Fast recap ⏩ : AWS Systems Manager Features ☁️
Tags: aws, beginners, cloud, automation
Published: 2023-05-25 08:41:19



Welcome to my article , I'll explain in a couple of minutes most of the features that AWS Systems Manager provides , also feel free to explore the diagram that provides a comprehensive view of most of the features from [here ](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/khaledabdelfatah/khaledabdelfatah/main/AWS%20Systems%20Manager%20Features.jpg). So Lets start 🚀

![Diagram Show most of AWS System Manager Features](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/wwvievs6ujwa70qcmva8.jpg)
 
  [Checkout the Full Image Resolution 🔍](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/khaledabdelfatah/khaledabdelfatah/main/AWS%20Systems%20Manager%20Features.jpg)

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**[AWS Systems Manager](https://aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/)** is a powerful management service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that revolutionizes the way organizations manage their AWS resources. With its comprehensive set of features and capabilities, Systems Manager simplifies the management and automation of operational tasks, allowing users to efficiently control their infrastructure and applications.

In today's rapidly evolving cloud environment, managing numerous AWS resources can become a complex and time-consuming task. AWS Systems Manager addresses this challenge by offering a centralized platform that provides a unified view of an organization's AWS resources, making it easier to monitor, configure, and automate various operational processes.

##### Benefits of AWS Systems Manager :
 

- Centralized Management : Simplifies the management of configurations, maintaining consistency and reducing manual effort.

- Enhanced Security: Offers secure access to instances, encrypted parameter storage, and integrated compliance management.

-  Facilitates troubleshooting and maintenance tasks on instances without direct access in a short period of time.
 

- Reduce Cost : Automates tasks and ensures consistent configurations, reducing operational costs and improving resource utilization.

- Increased compliance: Streamlines the deployment of patches across multiple instances, ensuring security and compliance.

#### Systems Manager Features :

As I write this article on AWS Systems Manager, it's important to highlight the diverse range of **13** features it offers. Let's quickly recap each feature to provide a comprehensive overview.

![AWS Systems Manager Features](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/gqpfhkogo9zyjx1yd1rl.png)

1. Automation :  AWS Systems Manager offers powerful automation capabilities for automating common and repetitive IT operations and management tasks. With Systems Manager Automation, users can leverage predefined or custom-built playbooks to automate AWS resource management across multiple accounts and regions.
-- These playbooks can include Python or PowerShell scripts, along with other automation actions such as approvals and API calls. Automation can be scheduled in maintenance windows, triggered by resource changes or events, and executed through various interfaces including the AWS Management Console, CLIs, and SDKs. It provides tracking of playbook execution, supports approvals, enables incremental changes, and can automatically halt the rollout in case of errors. Overall, automation in AWS Systems Manager streamlines operations, improves efficiency, and ensures consistency in resource management.
  
2. Session Manager :  provides browser-based interactive shell and remote desktop access for managing instances without opening inbound ports or managing SSH keys. Access to instances can be controlled through IAM policies, allowing administrators to grant and revoke access. Session activity can be audited and logged using AWS CloudTrail to ensure security and compliance.

3. Patch Manager :  automates the deployment of operating system and software patches across cloud instances, on-premises systems, and edge devices. Patch baselines allow for rule-based approval of patches, while maintenance windows enable scheduled patching. This ensures up-to-date software and compliance with policies.

4. Run Command : enables safe and secure remote management of instances at scale, eliminating the need for bastion hosts and SSH. It automates administrative tasks, such as registry edits and software installations, and offers granular permissions through IAM integration. All actions are logged by AWS CloudTrail for auditing purposes.

5. State Manager: provides configuration management for Amazon EC2 and on-premises instances. It enables consistent configuration of server settings, anti-virus definitions, and firewall configurations. You can define policies through the console or use scripts from GitHub/S3 Bucket. Systems Manager applies configurations automatically based on your defined schedule. You can check the status of configurations anytime, ensuring compliance visibility.

6. Maintenance Windows : allows you to schedule dedicated time slots for running administrative and maintenance tasks on your instances. This ensures convenient and safe installation of patches, updates, and configuration changes, enhancing service availability and reliability.

7. Parameter Store :  Store offers a centralized and secure location to manage configuration data and secrets separately from your code. It allows tagging and hierarchical organization for efficient parameter management. Integration with AWS KMS enables automatic encryption of stored data. Access to parameters can be controlled using IAM. Parameters can be referenced by various AWS services like Amazon ECS, AWS Lambda, and AWS CloudFormation.

8. Inventory : collects comprehensive information about instances and their software configurations Meta data . This includes data on applications, files, network configurations, services, registries, updates, and more. It enables effective management of application assets, license tracking, file integrity monitoring, and identification of non-traditionally installed applications.

9. OpsCenter : provides a centralized platform for operations professionals to view, investigate, and resolve operational issues across AWS, Multi-cloud, and hybrid environments. OpsCenter aggregates and standardizes operational issues, providing contextual data such as event details, past occurrences, configuration changes, logs, alarms, and recommended runbooks. This accelerates issue resolution and can be accessed through the Systems Manager console or APIs.

10. Incident Manager : enables faster resolution of critical application issues by automating response plans. It triggers actions based on CloudWatch alarms or EventBridge events, engaging responders through SMS, phone calls, and chat channels. It also executes Automation runbooks and suggests post-incident action items for improved service reliability. Incident Manager is accessible through the Systems Manager console and helps streamline incident response processes.

11. App Config :  simplifies the deployment and management of application configurations without requiring code changes. It allows scaling configurations across various resources like EC2 instances, containers, Lambda functions, mobile apps, IoT devices, and on-premises instances. provides validation to prevent potential outages and supports best practices such as staged rollouts, monitoring alarms, and rollback options. Changes can be made through the API or Management Console. It offers an efficient approach for managing application configurations.

12. Application Manager : simplifies the investigation and resolution of issues in AWS, multi-cloud, and hybrid environments within the context of your applications. It allows discovery and definition of application components, provides operational data, and enables remedial actions like patching and running Automation runbooks.  Application Manager supports container clusters in ECS and EKS environments and manages AWS CloudFormation templates and stacks. It offers comprehensive application management capabilities.

13. Fleet Manager :  simplifies remote management of servers and edge devices. It eliminates the need for remote connections by providing a console for managing and troubleshooting your fleet. You can perform system management tasks, explore disks and files, manage logs, and perform user and Windows Registry operations. In urgent situations, secure shell, CLI, and console-based RDP access is available for quick issue response. Fleet Manager streamlines remote management processes and improves operational efficiency.

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💡In conclusion, AWS Systems Manager is a powerful suite of tools that automates and simplifies IT operations in AWS and hybrid environments. With features such as automation, configuration management, patching, incident management, and remote access, it streamlines operations, improves efficiency, and ensures consistent resource management. Systems Manager enables organizations to automate tasks, maintain configurations, deploy application settings, and effectively manage incidents. With its centralized control and monitoring capabilities.

Systems Manager provides visibility, quick issue resolution, and optimized performance. By leveraging Systems Manager, businesses can focus on innovation and customer value while AWS handles operational management with simplicity and scalability. It's a valuable tool for optimizing operations in the cloud.

I hope this article has provided you with valuable insights into AWS Systems Manager and its various features. If you have any feedback or questions, I would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences with AWS Systems Manager in the comments below 👋.