Directory access sharing across web services accounts

Abstract

A method includes determining to share access to a directory between a first web services account and a second web services account that lacks access to the directory, wherein the directory is managed by a directory service that executes within a first on-demand configurable pool of shared computing resources, and wherein the second web services account is associated with a second on-demand configurable pool of shared computing resources. The method includes generating a virtual directory for the second web services account, wherein the virtual directory comprises one or more virtual resources that are representations of resources on the directory, and wherein the virtual directory further comprises a reference to the directory. The method further includes receiving an access request to the directory from the second web services account, wherein the access request is received via the reference from the virtual directory to the directory, and then granting the access request.