What is the primary function of security tokens in Alibaba Cloud?

The primary function of security tokens in Alibaba Cloud is to enable temporary access to resources securely. Security tokens are designed to grant time-limited permissions to users, applications, or services. This functionality is important because it alleviates the risks associated with long-term access credentials, which can become a security liability if compromised. By using temporary security tokens, users can gain access without exposing permanent credentials, thus enhancing security through time-sensitive permissions.

Moreover, this method of providing access ensures that even if a token is intercepted or misused, its limited validity period helps minimize potential damage since it will expire after a set duration. This makes security tokens an essential component in managing access control and securing resources in the cloud environment. In contrast to other functionalities, such as data encryption or user identity verification, the focused purpose of security tokens is specifically tied to managing access rights in a secure, temporary manner.