Q1: What is the AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Parameter Store?
Answer: AWS Systems Manager (SSM) Parameter Store is a managed service that provides secure storage and retrieval of configuration and confidential information. It provides a central repository for storing and managing key values, also known as parameters or arguments. The SSM Parameter Store helps secure and scalable management of configuration parameters such as connection strings, API keys, passwords, and other sensitive information. It integrates seamlessly with other AWS services and is accessible programmatically or through the AWS Management Console.
Q2: How does the AWS SSM Parameter Store secure sensitive data?
Answer: The AWS SSM Parameter Store provides several security features to protect sensitive data. First, it provides encryption at rest using AWS Key Management Service (KMS), which allows you to manage and manage encryption keys. Additionally, the SSM Parameter Store supports encryption in transit through communications using HTTPS endpoints. It also integrates with AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) to effectively manage access, ensuring that only authorized users or services can access limited storage systems.
These security measures help protect sensitive data stored in the SSM Parameter Store.
Q3: What are the different parameters in the AWS SSM Parameter Store?
Answer: AWS SSM Parameter Store supports different types of parameters depending on the value and purpose of the parameter. Parameter types include:
1. String: a simple key-value pair, value is a string.
2. SecureString: Similar to the String parameter, but the value is encrypted using AWS KMS for added security.
3. StringList: A list of string values.
4. SecureStringList: Similar to string list but with encrypted value.
5. The AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store also supports hierarchical parameters, which provides a way to organize parameters in a hierarchy.
Q4: How to use the AWS SSM Parameter Store for dynamic application configuration?
Answer: The AWS SSM Parameter Store is mainly used for dynamic application configuration. Instead of coding the configuration values ​​into your application code, you can store the configuration parameters in the SSM Parameter store and retrieve them at runtime. This allows you to update important settings without restarting the application. Applications can use the AWS SDKs or the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) to retrieve configuration parameters from the SSM Parameter Store and modify their behavior based on the results obtained.
Q5: What are the benefits of using the AWS SSM Parameter Store for configuration management?
Answer: There are many benefits to using the AWS SSM Parameter Store for configuration management:
1.Centralized and scalable: The SSM Parameter Store provides a central repository to manage configuration information, making it easy to manage and update configuration values ​​across multiple applications or environments.
2. Security: SSM Parameter Store integrates with AWS KMS for encryption at rest to secure sensitive configuration data.
3. Version Control and Change Tracking: The SSM Parameter Store tracks parameter changes and provides version control, allowing you to monitor and revert to previous parameter values ​​if necessary.
4. Integration with other AWS services: The SSM Parameter Store integrates seamlessly with other AWS services such as AWS Lambda and AWS Elastic Beanstalk, allowing you to store appropriate values ​​in your application.
5. Granular Access Control: The SSM Parameter Store integrates with AWS IAM, allowing you to control access to certain parameters based on user roles or permissions.
