Managing multiple AWS accounts can get complicated, especially when you have separate environments for development, testing, staging, and production. AWS Organizations makes it easy to centrally manage your cloud environment and maintain control across multiple accounts.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through creating an AWS Organization and adding other AWS accounts step by step.
What Are AWS Organizations?
AWS Organizations allow you to consolidate multiple AWS accounts into a single structure for centralized billing, security, and governance. With Organizations, you can:
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Apply policies across accounts
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Manage access and permissions
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Simplify billing with consolidated payments
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Improve security and compliance across your cloud environment
Organizations are essential for businesses, DevOps teams, and cloud engineers who need to scale safely and efficiently.
Step-by-Step: Creating an AWS Organization
1. Login with Your Root Account
Go to aws.amazon.com and log in using your root account credentials. Only the root account can create an AWS Organization.
2. Open AWS Organizations
Once logged in, navigate to the AWS Management Console and search for Organizations at the top left corner. Click on AWS Organizations.
3. Check Your Plan
⚠️ Important: Before creating an Organization, ensure your account is either on a paid plan or ready to upgrade from the free trial.
4. Create the Organization
Click Create Organization and follow the prompts. This will initialize your Organization and set up a master account.
5. Add Other AWS Accounts
After creating your Organization, you can add additional AWS accounts for development, testing, staging, or production. This allows centralized management and better control over policies, permissions, and billing.
Best Practices
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Use separate accounts for development, testing, and production to reduce risks and maintain security.
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Apply Service Control Policies (SCPs) to control what each account can do.
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Enable Consolidated Billing to simplify payments and track usage.
Why AWS Organizations Matter
Organizations help you manage scale, security, and governance in the cloud. Whether you’re a beginner learning cloud computing or a professional managing enterprise infrastructure, mastering AWS Organizations is a critical step in your cloud journey.
Ready to start managing multiple AWS accounts efficiently? Watch my full video tutorial here:
AWS Organizations | Create & Manage Multiple AWS Accounts (Step-by-Step Guide)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – AWS Organizations
Q1: What is AWS Organizations?
A: AWS Organizations is a service that helps you centrally manage multiple AWS accounts. It allows you to consolidate billing, enforce policies, and control access across accounts.
Q2: Why should I use multiple AWS accounts?
A: Multiple accounts help separate environments like development, testing, staging, and production. This improves security, reduces risk, and makes management easier.
Q3: Can I create an AWS Organization with a free-tier account?
A: You can start the process, but certain features may require upgrading to a paid account. Always check your plan before creating an Organization.
Q4: Who can create an AWS Organization?
A: Only the root account of your AWS account can create an AWS Organization.
Q5: How do I add other AWS accounts to my Organization?
A: After creating your Organization, you can invite existing AWS accounts or create new accounts directly under the Organization from the AWS Management Console.
Q6: What are the benefits of using AWS Organizations?
A: Key benefits include:
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Centralized billing and cost tracking
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Simplified security and compliance management
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Policy enforcement across accounts
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Easier scaling of cloud infrastructure
Q7: Are there any best practices for AWS Organizations?
A: Yes. Always separate accounts by environment (Dev, Test, Prod), use Service Control Policies (SCPs) to control permissions, and enable consolidated billing for efficient cost management.