Automate Amazon EC2 with Microsoft System Center Orchestrator
The Kelverion Integration Pack for Amazon EC2 brings that cloud flexibility into Microsoft System Center Orchestrator, enabling operations teams to build reliable runbooks that provision, manage, scale, and retire EC2 resources as part of wider IT service management and infrastructure automation processes.
Amazon EC2 is an infrastructure-as-a-service compute platform from Amazon Web Services that allows organisations to create and manage virtual server instances in the cloud. These instances can support a broad range of workloads, from web applications and business systems to development environments, batch processing, high-performance computing, and disaster recovery solutions.
Rather than waiting for hardware procurement or manual configuration, teams can use Amazon EC2 to deploy compute capacity in minutes, select the operating system and instance size that matches their workload, attach storage, configure networking and security, and scale resources up or down as demand changes.
For enterprises already using AWS, Amazon EC2 is often central to cloud operations. For System Center Orchestrator customers, the challenge is not simply accessing EC2, but integrating EC2 management into existing runbooks, service requests, operational controls, and governance processes.
Rather than waiting for hardware procurement or manual configuration, teams can use Amazon EC2 to deploy compute capacity in minutes, select the operating system and instance size that matches their workload, attach storage, configure networking and security, and scale resources up or down as demand changes.
For enterprises already using AWS, Amazon EC2 is often central to cloud operations. For System Center Orchestrator customers, the challenge is not simply accessing EC2, but integrating EC2 management into existing runbooks, service requests, operational controls, and governance processes.
Typical Automation Scenarios
- Service Request Fulfilment
Automatically provision approved EC2 instances when a user submits a request through the service desk - Automated Resource Scaling
Start, stop, or modify EC2 resources in response to workload demand, schedules, or operational triggers - Instance Lifecycle Management
Automate common EC2 management tasks such as creating, starting, stopping, rebooting, tagging, and retiring instances - Cost Optimisation Workflows
Shut down unused instances, retire temporary resources, and reclaim licences or associated capacity when projects end - Storage and Capacity Operations
Automate more complex tasks such as instance volume expansion to support changing application requirements - Incident and Monitoring Response
Trigger EC2 remediation actions from monitoring alerts or operational events - Hybrid Cloud Runbooks
Combine EC2 actions with on-premises systems, service management platforms, databases, and reporting workflows managed through Orchestrator
Benefits at a Glance
- Extend Existing Orchestrator Investments
Automate Amazon EC2 processes using the System Center Orchestrator platform, skills, and runbook patterns your operations team already understands - Accelerate Cloud Provisioning
Create EC2 resources directly from service requests, approved runbooks, or event-driven processes - Improve Operational Consistency
Replace manual EC2 administration with repeatable, auditable automation workflows - Support Cost Control
Automate the retirement, shutdown, or decommissioning of EC2 resources to help stop unnecessary billing and reclaim reusable resources - Automate Complex Cloud Tasks
Build runbooks for advanced EC2 processes such as instance management, resource scaling, and volume expansion - Bridge Hybrid Operations
Connect AWS compute operations to wider enterprise workflows across service management, monitoring, infrastructure, and governance systems
Key Capabilities
- Pre-defined integration and automation activities for Amazon EC2
- Run EC2 Action activity for executing available EC2 actions from Orchestrator runbooks
- Reusable activities designed to simplify provisioning and management of EC2 instances
- Support for automation of EC2 resource creation, scaling, retirement, and operational maintenance
- Integration with Microsoft System Center Orchestrator runbook logic, scheduling, approvals, and connected IT processes
- Designed for IT operations teams that need reliable, repeatable, and governed AWS automation from Orchestrator
Integration Activities
| Activity Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Attach-NetworkInterface | Attach a network interface to an instance |
| Attach-Volume | Attach avolume to a running or stopped instance and expose it to the instance |
| Copy-AMI | Inititate the copy of an AMI from the source region to the region in the selected configuration |
| Copy-Snapshot | Copy a point-in-time snaphot of a volume and store it |
| Create-AMI | Create an AMI from an instance that is either running or stopped |
| Create-Volume | Create a volume that can be attached to any instance in the same Availability Zone |
| Create-Snapshot | Create a snapsot on a volume and store it |
| Delete-Snapshot | Delete a specified snapshot |
| Delete-Volume | Delete a volume not attached to an instance |
| Detach-NetworkInterfaceActivity | Detach a network interface from an instance |
| Deregister-AMI | Deregisiter a specified AMI |
| Get-Object | Retrieves objects from Amazon EC2 |
| Launch-Instances | Launch a specified number of instances of an AMI |
| Reboot-Instance | Reboot a specified instance |
| Run-EC2Activity | Run a specified EC2 action |
| Start-Instance | Start a specified instance that has been previously stoppped |
| Stop-Instance | Stop a instance |
| Terminate-Instance | Terminate a specified instance |