AWS Systems Manager

What differentiates AWS Systems Manager from other similar products?

Agentless, Secure Access, Tight Integration with AWS Ecosystem, Hybrid Infrastructure Support, Built-in Automation at Scale, Unified Console for Ops Tasks, No Extra Cost for Core Features.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

My favorite aspect of AWS Systems Manager is definitely Session Manager, it’s a game-changer for secure, remote access. No need to manage SSH keys, open inbound ports, or maintain bastion hosts. It lets you connect to instances securely over the AWS console or CLI, fully audited via CloudTrail, and backed by IAM policies. It’s clean, simple, and super secure ,perfect for organizations with strict compliance needs.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The console UI can feel cluttered and unintuitive, especially for new users. Features like Automation, Patch Manager, and State Manager are powerful but require steep learning curves. It’s incredibly powerful, but the onboarding and day-to-day usability could be much smoother especially for smaller teams

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Start with the Essentials First, Use IAM Roles Wisely, Organize with Tags & Resource Groups, Embrace Automation Gradually, Plan for Multi-Account, Multi-Region Use, Invest Time in Learning & Testing.

What differentiates AWS Systems Manager from other similar products?

When you’re overseeing the IT infrastructure in a manufacturing setup, every second counts. AWS Systems Manager has been a pivotal tool for us, streamlining how we handle our sprawling network of servers, endpoints, and configurations. It’s like having an extra team member who never sleeps, constantly ensuring our systems are in top shape.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

I’m particularly impressed by the Session Manager feature. Whether I’m troubleshooting a misconfigured server or adjusting settings on a remote machine, secure shell access without needing a bastion host is a lifesaver. It’s efficient, secure, and works seamlessly across our hybrid environment.

What do you dislike most about this product?

The complexity of the initial setup.

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

We’ve drastically reduced time spent on manual maintenance, improved system reliability, and even gained better visibility into resource utilization. This has freed up our team to focus on strategic initiatives, like integrating IoT devices for real-time monitoring on the shop floor.

What differentiates AWS Systems Manager from other similar products?

Systems Manager offers powerful automation capabilities through features like Run Command, Automation Documents, Maintenance Windows, and State Manager.

What is your favorite aspect of this product?

Provides tools to enforce security policies, manage access controls, and ensure compliance with industry standards

What do you dislike most about this product?

The depth and complexity of Systems Manager's features can overwhelm new users. With multiple capabilities (like Automation, State Manager, Run Command, and Patch Manager), it can be challenging to understand which feature suits a particular need, especially for teams just getting started

What recommendations would you give to someone considering this product?

Systems Manager offers a library of pre-built Automation Documents for common tasks. Use these documents as templates or starting points to avoid writing complex JSON/YAML configurations from scratch and to reduce the chance of errors.