Manage GCP Compute Image IAM Policies

The gcp:compute/imageIamPolicy:ImageIamPolicy resource, part of the Pulumi GCP provider, manages IAM policies for Compute Engine images, controlling who can view, use, or manage custom VM images. This guide focuses on four capabilities: authoritative policy replacement (ImageIamPolicy), role-level member binding (ImageIamBinding), individual member grants (ImageIamMember), and time-based access with IAM Conditions.

GCP provides three related resources for image IAM management, each with different authoritativeness guarantees. ImageIamPolicy replaces the entire policy; ImageIamBinding manages all members for one role; ImageIamMember adds individual members non-authoritatively. ImageIamPolicy cannot be used with ImageIamBinding or ImageIamMember, as they will conflict. The examples are intentionally small. Combine them with your own image references and member identities.

Replace the entire IAM policy for an image

When you need complete control over image access, you can set the entire IAM policy at once, replacing any existing permissions.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const admin = gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy({
    bindings: [{
        role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
        members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
    }],
});
const policy = new gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy", {
    project: example.project,
    image: example.name,
    policyData: admin.then(admin => admin.policyData),
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/compute.imageUser",
    "members": ["user:jane@example.com"],
}])
policy = gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy",
    project=example["project"],
    image=example["name"],
    policy_data=admin.policy_data)

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/compute"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/organizations"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		admin, err := organizations.LookupIAMPolicy(ctx, &organizations.LookupIAMPolicyArgs{
			Bindings: []organizations.GetIAMPolicyBinding{
				{
					Role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
					Members: []string{
						"user:jane@example.com",
					},
				},
			},
		}, nil)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		_, err = compute.NewImageIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &compute.ImageIamPolicyArgs{
			Project:    pulumi.Any(example.Project),
			Image:      pulumi.Any(example.Name),
			PolicyData: pulumi.String(admin.PolicyData),
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var admin = Gcp.Organizations.GetIAMPolicy.Invoke(new()
    {
        Bindings = new[]
        {
            new Gcp.Organizations.Inputs.GetIAMPolicyBindingInputArgs
            {
                Role = "roles/compute.imageUser",
                Members = new[]
                {
                    "user:jane@example.com",
                },
            },
        },
    });

    var policy = new Gcp.Compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        Project = example.Project,
        Image = example.Name,
        PolicyData = admin.Apply(getIAMPolicyResult => getIAMPolicyResult.PolicyData),
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.OrganizationsFunctions;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.inputs.GetIAMPolicyArgs;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicyArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        final var admin = OrganizationsFunctions.getIAMPolicy(GetIAMPolicyArgs.builder()
            .bindings(GetIAMPolicyBindingArgs.builder()
                .role("roles/compute.imageUser")
                .members("user:jane@example.com")
                .build())
            .build());

        var policy = new ImageIamPolicy("policy", ImageIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .project(example.project())
            .image(example.name())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  policy:
    type: gcp:compute:ImageIamPolicy
    properties:
      project: ${example.project}
      image: ${example.name}
      policyData: ${admin.policyData}
variables:
  admin:
    fn::invoke:
      function: gcp:organizations:getIAMPolicy
      arguments:
        bindings:
          - role: roles/compute.imageUser
            members:
              - user:jane@example.com

The ImageIamPolicy resource is authoritative: it replaces the entire IAM policy for the image. The policyData comes from the getIAMPolicy data source, which defines bindings between roles and members. The image and project properties identify which image to manage.

Grant a role to multiple members at once

When multiple users or service accounts need the same access level, you can bind them all to a role in a single resource.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const binding = new gcp.compute.ImageIamBinding("binding", {
    project: example.project,
    image: example.name,
    role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
    members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

binding = gcp.compute.ImageIamBinding("binding",
    project=example["project"],
    image=example["name"],
    role="roles/compute.imageUser",
    members=["user:jane@example.com"])

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/compute"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := compute.NewImageIamBinding(ctx, "binding", &compute.ImageIamBindingArgs{
			Project: pulumi.Any(example.Project),
			Image:   pulumi.Any(example.Name),
			Role:    pulumi.String("roles/compute.imageUser"),
			Members: pulumi.StringArray{
				pulumi.String("user:jane@example.com"),
			},
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var binding = new Gcp.Compute.ImageIamBinding("binding", new()
    {
        Project = example.Project,
        Image = example.Name,
        Role = "roles/compute.imageUser",
        Members = new[]
        {
            "user:jane@example.com",
        },
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamBinding;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamBindingArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        var binding = new ImageIamBinding("binding", ImageIamBindingArgs.builder()
            .project(example.project())
            .image(example.name())
            .role("roles/compute.imageUser")
            .members("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  binding:
    type: gcp:compute:ImageIamBinding
    properties:
      project: ${example.project}
      image: ${example.name}
      role: roles/compute.imageUser
      members:
        - user:jane@example.com

The ImageIamBinding resource is authoritative for one role: it sets the complete member list for that role while preserving other roles. The members array lists all identities that should have this role. Other roles on the image remain unchanged.

Add a single member to an existing role

When you need to grant access to one additional user without affecting other members or roles, you can add them individually.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const member = new gcp.compute.ImageIamMember("member", {
    project: example.project,
    image: example.name,
    role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
    member: "user:jane@example.com",
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

member = gcp.compute.ImageIamMember("member",
    project=example["project"],
    image=example["name"],
    role="roles/compute.imageUser",
    member="user:jane@example.com")

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/compute"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := compute.NewImageIamMember(ctx, "member", &compute.ImageIamMemberArgs{
			Project: pulumi.Any(example.Project),
			Image:   pulumi.Any(example.Name),
			Role:    pulumi.String("roles/compute.imageUser"),
			Member:  pulumi.String("user:jane@example.com"),
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var member = new Gcp.Compute.ImageIamMember("member", new()
    {
        Project = example.Project,
        Image = example.Name,
        Role = "roles/compute.imageUser",
        Member = "user:jane@example.com",
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamMember;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamMemberArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        var member = new ImageIamMember("member", ImageIamMemberArgs.builder()
            .project(example.project())
            .image(example.name())
            .role("roles/compute.imageUser")
            .member("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  member:
    type: gcp:compute:ImageIamMember
    properties:
      project: ${example.project}
      image: ${example.name}
      role: roles/compute.imageUser
      member: user:jane@example.com

The ImageIamMember resource is non-authoritative: it adds one member to a role without removing existing members. The member property specifies a single identity. This approach works well when different teams manage different members for the same role.

Set time-based access with IAM Conditions

Some access grants should expire automatically, such as temporary contractor access or time-limited sharing.

import * as pulumi from "@pulumi/pulumi";
import * as gcp from "@pulumi/gcp";

const admin = gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy({
    bindings: [{
        role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
        members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
        condition: {
            title: "expires_after_2019_12_31",
            description: "Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31",
            expression: "request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")",
        },
    }],
});
const policy = new gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy", {
    project: example.project,
    image: example.name,
    policyData: admin.then(admin => admin.policyData),
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/compute.imageUser",
    "members": ["user:jane@example.com"],
    "condition": {
        "title": "expires_after_2019_12_31",
        "description": "Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31",
        "expression": "request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")",
    },
}])
policy = gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy",
    project=example["project"],
    image=example["name"],
    policy_data=admin.policy_data)

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/compute"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/organizations"
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi/sdk/v3/go/pulumi"
)

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		admin, err := organizations.LookupIAMPolicy(ctx, &organizations.LookupIAMPolicyArgs{
			Bindings: []organizations.GetIAMPolicyBinding{
				{
					Role: "roles/compute.imageUser",
					Members: []string{
						"user:jane@example.com",
					},
					Condition: {
						Title:       "expires_after_2019_12_31",
						Description: pulumi.StringRef("Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31"),
						Expression:  "request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")",
					},
				},
			},
		}, nil)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		_, err = compute.NewImageIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &compute.ImageIamPolicyArgs{
			Project:    pulumi.Any(example.Project),
			Image:      pulumi.Any(example.Name),
			PolicyData: pulumi.String(admin.PolicyData),
		})
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		return nil
	})
}

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using Pulumi;
using Gcp = Pulumi.Gcp;

return await Deployment.RunAsync(() => 
{
    var admin = Gcp.Organizations.GetIAMPolicy.Invoke(new()
    {
        Bindings = new[]
        {
            new Gcp.Organizations.Inputs.GetIAMPolicyBindingInputArgs
            {
                Role = "roles/compute.imageUser",
                Members = new[]
                {
                    "user:jane@example.com",
                },
                Condition = new Gcp.Organizations.Inputs.GetIAMPolicyBindingConditionInputArgs
                {
                    Title = "expires_after_2019_12_31",
                    Description = "Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31",
                    Expression = "request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")",
                },
            },
        },
    });

    var policy = new Gcp.Compute.ImageIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        Project = example.Project,
        Image = example.Name,
        PolicyData = admin.Apply(getIAMPolicyResult => getIAMPolicyResult.PolicyData),
    });

});

package generated_program;

import com.pulumi.Context;
import com.pulumi.Pulumi;
import com.pulumi.core.Output;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.OrganizationsFunctions;
import com.pulumi.gcp.organizations.inputs.GetIAMPolicyArgs;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.ImageIamPolicyArgs;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Map;
import java.io.File;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.Paths;

public class App {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Pulumi.run(App::stack);
    }

    public static void stack(Context ctx) {
        final var admin = OrganizationsFunctions.getIAMPolicy(GetIAMPolicyArgs.builder()
            .bindings(GetIAMPolicyBindingArgs.builder()
                .role("roles/compute.imageUser")
                .members("user:jane@example.com")
                .condition(GetIAMPolicyBindingConditionArgs.builder()
                    .title("expires_after_2019_12_31")
                    .description("Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31")
                    .expression("request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")")
                    .build())
                .build())
            .build());

        var policy = new ImageIamPolicy("policy", ImageIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .project(example.project())
            .image(example.name())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  policy:
    type: gcp:compute:ImageIamPolicy
    properties:
      project: ${example.project}
      image: ${example.name}
      policyData: ${admin.policyData}
variables:
  admin:
    fn::invoke:
      function: gcp:organizations:getIAMPolicy
      arguments:
        bindings:
          - role: roles/compute.imageUser
            members:
              - user:jane@example.com
            condition:
              title: expires_after_2019_12_31
              description: Expiring at midnight of 2019-12-31
              expression: request.time < timestamp("2020-01-01T00:00:00Z")

IAM Conditions add temporal or contextual constraints to policy bindings. The condition block requires a title, optional description, and an expression using Common Expression Language (CEL). The expression compares request.time against a timestamp to enforce expiration. Conditions work with all three IAM resource types (Policy, Binding, Member).

Beyond these examples

These snippets focus on specific IAM management features: authoritative vs non-authoritative IAM management, role binding and member assignment, and time-based access with IAM Conditions. They’re intentionally minimal rather than full access control systems.

The examples reference pre-existing infrastructure such as Compute Engine images and GCP projects. They focus on configuring IAM policies rather than creating the images themselves.

To keep things focused, common IAM patterns are omitted, including:

Service account and group member types (serviceAccount:, group:)
Domain-wide access grants (domain:)
Complex condition expressions (resource attributes, request context)
IAM policy conflict resolution between resource types

These omissions are intentional: the goal is to illustrate how each IAM resource type is wired, not provide drop-in access control modules. See the Compute Image IAM Policy resource reference for all available configuration options.

Let's manage GCP Compute Image IAM Policies

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Frequently Asked Questions

Resource Selection & Conflicts

What's the difference between ImageIamPolicy, ImageIamBinding, and ImageIamMember?

ImageIamPolicy is authoritative and replaces the entire IAM policy. ImageIamBinding is authoritative for a specific role, preserving other roles in the policy. ImageIamMember is non-authoritative, adding a single member to a role while preserving other members.

Can I use ImageIamPolicy with ImageIamBinding or ImageIamMember?

No, ImageIamPolicy cannot be used with ImageIamBinding or ImageIamMember because they will conflict over policy control.

Can I use ImageIamBinding and ImageIamMember together?

Yes, but only if they manage different roles. Using both for the same role causes conflicts.

When should I use ImageIamPolicy vs ImageIamBinding vs ImageIamMember?

Use ImageIamPolicy when you need full control over the entire policy. Use ImageIamBinding to manage all members for a specific role. Use ImageIamMember to add individual members without affecting others.

IAM Conditions

How do I add time-based access restrictions with IAM Conditions?

Add a condition block with title, description, and expression. For example, use expression: "request.time < timestamp(\"2020-01-01T00:00:00Z\")" to expire access at midnight on 2019-12-31.

Are there limitations when using IAM Conditions?

Yes, IAM Conditions have known limitations. Review the GCP documentation on IAM Conditions limitations if you encounter issues.

Configuration & Properties

What properties can't be changed after creation?

Both image and project are immutable and cannot be changed after the resource is created.

Using a different cloud?

Explore security guides for other cloud providers:

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