📋 AWS Systems Manager Cheat Sheet

Quick-reference for SSM Run Command, Automation, Patch Manager, State Manager, Parameter Store, Session Manager, and fleet operations.

Why This Cheat Sheet Matters for DOP-C02

This cheat sheet covers the most important Systems Manager concepts tested on the DOP-C02 (AWS DevOps Engineer Professional) certification exam. It contains 4 sections with 16 key points that you should memorize before exam day. Practice Run Command, Automation, Patch Manager, State Manager, Parameter Store, Session Manager, OpsCenter, and fleet management at scale. Use this as a quick-reference guide during your final review sessions.

4Sections
16Key Points

Run Command

  • Execute commands on managed instances without SSH
  • Rate control: concurrency + error threshold
  • Output to S3 or CloudWatch Logs
  • Common documents: AWS-RunShellScript, AWS-RunPowerShellScript

Automation

  • Multi-step runbooks with branching and approval steps
  • Actions: aws:executeScript, aws:runCommand, aws:invokeLambdaFunction, aws:approve
  • Rate control for bulk operations
  • EventBridge integration for event-driven automation

Patch Manager

  • Patch baselines: auto-approval rules, approved/rejected patches
  • Maintenance windows: scheduled patching with targets and tasks
  • Compliance reporting: patch compliance across fleet
  • Scan and install modes

Parameter Store

  • Standard (free, 10K limit) vs Advanced (paid, 100K, policies)
  • Types: String, StringList, SecureString (KMS encrypted)
  • Parameter policies: expiration, notification, no-change notification
  • Hierarchical naming: /env/app/key — use GetParametersByPath

Practice Systems Manager Questions

Put your knowledge to the test with practice questions.

More DOP-C02 Cheat Sheets