Complete Guide to AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager

/ Tutorial

Introduction

AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager is a powerful tool that allows you to automate the patching process for a wide range of operating systems running on your AWS infrastructure. In this guide, we will explore the latest updates to Patch Manager, specifically the support for additional MacOS and Linux versions. We will also dive into the technical aspects of this feature and provide insights on how to leverage Patch Manager effectively for your infrastructure.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager
  2. Patch Manager Prerequisites
  3. Supported Operating Systems
  4. Patching MacOS Systems
  5. Patching Linux Systems
  6. Implementing Patch Baselines
  7. Customizing Patching Schedules
  8. Monitoring Patch Compliance
  9. Handling Patch Failures
  10. Best Practices for Patch Management with Patch Manager
  11. Conclusion

1. Understanding AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager

AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager is a service that simplifies the process of patching and managing updates for various operating systems across your AWS infrastructure. It enables you to automate the application of both security-related and non-security updates to instances, ensuring your systems are up to date and protected against potential vulnerabilities.

With Patch Manager, you can define patch baselines, schedule patches to be applied automatically, and monitor the compliance of your instances. It supports a wide range of operating systems, including Windows Server, Amazon Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and now, MacOS Monterey and MacOS Ventura.

2. Patch Manager Prerequisites

Before you can start using Patch Manager, there are a few prerequisites you need to fulfill:

  • AWS Systems Manager Agent: The Systems Manager Agent must be installed and running on your instances to communicate with Patch Manager.
  • IAM Permissions: Ensure that the IAM role or user associated with your instances has the necessary permissions to use Patch Manager.
  • Systems Manager Prerequisites: Patch Manager relies on the Systems Manager service, so make sure you have it properly configured.

By meeting these prerequisites, you can seamlessly integrate Patch Manager into your existing infrastructure.

3. Supported Operating Systems

Patch Manager supports a wide variety of operating systems, enabling you to patch instances running different platforms. The newly added support for MacOS Monterey and MacOS Ventura expands Patch Manager’s compatibility, making it a powerful tool for patch management in mixed operating system environments.

Here is a list of the currently supported operating systems:

  • Windows Server
  • Amazon Linux
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
  • MacOS Monterey
  • MacOS Ventura

It’s worth noting that Patch Manager may have different feature support and limitations for each operating system. Be sure to review the documentation provided by AWS for each specific operating system to utilize Patch Manager’s full potential.

4. Patching MacOS Systems

With the introduction of support for MacOS systems, Patch Manager empowers you to automate the patching process for your macOS Monterey and macOS Ventura instances. Similar to other supported operating systems, you can create patch baselines, define auto-approval rules, and schedule patching activities specifically for your MacOS systems.

Patch Manager leverages native package management tools such as softwareupdate to apply updates to macOS instances. This integration ensures that MacOS systems can be kept up to date with the latest security and feature updates seamlessly.

5. Patching Linux Systems

In addition to macOS, Patch Manager also offers support for a variety of Linux distributions, including Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). By utilizing Patch Manager, you can automate the patching process for your RHEL 8.8 instances, ensuring your systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.

For Linux systems, Patch Manager uses yum and dnf package managers to install updates. These tools are already familiar to Linux users, making the patching process consistent and efficient across different operating systems.

6. Implementing Patch Baselines

Patch baselines play a crucial role in Patch Manager as they define the set of patches or updates that should be applied to your instances. By creating custom patch baselines, you can have fine-grained control over which patches are installed, when they are installed, and the approval rules for each patch.

When defining patch baselines, consider the dependencies and compatibility requirements of your applications or services. Make sure you thoroughly test the patches in a non-production environment before rolling them out to critical systems.

7. Customizing Patching Schedules

Patch Manager provides flexibility in scheduling the application of patches. You can create maintenance windows or specify cron-like schedules to control when patches are applied to your instances.

By customizing patching schedules, you can ensure minimal impact to your production environments during patching activities. You can choose specific days and times when patching should occur, taking into consideration maintenance periods or periods of low user activity.

8. Monitoring Patch Compliance

Monitoring the compliance of your instances is crucial to ensure that all necessary patches are applied and your systems are up to date. Patch Manager offers a range of tools and reports that enable you to monitor the patch compliance status of your infrastructure.

You can use the AWS Management Console, AWS CLI, or AWS SDKs to retrieve patch compliance data. By leveraging these tools, you can proactively identify instances that are non-compliant and take the necessary actions to mitigate any potential risks.

9. Handling Patch Failures

Despite the generally seamless nature of Patch Manager, there may be cases where patches fail to install due to various reasons. It is important to have a robust strategy in place to address patch failures.

By configuring notification mechanisms and leveraging CloudWatch Events, you can receive real-time alerts for failed patch installations. This allows you to quickly investigate and identify the root cause of the failure and take the appropriate corrective actions.

10. Best Practices for Patch Management with Patch Manager

To maximize the benefits of Patch Manager and ensure a smooth patching process, consider the following best practices:

  • Regularly update your patch baselines to include the latest patches from the vendor.
  • Utilize maintenance windows to schedule patches during periods of low user activity.
  • Perform thorough testing of patches in a non-production environment before applying them to critical systems.
  • Monitor patch compliance regularly to identify non-compliant instances and take necessary actions.
  • Enable auto-approval rules for non-security patches to expedite the patching process.
  • Establish robust notification mechanisms to receive alerts for patch failures.
  • Regularly review Patch Manager documentation and stay informed about the latest updates and features.

By adhering to these best practices, you can effectively manage patching operations and ensure the security and stability of your infrastructure.

11. Conclusion

AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager is a powerful tool for automating patch management across a wide range of operating systems. With the recent support for MacOS Monterey and MacOS Ventura, Patch Manager has become even more versatile and useful in mixed operating system environments.

In this guide, we explored the technical aspects of using Patch Manager, including prerequisites, supported operating systems, patching methodologies for macOS and Linux, and best practices for effective patch management. By following these guidelines, you can leverage Patch Manager to streamline the patching process and enhance the security and reliability of your infrastructure.