Manage GCP Machine Image IAM Policies

The gcp:compute/machineImageIamPolicy:MachineImageIamPolicy resource, part of the Pulumi GCP provider, manages IAM access control for Compute Engine machine images through three resource variants. This guide focuses on four capabilities: authoritative policy replacement, role-level binding management, incremental member addition, and time-based access with IAM Conditions.

These resources reference existing machine images and require appropriate IAM permissions to modify policies. The examples are intentionally small. Combine them with your own machine image infrastructure and organizational IAM strategy.

Replace the entire IAM policy with a new definition

When you need complete control over who can access a machine image, you can replace the entire IAM policy in one operation.

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

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

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/compute.admin",
    "members": ["user:jane@example.com"],
}])
policy = gcp.compute.MachineImageIamPolicy("policy",
    project=image["project"],
    machine_image=image["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.admin",
					Members: []string{
						"user:jane@example.com",
					},
				},
			},
		}, nil)
		if err != nil {
			return err
		}
		_, err = compute.NewMachineImageIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &compute.MachineImageIamPolicyArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(image.Project),
			MachineImage: pulumi.Any(image.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.admin",
                Members = new[]
                {
                    "user:jane@example.com",
                },
            },
        },
    });

    var policy = new Gcp.Compute.MachineImageIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        Project = image.Project,
        MachineImage = image.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.MachineImageIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.MachineImageIamPolicyArgs;
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.admin")
                .members("user:jane@example.com")
                .build())
            .build());

        var policy = new MachineImageIamPolicy("policy", MachineImageIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .project(image.project())
            .machineImage(image.name())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

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

The MachineImageIamPolicy resource is authoritative: it replaces the entire policy, removing any bindings not included in your definition. The policyData comes from the getIAMPolicy data source, which constructs the policy document from role and member bindings. Use this approach when you want to ensure no unexpected access exists.

Apply time-based access with IAM Conditions

IAM Conditions let you grant temporary access that expires automatically, useful for contractors or time-limited projects.

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

const admin = gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy({
    bindings: [{
        role: "roles/compute.admin",
        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.MachineImageIamPolicy("policy", {
    project: image.project,
    machineImage: image.name,
    policyData: admin.then(admin => admin.policyData),
});

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

admin = gcp.organizations.get_iam_policy(bindings=[{
    "role": "roles/compute.admin",
    "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.MachineImageIamPolicy("policy",
    project=image["project"],
    machine_image=image["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.admin",
					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.NewMachineImageIamPolicy(ctx, "policy", &compute.MachineImageIamPolicyArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(image.Project),
			MachineImage: pulumi.Any(image.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.admin",
                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.MachineImageIamPolicy("policy", new()
    {
        Project = image.Project,
        MachineImage = image.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.MachineImageIamPolicy;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.MachineImageIamPolicyArgs;
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.admin")
                .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 MachineImageIamPolicy("policy", MachineImageIamPolicyArgs.builder()
            .project(image.project())
            .machineImage(image.name())
            .policyData(admin.policyData())
            .build());

    }
}

resources:
  policy:
    type: gcp:compute:MachineImageIamPolicy
    properties:
      project: ${image.project}
      machineImage: ${image.name}
      policyData: ${admin.policyData}
variables:
  admin:
    fn::invoke:
      function: gcp:organizations:getIAMPolicy
      arguments:
        bindings:
          - role: roles/compute.admin
            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")

The condition block adds temporal constraints to role bindings. The expression uses CEL (Common Expression Language) to compare request.time against a timestamp. When the condition evaluates to false, the binding no longer grants access. The title and description help identify the condition’s purpose in audit logs.

Grant a role to multiple members at once

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

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

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

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

binding = gcp.compute.MachineImageIamBinding("binding",
    project=image["project"],
    machine_image=image["name"],
    role="roles/compute.admin",
    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.NewMachineImageIamBinding(ctx, "binding", &compute.MachineImageIamBindingArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(image.Project),
			MachineImage: pulumi.Any(image.Name),
			Role:         pulumi.String("roles/compute.admin"),
			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.MachineImageIamBinding("binding", new()
    {
        Project = image.Project,
        MachineImage = image.Name,
        Role = "roles/compute.admin",
        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.MachineImageIamBinding;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.MachineImageIamBindingArgs;
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 MachineImageIamBinding("binding", MachineImageIamBindingArgs.builder()
            .project(image.project())
            .machineImage(image.name())
            .role("roles/compute.admin")
            .members("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

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

The MachineImageIamBinding resource is authoritative for the specified role: it replaces all members for that role but preserves other roles in the policy. The members array accepts user, serviceAccount, group, and domain identifiers. This approach works well when you manage all members for a role together.

Add a single member to a role incrementally

When you need to grant access to one additional user without disturbing existing bindings, use the non-authoritative member resource.

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

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

import pulumi
import pulumi_gcp as gcp

member = gcp.compute.MachineImageIamMember("member",
    project=image["project"],
    machine_image=image["name"],
    role="roles/compute.admin",
    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.NewMachineImageIamMember(ctx, "member", &compute.MachineImageIamMemberArgs{
			Project:      pulumi.Any(image.Project),
			MachineImage: pulumi.Any(image.Name),
			Role:         pulumi.String("roles/compute.admin"),
			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.MachineImageIamMember("member", new()
    {
        Project = image.Project,
        MachineImage = image.Name,
        Role = "roles/compute.admin",
        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.MachineImageIamMember;
import com.pulumi.gcp.compute.MachineImageIamMemberArgs;
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 MachineImageIamMember("member", MachineImageIamMemberArgs.builder()
            .project(image.project())
            .machineImage(image.name())
            .role("roles/compute.admin")
            .member("user:jane@example.com")
            .build());

    }
}

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

The MachineImageIamMember resource is non-authoritative: it adds one member to a role without affecting other members or roles. This is the safest approach for adding access in environments where multiple teams manage IAM. The member property accepts a single identity in the format “user:email”, “serviceAccount:email”, or “group:email”.

Beyond these examples

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

The examples reference pre-existing infrastructure such as machine images that IAM policies attach to, and GCP projects with appropriate IAM permissions. They focus on configuring IAM access rather than provisioning the underlying compute resources.

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

Combining Policy with Binding/Member (causes conflicts)
Custom role definitions and management
Service account creation and key management
Audit logging and IAM policy monitoring

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

Let's manage GCP Machine Image IAM Policies

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Frequently Asked Questions

Resource Selection & Conflicts

Which IAM resource should I use for managing machine image permissions?

You have three options:

MachineImageIamPolicy - Authoritative, replaces the entire IAM policy
MachineImageIamBinding - Authoritative for a specific role, preserves other roles
MachineImageIamMember - Non-authoritative, adds a single member to a role while preserving other members

Can I mix different IAM resource types for the same machine image?

MachineImageIamPolicy cannot be used with MachineImageIamBinding or MachineImageIamMember as they will conflict. However, MachineImageIamBinding and MachineImageIamMember can be used together only if they don’t grant the same role.

What's the difference between Binding and Member resources?

MachineImageIamBinding is authoritative for a role (replaces all members for that role), while MachineImageIamMember is non-authoritative (adds a single member without affecting others). Use Binding when managing all members for a role, Member when adding individual access.

IAM Conditions & Advanced Features

How do I create time-based or conditional IAM policies?

Add a condition block with title, description, and expression fields. The expression uses CEL syntax, for example: request.time < timestamp("2020-01-01T00:00:00Z") for time-based expiration.

Are there limitations with IAM Conditions?

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

Configuration & Import

How do I generate the policy data for MachineImageIamPolicy?

Use the gcp.organizations.getIAMPolicy data source to generate policyData. Pass the bindings with roles and members, then reference the output in your policy resource.

What formats can I use when importing machine image IAM resources?

Three formats are supported: full path (projects/{{project}}/global/machineImages/{{name}}), project and name ({{project}}/{{name}}), or just the name ({{name}}). Variables not provided are taken from the provider configuration.

Using a different cloud?

Explore security guides for other cloud providers:

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