Case Study

Document Identification

Preparation

Release

Contribution (C) And Distribution (D) List

Client Name – Firstep Techno Summary:

An enterprise-level company needed a secure and automated solution to reset Windows passwords on its EC2 instances. The objective was to leverage AWS Systems Manager (SSM) and AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store to achieve this.

Challenges:

• Manual Processes: The existing process for resetting passwords was manual, time‑consuming, and prone to human error.
• Security Concerns: Manually managing passwords increased the risk of security breaches.
• Scalability Issues: As the number of EC2 instances grew, the manual process became unsustainable.
• Consistency: Ensuring consistent password policies and management across numerous instances was challenging.

Objectives:

• Automate the Windows password reset process.
• Enhance security by securely storing and retrieving passwords.
• Create a scalable solution applicable across multiple EC2 instances.

Approach

To address the challenges, HIM IT proposed a robust solution leveraging AWS Systems Manager (SSM) and complementary AWS services. The approach automated password resets, secured handling, and ensured consistency across instances using Parameter Store for secure storage, SSM Documents and Run Command for execution, and CloudWatch/CloudTrail for monitoring and auditing.

Implementation

1. Automation with Run Command and SSM Documents
   • Developed an SSM Document with a PowerShell script to reset Windows passwords.
   • Deployed the document across EC2 instances using Run Command for a streamlined, uniform process.
2. Secure Password Management with Parameter Store
   • Passwords stored securely with encryption and access controlled via IAM roles and policies.
3. Monitoring and Auditing
   • Integrated CloudWatch to track process success rates and generate alerts.
   • Utilized CloudTrail to log all actions for comprehensive audit trails.
4. Storage and Reporting
   • Used Amazon S3 to store logs and reports for easy access and long‑term storage.

Customer Acceptance Testing

1. Validation of Automation

   Run Command executed SSM Document as intended; passwords reset across instances without manual intervention.

2. Security and Compliance Verification

   Passwords securely stored with enforced access controls; CloudTrail logs reviewed to ensure all actions audited.

3. Performance and Scalability Assessment

   Tested across a range of EC2 instances to ensure scalability and responsiveness under different conditions.

4. Feedback and Iteration

   Collected client feedback and made minor adjustments to further enhance the solution.

Outcome

The automated password reset solution using AWS SSM significantly improved operational efficiency and security. It reduced the risk of unauthorized access, ensured consistent password management, and provided real‑time visibility and auditing across the infrastructure.

Conclusion

Using AWS SSM and Parameter Store improved security, efficiency, and scalability, enabling consistent password management across all EC2 instances.