All courses
Resource hub
Featured resource
Forrester Wave Report 2025
Pluralsight named a Leader in the Forrester Wave™

Our tech skill development platform earned the highest scores possible across 11 criteria.

Learn more
Hamburger Icon
  • Labs icon Lab
  • Cloud
  • Security
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Creating an IAM Role and Configuring an EC2 Instance for AWS Systems Manager via the AWS Management Console

In this hands-on lab, you will learn about the IAM role necessary for configuring an EC2 instance with the AWS Systems Manager service. We'll create and attach a role to an EC2 instance via the AWS Management Console (GUI) and confirm that it is configured with the SSM service by checking in the Systems Manager console as a managed instance.

Get started Contact sales
Google Cloud Platform icon
Labs

Path Info

Level
Clock icon Intermediate
Duration
Clock icon 30m
Last updated
Clock icon Aug 12, 2025

Contact sales

By filling out this form and clicking submit, you acknowledge our privacy policy.

Table of Contents

  1. Challenge

    Create an EC2 IAM Role with the Systems Manager Policy for EC2

    1. Access the IAM console, and create a role.
    2. Attach the AmazonSSMManagedInstanceCore policy to the role during creation.
    3. Name your role MySSMRole.

    Note: When working via the GUI, AWS auto-creates an IAM instance profile when you create a role for EC2; whereas, when working in the CLI, one has to create and attach an IAM instance profile to the IAM role themselves.

  2. Challenge

    Launch an EC2 Instance

    1. Launch an EC2 instance named MySSMInstance, with the latest version of Amazon Linux AMI, and of type t2.micro.
    2. You don't need to generate a key pair since you won't be logging in to the instance, so click Proceed without a keypair.
    3. Select the existing security group named SG.
    4. In the Advanced details section, under IAM instance profile, select MySSMRole then launch the instance.

  3. Challenge

    Verify the EC2 Instance Is Properly Configured with Systems Manager

    Once the instance is in a Running state, navigate to Systems Manager > Fleet Manager to confirm MySSMInstance is correctly displayed in the Managed nodes list.

Pluralsight Skills - Labs - Pluralsight
Author
Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Provided environment for hands-on practice

We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

Guided walkthrough

Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

Did you know?

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.
Ready to get started?
View individual plans View team plans