Sym, define just-in-time access workflows in code
Hello HN, My cofounder (jon918) and I started Sym three years ago because we were frustrated with how hard it was to manage access to cloud infrastructure. We wanted to build a tool for JIT access that was actually designed for developers. We were wary of tools that tried to accommodate both devs and IT but ended up with usability compromises for both. First, we figured no one wants another web app to log into so we let administrators define access workflows in Terraform and let developers request and gain access via Slack. That seemed to pay off: being code-based was a big plus for our…
Sym, define just-in-time access workflows in code launched on April 6, 2023 with 50 votes, #1,457 of 4,853 launches that month and more than 90% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 3 years on.
In plain words
Sym is a just-in-time access management tool for cloud infrastructure that lets administrators define access workflows in Terraform code rather than through a web interface. Developers request and approve access directly through Slack. It's designed specifically for engineering teams who want to manage access logic in version control and CI/CD pipelines, reducing manual permission updates and associated security risks. The code-based approach enables testing and version tracking of access policies.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
Implement just-in-time access without slowing down. Sym
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hello HN, My cofounder (jon918) and I started Sym three years ago because we were frustrated with how hard it was to manage access to cloud infrastructure. We wanted to build a tool for JIT access that was actually designed for developers. We were wary of tools that tried to accommodate both devs and IT but ended up…
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Source: Show HN post ↗ · launch text quoted in part
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