By default, you can configure aws setting like the [go sdk configuration](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/sdk-for-go/v1/developer-guide/configuring-sdk.html). For example you can use environment variables:
```
$ export AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID=XXXXXXXXX
$ export AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY=YYYYYYYYY
```
It is also possible to specify an aws access key in the providers config json file:
DNSControl depends on a standard [aws access key](https://aws.amazon.com/developers/access-keys/) with permission to list, create and update hosted zones.