Most Terraform authentication problems are not caused by missing credentials.
They are caused by misunderstanding where identity actually comes from.
Terraform does not log in.
It does not choose accounts.
It does not own credentials.
And yet, many engineers learn Terraform by copying patterns that quietly teach the wrong mental model.
In this lesson, we slow down and clarify something fundamental:
the five real ways Terraform becomes authenticated, before it ever runs a plan or apply.
You will see:
- Why Terraform always borrows identity from its execution environment
- How providers obtain identity before talking to cloud APIs
- Why some authentication methods feel convenient but create hidden risk
- How to identify which identity Terraform is using before something goes wrong
This video is not about commands or shortcuts.
It is about understanding the system well enough to predict its behavior.