Manage GCP GKE Hub Membership IAM Access

The gcp:gkehub/membershipIamMember:MembershipIamMember resource, part of the Pulumi GCP provider, manages IAM permissions for GKE Hub memberships by granting roles to individual members, groups of members, or replacing entire policies. This guide focuses on three capabilities: non-authoritative single-member grants, authoritative role bindings, and full policy replacement.

GKE Hub memberships must exist before you can manage their IAM permissions. The three IAM resources (MembershipIamMember, MembershipIamBinding, MembershipIamPolicy) serve different use cases and have compatibility constraints: MembershipIamPolicy cannot be used alongside the other two. The examples are intentionally small. Combine them with your own membership resources and identity management.

Grant a single user access to a membership

Most IAM configurations add individual users or service accounts to memberships without affecting other permissions.

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

const member = new gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamMember("member", {
    project: membership.project,
    location: membership.location,
    membershipId: membership.membershipId,
    role: "roles/viewer",
    member: "user:jane@example.com",
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

member = gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamMember("member",
    project=membership["project"],
    location=membership["location"],
    membership_id=membership["membershipId"],
    role="roles/viewer",
    member="user:jane@example.com")

package main

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

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := gkehub.NewMembershipIamMember(ctx, "member", &gkehub.MembershipIamMemberArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(membership.Project),
			Location:     pulumi.Any(membership.Location),
			MembershipId: pulumi.Any(membership.MembershipId),
			Role:         pulumi.String("roles/viewer"),
			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.GkeHub.MembershipIamMember("member", new()
    {
        Project = membership.Project,
        Location = membership.Location,
        MembershipId = membership.MembershipId,
        Role = "roles/viewer",
        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.gkehub.MembershipIamMember;
import com.pulumi.gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamMemberArgs;
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 MembershipIamMember("member", MembershipIamMemberArgs.builder()
            .project(membership.project())
            .location(membership.location())
            .membershipId(membership.membershipId())
            .role("roles/viewer")
            .member("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  member:
    type: gcp:gkehub:MembershipIamMember
    properties:
      project: ${membership.project}
      location: ${membership.location}
      membershipId: ${membership.membershipId}
      role: roles/viewer
      member: user:jane@example.com

The member property specifies a single identity using formats like “user:jane@example.com” or “serviceAccount:app@project.iam.gserviceaccount.com”. The role property defines what that identity can do. MembershipIamMember is non-authoritative: it adds this one binding without removing other members who have the same role or other roles on the membership.

Grant a role to multiple members at once

When several users need the same access level, binding them together simplifies management.

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

const binding = new gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamBinding("binding", {
    project: membership.project,
    location: membership.location,
    membershipId: membership.membershipId,
    role: "roles/viewer",
    members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

binding = gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamBinding("binding",
    project=membership["project"],
    location=membership["location"],
    membership_id=membership["membershipId"],
    role="roles/viewer",
    members=["user:jane@example.com"])

package main

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

func main() {
	pulumi.Run(func(ctx *pulumi.Context) error {
		_, err := gkehub.NewMembershipIamBinding(ctx, "binding", &gkehub.MembershipIamBindingArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(membership.Project),
			Location:     pulumi.Any(membership.Location),
			MembershipId: pulumi.Any(membership.MembershipId),
			Role:         pulumi.String("roles/viewer"),
			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.GkeHub.MembershipIamBinding("binding", new()
    {
        Project = membership.Project,
        Location = membership.Location,
        MembershipId = membership.MembershipId,
        Role = "roles/viewer",
        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.gkehub.MembershipIamBinding;
import com.pulumi.gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamBindingArgs;
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 MembershipIamBinding("binding", MembershipIamBindingArgs.builder()
            .project(membership.project())
            .location(membership.location())
            .membershipId(membership.membershipId())
            .role("roles/viewer")
            .members("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  binding:
    type: gcp:gkehub:MembershipIamBinding
    properties:
      project: ${membership.project}
      location: ${membership.location}
      membershipId: ${membership.membershipId}
      role: roles/viewer
      members:
        - user:jane@example.com

The members property takes a list of identities that all receive the same role. MembershipIamBinding is authoritative for this specific role: it replaces any existing bindings for “roles/viewer” but leaves other roles untouched. If another MembershipIamBinding or MembershipIamMember tries to grant “roles/viewer”, they will conflict.

Replace the entire IAM policy for a membership

Organizations that need complete control over all permissions define the entire IAM configuration in one place.

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

const admin = gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy({
    bindings: [{
        role: "roles/viewer",
        members: ["user:jane@example.com"],
    }],
});
const policy = new gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamPolicy("policy", {
    project: membership.project,
    location: membership.location,
    membershipId: membership.membershipId,
    policyData: admin.then(admin => admin.policyData),
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/viewer",
    "members": ["user:jane@example.com"],
}])
policy = gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamPolicy("policy",
    project=membership["project"],
    location=membership["location"],
    membership_id=membership["membershipId"],
    policy_data=admin.policy_data)

package main

import (
	"github.com/pulumi/pulumi-gcp/sdk/v9/go/gcp/gkehub"
	"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/viewer",
					Members: []string{
						"user:jane@example.com",
					},
				},
			},
		}, nil)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		_, err = gkehub.NewMembershipIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &gkehub.MembershipIamPolicyArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(membership.Project),
			Location:     pulumi.Any(membership.Location),
			MembershipId: pulumi.Any(membership.MembershipId),
			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/viewer",
                Members = new[]
                {
                    "user:jane@example.com",
                },
            },
        },
    });

    var policy = new Gcp.GkeHub.MembershipIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        Project = membership.Project,
        Location = membership.Location,
        MembershipId = membership.MembershipId,
        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.gkehub.MembershipIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.gkehub.MembershipIamPolicyArgs;
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/viewer")
                .members("user:jane@example.com")
                .build())
            .build());

        var policy = new MembershipIamPolicy("policy", MembershipIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .project(membership.project())
            .location(membership.location())
            .membershipId(membership.membershipId())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  policy:
    type: gcp:gkehub:MembershipIamPolicy
    properties:
      project: ${membership.project}
      location: ${membership.location}
      membershipId: ${membership.membershipId}
      policyData: ${admin.policyData}
variables:
  admin:
    fn::invoke:
      function: gcp:organizations:getIAMPolicy
      arguments:
        bindings:
          - role: roles/viewer
            members:
              - user:jane@example.com

The policyData property comes from the getIAMPolicy data source, which constructs a complete policy document with all bindings. MembershipIamPolicy is fully authoritative: it replaces the membership’s entire IAM policy. You cannot use MembershipIamPolicy alongside MembershipIamBinding or MembershipIamMember, as they will fight over the policy state.

Beyond these examples

These snippets focus on specific IAM management approaches: incremental member grants, role-based binding, and full policy replacement. They’re intentionally minimal rather than complete access control configurations.

The examples reference pre-existing infrastructure such as GKE Hub memberships (referenced by membershipId) and GCP projects and locations. They focus on IAM binding configuration rather than provisioning the memberships themselves.

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

Conditional IAM bindings (condition property)
Custom role definitions
Location-specific membership references
IAM policy data source for read-only access

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 GKE Hub MembershipIamMember resource reference for all available configuration options.

Let's manage GCP GKE Hub Membership IAM Access

Get started with Pulumi Cloud, then follow our quick setup guide to deploy this infrastructure.

Try Pulumi Cloud for FREE

Frequently Asked Questions

Resource Selection & Conflicts

Why are my MembershipIamPolicy and MembershipIamBinding resources conflicting?

MembershipIamPolicy cannot be used with MembershipIamBinding or MembershipIamMember because they will conflict over the policy. Use either MembershipIamPolicy alone (fully authoritative) or use MembershipIamBinding/MembershipIamMember (non-authoritative), but not both.

Can I use MembershipIamBinding and MembershipIamMember together?

Yes, but only if they manage different roles. If both resources grant privileges to the same role, they will conflict.

IAM Configuration

What's the difference between MembershipIamPolicy, MembershipIamBinding, and MembershipIamMember?

MembershipIamPolicy is fully authoritative and replaces the entire IAM policy. MembershipIamBinding is authoritative for a specific role, preserving other roles. MembershipIamMember is non-authoritative, adding a single member to a role while preserving other members.

What identity formats can I use for the member property?

You can use allUsers, allAuthenticatedUsers, user:{email}, serviceAccount:{email}, group:{email}, domain:{domain}, projectOwner:projectid, projectEditor:projectid, projectViewer:projectid, or federated identities (e.g., principal://iam.googleapis.com/...).

How do I specify a custom IAM role?

Custom roles must follow the format [projects|organizations]/{parent-name}/roles/{role-name} (e.g., projects/my-project/roles/my-custom-role).

Resource Properties

What properties are immutable after creation?

All main properties are immutable: location, member, membershipId, project, and role. Changes to these require resource replacement.

What's the default location for a membership?

The default location is global. If not specified, the value is parsed from the parent resource identifier or taken from the provider configuration.

Using a different cloud?

Explore security guides for other cloud providers:

AWS Guides Azure Guides