VM security & operations · AWS vs Google Cloud
AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager vs VM Manager Patch
Systems Manager Patch Manager maps to the Patch feature of VM Manager, which runs patch jobs and reports compliance across Compute Engine VMs.
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Google Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager | VM Manager Patch |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | Generally available |
| What it is | Scans and installs OS and application patches on managed nodes, using patch baselines, maintenance windows, and Quick Setup patch policies across accounts and Regions. | Schedules and runs OS patch jobs across Compute Engine VMs and reports patch compliance, through the OS Config agent. |
| Pricing model | Patch Manager is free for EC2. On-premises nodes on the advanced tier are billed per node-hour. | VM Manager is charged per VM with an active OS Config agent, with a monthly free tier of 100 VMs per billing account. |
| Docs | AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager docs | VM Manager Patch docs |
| Pricing page | AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager pricing | VM Manager Patch pricing |
Key differences
- VM Manager relies on the OS Config agent on each VM, similar to the SSM Agent.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Patch Manager is free for EC2. On-premises nodes on the advanced tier are billed per node-hour. AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager pricing →
- GCP
- VM Manager is charged per VM with an active OS Config agent, with a monthly free tier of 100 VMs per billing account. VM Manager Patch pricing →
And on Azure?
Direct match Azure's equivalent is Azure Update Manager. AWS vs Azure comparison →
FAQ
What is the Google Cloud equivalent of AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager?
Systems Manager Patch Manager maps to the Patch feature of VM Manager, which runs patch jobs and reports compliance across Compute Engine VMs.
How does pricing compare between AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager and VM Manager Patch?
AWS: Patch Manager is free for EC2. On-premises nodes on the advanced tier are billed per node-hour. Google Cloud: VM Manager is charged per VM with an active OS Config agent, with a monthly free tier of 100 VMs per billing account. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
What is the Azure equivalent?
Azure Update Manager (direct match). AWS Systems Manager Patch Manager maps to Azure Update Manager.