Exploring AWS SSM Application Management Tools

Introduction

AWS Systems Manager is a powerful suite designed to help us manage our AWS resources and applications efficiently. Among its many features, three stand out for their role in application management: Application Manager, AppConfig, and Parameter Store. These tools are essential for DevOps engineers and administrators looking to streamline operations, manage configurations dynamically, and securely store sensitive information. Let's break down what each of these tools offers in an easy-to-understand manner.

Application Manager: Your AWS Resources at a Glance

Imagine having a bird's-eye view of our entire application landscape, where we can pinpoint issues and address them without jumping from one service to another. That's what the Application Manager provides.

The Application Manager consolidates operations data from various AWS services and Systems Manager capabilities into a single pane within the AWS Management Console. This aggregation makes it easier for DevOps engineers to investigate and remediate problems by seeing their AWS resources in the context of the applications they support. It's like having a command center that gives us both the big picture and the fine details of our application's health and performance.

AppConfig: Dynamic Configuration Made Simple

The AppConfig allows us to manage our application's configuration data and feature flags outside of the application code. This means we can change how our application behaves without redeploying it.

Whether we're rolling out new features, tuning performance, or fixing bugs, AppConfig lets us deploy changes safely and rapidly to our application environment. It's akin to having a set of dials and switches for our application, which we can adjust in real-time to meet our operational goals.

Parameter Store: Secure and Organize Our Secrets

Securing and managing secrets, such as passwords, database strings, and license codes, is critical for any application. Parameter Store offers a centralized solution to store and manage these pieces of information securely. 

We can choose to keep our secrets encrypted or in plain text, based on our security requirements. Access to this data is tightly controlled, ensuring that only authorized personnel can retrieve or modify it. This tool not only helps in keeping our sensitive information safe but also in organizing it efficiently, so we can quickly access the data we need when we need it.

Conclusion

AWS Systems Manager brings a trio of tools for managing our applications more effectively:

• Application Manager for a consolidated view and management of our AWS resources in the context of our applications.
• AppConfig for managing dynamic application configurations and feature flags, allowing for real-time adjustments without code deployment.
• Parameter Store for secure and organized storage of secrets and configuration data, ensuring safe and efficient access.

Together, these tools streamline our operations, enhance our application's flexibility, and secure our sensitive data, making AWS Systems Manager a comprehensive solution for modern application management.

See also

Read more about AWS SSM Parameter Store at cloudericks.com/blog/understanding-aws-ssm-parameter-store.