AWS Systems Manager Parameter Store

Question 1

What is a basic use-case of the parameter store?

Answer 1

The ability to store confidential parameters securely, while providing a means to securely pass parameters to Run Commands in Systems Manager.

Question 2

Where will you find the Parameter store in AWS?

Answer 2

In the EC2 services, under the Systems Manager Shared Resources sub menu

Question 3

What are the three types of parameters you can create?

Answer 3

String
String List
Secure String

Question 4

What is a parameter String?

Answer 4

A clear text parameter value that you define

Question 5

What is a parameter String List?

Answer 5

A comma-separated list of clear text parameter values that you define.

Question 6

What is a parameter Secure String?

Answer 6

A parameter value that is cryptically stored in KMS. The parameter value can be identified via a KMS Key ID

Question 7

What are examples of confidential information are good candidates to be stored in the Parameter Store?

Answer 7

Passwords, database connection strings, license codes, etc.

Question 8

True or false: The parameter store is for clear text parameter store. The Secured Parameter Store is for encrypted parameter storage?

Answer 8

False: There is only one parameter store. From it you can choose to store parameters either as a String (unencrypted) or as a secure string (encrypted).

Question 9

What are some important services that can utilize Parameter Store?

Answer 9

EC2, CloudFormation, Lambda, EC2 Run Command, etc.