

***

## Security Best Practices

<Warning>
  **Keep your account safe by following these simple rules:**

  * Never share your SSO login credentials with anyone
  * Always log out if you're using a shared or public computer
  * Keep your AWS CLI updated to the latest version
  * If you see anything unusual, report it right away to your administrator
</Warning>

***

## Need Help?

If you run into trouble:

1. Start with the [Troubleshooting Guide](/aws-sso/5-troubleshooting)
2. Reach out to your Cloud Administrator for support
3. Contact the Fast Foundation team if you need further assistance

***

## Your Setup Journey

We've broken the setup into a few clear steps. Follow them in order for the smoothest experience:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="1. Initial Setup" icon="rocket" href="/aws-sso/2-initial-setup">
    Get started with your first-time AWS SSO configuration
  </Card>

  <Card title="2. Set Up SSO Locally" icon="terminal" href="/aws-sso/3-set-up-aws-sso-locally">
    Configure AWS SSO profiles on your local machine
  </Card>

  <Card title="3. Using SSO Profiles" icon="code" href="/aws-sso/4-use-sso-profiles-in-applications">
    Connect your SSO login with your applications and local development tools
  </Card>

  <Card title="4. Troubleshooting" icon="life-ring" href="/aws-sso/5-troubleshooting">
    Fix the most common issues if something doesn't work as expected
  </Card>
</CardGroup>