# Setting up managed nodes for Amazon Systems Manager
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Complete the tasks in this section to set up and configure roles, user accounts, permissions, and initial resources for using Amazon Systems Manager tools. The tasks described in this section are typically performed by Amazon Web Services account and systems administrators. After these steps are complete, users in your organization can use Systems Manager to configure, manage, and access your *managed nodes*. A managed node is any machine configured for use with Systems Manager in a [hybrid and multicloud](operating-systems-and-machine-types.md#supported-machine-types) environment.

**Note**  
If you plan to use Amazon EC2 instances *and* your own computing resources in a [hybrid and multicloud](operating-systems-and-machine-types.md#supported-machine-types) environment, follow the steps in [Managing EC2 instances with Systems Manager](systems-manager-setting-up-ec2.md). That topic presents steps in the best order for completing Systems Manager setup for EC2 instances and non-EC2 machines.

If you already use other Amazon Web Services services, you have completed some of these steps. However, other steps are specific to Systems Manager. Therefore, we recommend reviewing this entire section to make sure that you're ready to use all Systems Manager tools. 

**Topics**
+ [Managing EC2 instances with Systems Manager](systems-manager-setting-up-ec2.md)
+ [Managing nodes in hybrid and multicloud environments with Systems Manager](systems-manager-hybrid-multicloud.md)
+ [Set up a Cloud Connector for Microsoft Azure in Systems Manager](systems-manager-cloud-connector.md)
+ [Set up a Cloud Connector for Google Cloud Platform in Systems Manager](systems-manager-cloud-connector-gcp.md)
+ [Amazon Config recording for Cloud Connectors](cloud-connector-config-recording.md)
+ [Managing edge devices with Systems Manager](systems-manager-setting-up-edge-devices.md)
+ [Creating an Amazon Organizations delegated administrator for Systems Manager](setting_up_delegated_admin.md)
+ [General setup for Amazon Systems Manager](#setting_up_prerequisites)

## General setup for Amazon Systems Manager
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### Sign up for an Amazon Web Services account
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If you do not have an Amazon Web Services account, use the following procedure to create one.

**To sign up for Amazon Web Services**

1. Open [http://www.amazonaws.cn/](http://www.amazonaws.cn/) and choose **Sign Up**.

1. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Amazon sends you a confirmation email after the sign-up process is complete. At any time, you can view your current account activity and manage your account by going to [http://www.amazonaws.cn/](http://www.amazonaws.cn/) and choosing **My Account**.

### Secure IAM users
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After you sign up for an Amazon Web Services account, safeguard your administrative user by turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA). For instructions, see [Enable a virtual MFA device for an IAM user (console)](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_credentials_mfa_enable_virtual.html#enable-virt-mfa-for-iam-user) in the *IAM User Guide*.

To give other users access to your Amazon Web Services account resources, create IAM users. To secure your IAM users, turn on MFA and only give the IAM users the permissions needed to perform their tasks.

For more information about creating and securing IAM users, see the following topics in the *IAM User Guide*: 
+ [Creating an IAM user in your Amazon Web Services account](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/IAM/latest/UserGuide/id_users_create.html)
+ [Access management for Amazon resources](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access.html)
+ [Example IAM identity-based policies](https://docs.amazonaws.cn/IAM/latest/UserGuide/access_policies_examples.html)