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AWS Systems Manager(AWS SSM): Everything You Need to Know

Amazon Systems Manager (generally known as AWS SSM) is a management service that lets you collect software inventory automatically. It helps apply OS patches, create system images, and configure operating systems such as Windows and Linux. These features allow you to track system configurations and prevent drift. They help maintain software compliance with your EC2 and on-premises configurations.

In this article, we will walk through the AWS SSM and everything you need to know about it. We will learn the features, how it works, and how to get started with AWS SSM.

What is AWS Systems Manager?

AWS Systems Manager is a multifunctional service that manages AWS resources in one user interface. It allows the operational and DevOps teams to view operational data from various AWS services. It automates tasks across AWS resources, including EC2 instances, on-premises servers, and other AWS services. AWS SSM enables resource management with security, compliance, and efficiency.

Using AWS SSM, users can view and manage their infrastructure with AWS System Manager. It also allows remote command execution without requiring SSH. You can automate operational tasks across your AWS resources and view operational data from various AWS services. By scanning your managed nodes, any machine for Systems Manager is a managed node. If any policy violations are found, it assists you in maintaining security and compliance.

Key Features of AWS Systems Manager

1. Automation

You can create, manage, and run workflows for common operational tasks in AWS SSM, such as patching software, updating, or deploying applications. 

    By utilizing it you can perform the tasks automatically without human intervention. This decreases the possibilities of human error and saves your precious time. 

    Using AWS SSM, you can safely automate routine IT operations and management tasks across AWS resources with AWS Systems Manager. You can use either community-published documents or JSON documents. 

    These documents can be scheduled during a maintenance window, executed instantly from the AWS Management Console, CLIs, and SDKs, or prompted by Amazon CloudWatch Events. 

    You can request approvals for each step in the papers and monitor how each step is being completed.

    2. Run Command

    Run Command feature can be used for running commands on your instances remotely at scale in a secure way without using SSH. You can perform common admin tasks, like installing software or managing patches and diagnostics.

      Use the Systems Manager Run Command to manage the configuration of your managed instances at scale remotely and securely. Use Run Command to make required changes to a target group of instances.  Changes include updating software or running Linux shell scripts and Windows PowerShell commands.

      3. Session Manager

      This feature provides a secure way to manage EC2 instances without using the SSH key. You can create shell connections and execute commands to improve security by auditing session activity and logging it to CloudWatch or S3.

        When using AWS Systems Manager you can safely manage your instances at scale without the need to login your servers. 

        It offers an easy-to-use method for automating routine administrative tasks like managing users, modifying the registry, and distributing software and patches among multiple instances.

        By integrating with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), you can apply granular permissions to control the actions that users are allowed to perform on instances.

        You can audit changes made to your environment by using AWS CloudTrail, which logs every action you take with the Systems Manager.

        4. Patch Compliance

        This feature in AWS SSM automates the patching of managed instances with security-related updates. Both Windows and Linux-based EC2 instances, and on-premises servers are supported. The service makes it easier for customers to maintain their compliance and security posture.

          In other words, it can examine your managed instances for configuration discrepancies and patch compliances. Data from several AWS accounts and Regions can be gathered and aggregated. Non-compliant resources can be further examined. 

          By default, AWS Systems Manager displays statistics related to associations and patching. You can customize the service by making your compliance categories to fit your unique requirements.

          5. Parameter Store

          This feature of Amazon SSM provides a secrets manager. Secure manager secure storage for configuration data and secrets such as database connection strings, API keys, or passwords. It offers a hierarchical storage model, encryption, and version control for configuration data. This helps keep sensitive information safe.

            6. System Manager Inventory

            The inventory feature of AWS SSM collects metadata from managed instances, such as application configurations, network configurations, and software installed on your instances. This option helps track the state of your resources to fall under compliance with organizational policies.

              With the help of AWS Systems Manager, you can better understand your installed applications and system configurations by gathering information about your instances and the software they run. You can find apps that aren’t installed by a standard installer, manage application assets, track licensing, and verify file integrity using the information gathered.

              7. State Manager

              State Manager keeps your managed instances automatically in a desired state. You can use it to make sure your instances have the specified software installed, a certain security patch applied, or specific configurations set.

                8. OpsCenter

                OpsCenter brings all operational issues of your AWS services into one console for effective analysis, investigation, and action on operational issues. It integrates very well with other operational AWS services: CloudWatch, AWS Config, and CloudTrail.

                  How AWS Systems Manager Works?

                  1. Access Systems Manager: The AWS Systems Manager can be accessed via the AWS Console. To manage resources programmatically, you can use the AWS SDK(Amazon web service software development kit), AWS Tools for Windows PowerShell, or the AWS Command Line Interface. It allows automate, plan, schedule, and carry out tasks on your AWS resources. AWS resources such as Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling groups, Amazon Lambda functions, Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) buckets, and users, groups, and roles in AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).
                  2. Choose Feature of System Manager: Systems Manager comes with over twenty-one functions to help you manage your resource usage. The figure only displays a small number of the features that administrators use to set up and control their resources.
                  3. Verification and processing: The System Manager asks the AWS Systems Manager agent (which is known as the SSM Agent). SSM Agent, which executes on the instances, edge devices, servers, and virtual machines (VMs) in your hybrid environment, to confirm configurations, including permissions. The SSM Agent-provided configuration modifications are put into effect.
                  4. Reporting: SSM Agent updates the user on the status of configuration changes and actions. It notifies the Systems Manager in the AWS Cloud, Systems Manager operations management capabilities, and various AWS services if configured.
                  5. Managing operations with Systems Manager: In response to events or problems involving your resources, operations management features like Explorer OpsCenter and Incident Manager compile operations data. If activated, generate artifacts like incidents and operational work items (OpsItems). You might find these features useful for troubleshooting and investigating problems.
                  6. SSM Agent: AWS Systems Manager manages instances through the use of agents that are installed on the managed instances, known as SSM Agents. The agents enable communication between the instance and the AWS Systems Manager service. By default, the SSM Agent is installed on Amazon Linux, Amazon Linux 2, and Ubuntu AMIs. You can manually install the SSM Agent on other operating systems, including Windows.  AWS SSM is based on IAM roles and policies to define the permission and boundary. within which the SSM Agent can act upon the managed instances. You can control access to resources and make sure that the resources are modified only by authorized actions performed against instances, provided you set up the right IAM roles.

                  Benefits of Using AWS Systems Manager

                  1. Centralized Management: AWS Systems Manager provides a single console to manage your entire AWS infrastructure. You can handle multiple tasks and view operational data from one place.
                  1. Improved Security: Session Manager and Parameter Store ensure to reduction in exposure to sensitive data. You will not over-rely on the opening of inbound ports, thus securing your instances and configurations.
                  1. Compliance Enhanced: Security and operational policies are met through Automation, Patch Manager, and Inventory features that keep vulnerabilities at bay and ensure resources are configured consistently.
                  1. Affordability: Automating routine tasks reduces the need to interfere manually, which lowers the overhead of operations, freeing up valuable time to then focus on managing your AWS resources.
                  1. Scalability: AWS Systems Manager scales with your environment, from small to large-scale AWS deployments. Whether you have a few instances or thousands, AWS SSM provides the tools that are required to manage resources effectively.

                  Take Your AWS to the Next Level with SupportFly

                  Managing AWS, while trying to balance cloud infrastructure, security, and other costs, can be a handful. This is where SupportFly comes in role. Being your trusted AWS consulting partner, we are here to make sure you derive the utmost value from your AWS setup, thanks to customized professional guidance tailored to suit your needs.

                  Why Work with SupportFly for AWS Professional Services?

                  1. Expertise in AWS: Our team of certified AWS pros knows AWS inside and out-from EC2 and S3 to Systems Managers and beyond. Whether you’re looking to streamline your operations, beef up your security, or cut down on costs, we’ve got the skills and experience to help you get there.
                  1. Tailored to Your Needs: At SupportFly, we believe in one thing every business is different, and so should your AWS solutions. We take the time to understand your unique challenges and goals and create tailor-made strategies with this in mind.
                  1. Full Support at Each Step: We provide support to you through each step in your AWS journey. Starting from planning and migration through implementation to ongoing management. Full life-cycle support ensures that your AWS environment is continuously optimized, secure, and running at top performance.
                  1. Proactive Problem Solving: We don’t just fix problems and issues; we prevent them. Our proactive approach means that we are always monitoring your AWS setup for any pending issues. We catch them in time and keep everything running optimally so you can focus on what truly matters.
                  1. Save Money, Stress Less: If you’re not watching out, the costs of the cloud add up fast. Our team will help you take full advantage of AWS’ pricing options, optimize resource utilization, and keep your budget to achieve the best value without headaches.

                  What SupportFly Can Do for You?

                  AWS Systems Manager: We’ll have you leveraging AWS Systems Manager for the automation of tasks, configuration management, and ensuring that your environment remains secure and compliant.

                  Smooth Cloud Migrations: Planning on moving to the cloud? Count on us to sail through efficient migrations with minimal or no downtime while protecting your sensitive data.

                  Security & Compliance: We will walk you through the creation of some tight security measures using AWS tools like IAM, Shield, and GuardDuty, meaning your data will be kept in a sealed box.

                  Performance Tuning: Our teams of experts take a deep dive into your AWS workloads to fine-tune performance so that your applications run fast and reliably.

                  Cost Optimization: Our experts analyze your AWS usage and give practical tips on how to save money without compromising on performance.

                  Conclusion

                  This was all about the AWS systems manager and the important key points. Now that you know what the AWS SSM  is, why should you use it, and how to use it, I hope this helps you kick-start your AWS SSM journey. Start using it already and share your experiences or suggestions in the comments section below.

                  AWS Systems Manager-AWS SSM: Everything You Need to Know AWS provides a long list of tools to manage infrastructure in the cloud, but among them, one stands out for the ability to centrally control and automate certain operational activities of AWS resources. Whether it is about the management of EC2 instances, databases, or any other service provided by AWS, AWS SSM will simplify and streamline your operations.

                  SupportFly is all about making AWS work better for your business. We will help you navigate the AWS landscape with as little turbulence as possible so that you can focus more on the growth of your business.

                  Is it time to unleash AWS in full power? Say hello today for a free consultation at SupportFly, and let’s see how we can get AWS working for you.