AWS Rolls Out Updates to Amazon Cognito

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Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced updates to Amazon Cognito, its identity and access management service for Web and mobile applications. The service allows developers to secure machine-to-machine authentication, enable role-based access to AWS resources, and create sign-in and sign-up experiences in applications.

Cognito now supports passwordless login with managed login, enabling users to integrate passwordless authentication methods, including passkeys, email one-time-passwords, and SMS one-time-passwords.

The new features include a developer-focused console experience that streamlines onboarding via a wizard and use-case specific recommendations. This allows developers to configure their sign-in options and follow the system-provided instructions to create the application’s sign-in and sign-up pages. A new user pool, a user directory for authentication and authorization, is automatically created, according to the blog post announcing the new updates. Amazon Cognito also supports major application frameworks and offers detailed instructions for integrating them using standard OpenID Connect (OIDC) and OAuth open source libraries.

Amazon has updated the pricing structure for Cognito, adding user pool feature tiers: Lite, Essentials, and Plus. New user pools are created at the Essentials tier by default, and users can switch between tiers depending on their needs.

The Lite tier includes user registration, password-based authentication, and social identity provider integration. The Essentials tier includes expanded authentication and access control features, including managed login and passwordless capabilities and enhanced security features. The Plus tier offers more security features, including threat protection capabilities against suspicious logins and compromised credential detection.

Pricing is based on monthly active users. The Essentials and Plus tiers are available in all AWS regions where Cognito is available, except AWS GovCloud (US) regions.

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Jennifer Lawinski is a writer and editor with more than 20 years experience in media, covering a wide range of topics including business, news, culture, science, technology and cybersecurity. After earning a Master’s degree in Journalism from Boston University, she started her career as a beat reporter for The Daily News of Newburyport. She has since written for a variety of publications including CNN, Fox News, Tech Target, CRN, CIO Insight, MSN News and Live Science. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner and two cats.