What is the MINIMUM credential that is required to achieve this goal?

Explanations:

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure used to add an additional layer of protection for user accounts. While MFA is important for enhancing security, it is not a credential by itself that allows access to the AWS CLI. Users still need valid credentials such as access keys or IAM credentials to log in.

A key pair is primarily used for SSH access to EC2 instances, not for accessing the AWS CLI. While key pairs are essential for secure logins to instances, they do not serve as credentials for AWS CLI usage or management.

An IAM user name and password are typically used for signing into the AWS Management Console through a web browser, but they are not sufficient for CLI access. CLI access requires programmatic access, which necessitates the use of access keys.

AWS access keys are required for programmatic access to the AWS CLI. They consist of an Access Key ID and a Secret Access Key, which authenticate users and allow them to make API calls to AWS services from the command line. This is the minimum credential required for IT department users to access the AWS CLI effectively.