Challenges

A leading digital platform encountered challenges in managing complex workloads across a growing fleet of Windows and Linux servers. Key issues included:

• Production Workloads: Maintaining uptime and reliability for critical business services.
• Long-Running Instances: Keeping mission-critical servers consistently patched and monitored without downtime.
• Multi-OS Environment: Administering both Windows and Linux workloads under a unified management framework.
• Server Access Management: Reducing dependence on SSH/RDP while ensuring secure, auditable access.
• Patch Management: Automating patching to minimize security vulnerabilities and manual interventions.

Searce Solution

The client collaborated with Searce to adopt AWS Systems Manager (SSM) for unified operations management. The implementation focused on streamlining workload management through automation, security, and operational consistency.

Key Implementations:

1. Production Workloads

   • Deployed AWS Systems Manager across production servers, ensuring centralized visibility and operational control.
   • Leveraged maintenance windows to apply patches without disrupting customer-facing services.

2. Long-Running Instances

   • Enabled continuous patch compliance for servers running 24/7.
   • Automated monitoring and remediation workflows through Systems Manager State Manager.

3. Combination of Windows and Linux Servers

   • Standardized operations across heterogeneous workloads using SSM Agent.
   • Applied OS-specific baselines for patching policies while keeping compliance reporting unified.

4. Combination of Windows and Linux Servers

   • Standardized operations across heterogeneous workloads using SSM Agent.
   • Applied OS-specific baselines for patching policies while keeping compliance reporting unified.

5. Server Administration via Fleet Manager

   • Adopted Fleet Manager for secure, console-based access to servers without relying on SSH keys or RDP.
   • Streamlined tasks such as file management, registry updates, log access, and process management directly from the AWS Management Console.

6. Server Patching via Patch Manager

   • Configured Patch Manager to automate patch deployments across both Windows and Linux fleets.
   • Reduced downtime risks by scheduling staggered patch rollouts.
   • Improved security posture with centralized patch compliance dashboards.

7. Customer Acceptance Testing

   • Conducted validation on production workloads to confirm zero-downtime patching and monitoring.
   • Verified secure server access via Fleet Manager without credential sharing.
   • Tested patch automation policies on both Linux and Windows servers, ensuring compliance reporting aligned with the client's governance standards.
   • Received approval from IT and business stakeholders after demonstrating operational efficiency and risk reduction.

Benefits

• Operational Consistency: Unified management for Windows and Linux workloads across production and long-running servers.
• Improved Security: Automated patching minimized vulnerabilities while strengthening compliance reporting.
• Reduced Manual Effort: Operations team shifted from routine maintenance to higher-value business projects.
• Secure Access Control: Fleet Manager eliminated risks tied to shared keys or unsecured RDP/SSH connections.
• Resilience & Scalability: Enabled infrastructure to grow with demand while ensuring reliability for production workloads.

Business Impact

By leveraging AWS Systems Manager, the client significantly improved efficiency in managing heterogeneous workloads. From patch automation to secure access and monitoring, the solution helped deliver reliable services to SMEs while reducing operational risk and cost.

This implementation aligns with the client's vision of providing secure, trusted, and scalable digital-first solutions for Indian businesses.