SSM Fundamentals

What is Systems Manager?

AWS Systems Manager is a comprehensive management service that provides a unified interface to view operational data and automate tasks across AWS resources.

Operations Management: Centralized dashboard for resource health

Application Management: Parameter Store, AppConfig

Node Management: Session Manager, Run Command, Patch Manager

SSM Agent

Pre-installed

Amazon Linux 2, Ubuntu Server 16.04/18.04/20.04

Manual Installation

Windows, RHEL, CentOS, SUSE, on-premises servers

Auto-Update

Automatic updates via State Manager

Operations

OpsCenter
Explorer
CloudWatch Dashboard
Incident Manager

Application

Parameter Store
AppConfig
Application Manager
Resource Groups

Change

Automation
Change Manager
Change Calendar
Maintenance Windows

Node

Session Manager
Run Command
Patch Manager
Fleet Manager

Security

No SSH keys or bastion hosts needed
IAM-based access control
Encrypted communication via TLS
CloudTrail logging for all actions

Cost

Most features are free
Parameter Store advanced tier charges
Automation execution charges
On-premises instance management fees

Hybrid

Manage on-premises servers
Hybrid activation for non-AWS
Unified management interface
Same capabilities as EC2

Exam Strategy Tip

Remember: Systems Manager requires SSM Agent installed on instances. Session Manager eliminates the need for SSH keys and bastion hosts. Most features are free, with charges only for advanced Parameter Store and Automation executions.

Back to Topics Next: Session Manager