What benefits does using SSM's Patch Manager provide?

Utilizing SSM's Patch Manager offers significant benefits in terms of automating the scanning and applying of patches. Patch Manager is a capability within AWS Systems Manager that helps you manage the patching process for your instances in a streamlined and efficient manner. It enables you to automate the identification of missing patches and the deployment of updates across your fleet of instances, which helps maintain security compliance and operational efficiency.

By automating these processes, Patch Manager reduces the manual effort required to keep instances up-to-date with the latest patches, which is essential for security and performance. Organizations can set up patch baselines, schedule patching activities, and monitor compliance, ensuring that their systems are protected against vulnerabilities. The automation provided by Patch Manager leads to faster response time in addressing security issues while minimizing downtime.

Other choices do not relate directly to the core functions of Patch Manager. For instance, tracking instance costs focuses on cost management rather than patch management. Enhancing data transfer speed and user engagement analytics are unrelated to the specific use case of managing software patches within AWS infrastructure. Hence, the correct response highlights the essential role of automation in patch management services provided by SSM.