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:

To automate the Windows password reset process. To enhance security by securely storing and retrieving passwords. To ensure consistency in password management.

To create a scalable solution that can be applied across multiple EC2 instances.

Approach

To address the challenges of manual Windows password management on EC2 instances, HIM IT proposed a robust solution leveraging AWS Systems Manager (SSM) along with complementary AWS services. The approach was designed to automate password resets, secure password handling, and ensure consistency across all instances. Key components of this solution included Systems Manager Parameter Store for secure storage, SSM Documents for scripting, and Run Command for execution. Additional services like CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and S3 were integrated to enhance monitoring, auditing, and data storage.

Implementation

• 1. Automation with Run Command and SSM Documents:
  • Developed an SSM Document containing a PowerShell script to reset Windows passwords. This document automated the generation of new passwords and their application to target EC2 instances.
  • Deployed the SSM Document across all relevant EC2 instances using Systems Manager Run Command, ensuring a streamlined and uniform password reset process without manual intervention.
• 2. Secure Password Management with Parameter Store:
  • passwords. Encryption was employed to protect sensitive data, with access tightly controlled through AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) roles and policies to prevent unauthorized access.
• 3. Monitoring and Auditing:
  • Integrated Amazon CloudWatch to monitor the password reset process in real time, tracking success rates and generating alerts for any anomalies.
  • Utilized AWS CloudTrail to log all actions taken by Systems Manager and related services, creating a comprehensive audit trail for compliance and troubleshooting.
• 4. Storage and Reporting:
  • Employed Amazon S3 to store logs and reports from the password reset operations, facilitating easy access and long-term storage of important data.

Customer Acceptance Testing

• 1. Validation of Automation:
  • Confirmed that the Run Command executed the SSM Document as intended, with passwords being reset across the EC2 instances without manual intervention.
• 2. Security and Compliance Verification:
  • Verified that passwords were securely stored in Parameter Store with enforced access controls. Reviewed CloudTrail logs to ensure that all actions were properly audited.
• 3. Performance and Scalability Assessment:
  • Evaluated the solution’s performance and reliability by testing it on a range of EC2 instances to ensure scalability and responsiveness under different conditions.
• 4. Feedback and Iteration:
  • Collected feedback from the customer’s IT team to identify and address any issues or concerns. Implemented minor adjustments based on this feedback to enhance the solution.
  • The testing validated the effectiveness of the automated password reset solution, demonstrating improvements in security, efficiency, and scalability across all EC2 instances.

Outcome

The implementation of the automated Windows password reset solution using AWS Systems Manager achieved significant improvements in the company's IT operations. The solution enhanced security by securely storing and managing passwords in Parameter Store, reducing the risk of unauthorized access and human error. Automation through Run Command and SSM Documents streamlined the password reset process, minimizing manual intervention and ensuring consistent password management across all EC2 instances. Real-time monitoring with CloudWatch and comprehensive auditing with CloudTrail provided valuable insights into system performance and security. Overall, the solution increased operational efficiency, scalability, and compliance, making password management more reliable and manageable across the enterprise infrastructure.

Conclusion:

The automated solution using AWS SSM and Parameter Store improved security, efficiency, and scalability, enabling the company to manage passwords consistently across its infrastructure.