diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 477a615..dbcbc9d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ This role controls an Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) 6.x service on Linux server
 
 ## Requirements
 
-This role requires Ansible 2.0 or higher and works with AEM 6.1 or higher. The role requires an AEM service that can be controlled with the Ansible `service` module to be installed on the target machine.
+This role requires Ansible 2.4 or higher and works with AEM 6.1 or
+higher. The role requires an AEM service that can be controlled with the
+Ansible `service` module to be installed on the target machine.
 
 ## Role Variables
 
@@ -34,6 +36,35 @@ The desired state of the service after this role finishes, one of `started`, `st
 
 The time to wait for the startup or shutdown to finish (in seconds).
 
+aem_service_restricted_mode: false
+
+Enables / disables the restricted mode to work with customized commands like `sudo`.
+
+    # aem_service_start_command: 
+
+Overwrites the default (service manager related) start command.
+
+    # aem_service_stop_command: 
+
+Overwrites the default (service manager related) stop command.
+
+    # aem_service_status_command: 
+
+Overwrites the default (service manager related) status command.
+
+    # aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes:
+
+Overwrites the default (service manager related) stopped status codes
+when set.
+
+    # aem_service_status_started_status_codes:
+
+Overwrites the default (service manager related) started status codes
+when set.
+
+aem_service_status_valid_status_codes: "{{ _aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes | union(_aem_service_status_started_status_codes) | unique }}"
+
+# List of all valid AEM status codes.
 
 ## Dependencies
 
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index b4d8634..11c62d5 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -8,3 +8,24 @@ aem_service_state: started
 aem_service_timeout: 1200
 # URL to poll while waiting for startup
 aem_service_login_url: "http://localhost:{{ aem_service_port }}/libs/granite/core/content/login.html"
+
+# Enables / disables the restricted mode to work with customized commands like sudo
+aem_service_restricted_mode: false
+
+# Overwrites the default (service manager related) start command
+# aem_service_start_command:
+
+# Overwrites the default (service manager related) stop command
+# aem_service_stop_command:
+
+# Overwrites the default (service manager related) status command
+# aem_service_status_command:
+
+# Overwrites the default (service manager related) stopped status codes
+# aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes:
+
+# Overwrites the default (service manager related) started status codes
+# aem_service_status_started_status_codes:
+
+# List of all valid AEM status codes.
+aem_service_status_valid_status_codes: "{{ _aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes | union(_aem_service_status_started_status_codes) | unique }}"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 10b7ee3..b2a146b 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+- name: Include service manager specific variables.
+  include_vars: "{{ item }}"
+  with_first_found:
+    - "service_mgr_{{ ansible_service_mgr | mandatory }}.yml"
+    - service_mgr_default.yml
+
 - include_tasks: start_aem.yml
   when: aem_service_state == 'started'
 
diff --git a/tasks/start_aem.yml b/tasks/start_aem.yml
index 0b9c521..22b8d39 100644
--- a/tasks/start_aem.yml
+++ b/tasks/start_aem.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,24 @@
-- name: Start AEM.
+- name: Start AEM (escalated).
   service:
     name: "{{ aem_service_name }}"
     state: started
-  register: aem_service_start_result
+  register: aem_service_start_result_escalated
+  when: not aem_service_restricted_mode
+
+- name: Start AEM (restricted).
+  block:
+    - name: Retrieve AEM status (restricted).
+      raw: "{{ _aem_service_status_command }}"
+      changed_when: false
+      register: _aem_status_result_1
+      failed_when: _aem_status_result_1.rc not in aem_service_status_valid_status_codes
+
+    - name: Start AEM (restricted).
+      raw: "{{ _aem_service_start_command }}"
+      when: _aem_status_result_1.rc != 0
+      register: aem_service_start_result_restricted
+
+  when: aem_service_restricted_mode
 
 - name: "Wait for AEM startup. [{{ inventory_hostname }}]"
   uri:
@@ -12,6 +28,6 @@
   until: result.content.find("QUICKSTART_HOMEPAGE") != -1
   retries: "{{ aem_service_timeout // 10 }}"
   delay: 10
-  when: aem_service_start_result.changed
+  when: aem_service_start_result_escalated.changed or aem_service_start_result_restricted.changed
   tags:
     - skip_ansible_lint
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tasks/stop_aem.yml b/tasks/stop_aem.yml
index 69564cb..86e6a5d 100644
--- a/tasks/stop_aem.yml
+++ b/tasks/stop_aem.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,32 @@
-- name: Stop AEM.
+- name: Stop AEM (escalated).
   service:
     name: "{{ aem_service_name }}"
     state: stopped
-  register: aem_service_stop_result
\ No newline at end of file
+  register: aem_service_stop_result_escalated
+  when: not aem_service_restricted_mode
+
+- name: Stop AEM (restricted).
+  block:
+    - name: Retrieve AEM status (restricted).
+      raw: "{{ _aem_service_status_command }}"
+      changed_when: false
+      failed_when: _aem_status_result.rc not in aem_service_status_valid_status_codes
+      register: _aem_status_result
+
+    - name: Stop AEM (restricted).
+      raw: "{{ _aem_service_stop_command }}"
+      when: _aem_status_result.rc == 0
+      register: aem_service_stop_result_restricted
+
+  when: aem_service_restricted_mode
+
+- name: Wait for AEM shutdown.
+  wait_for:
+    port: "{{ aem_service_port }}"
+    state: stopped
+    delay: 0
+    sleep: 10
+    timeout: "{{ aem_service_timeout }}"
+  when: aem_service_stop_result_escalated.changed or aem_service_stop_result_restricted.changed
+  tags:
+    - skip_ansible_lint
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vars/service_mgr_default.yml b/vars/service_mgr_default.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c97e26e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/service_mgr_default.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+_aem_service_start_command: "{{ aem_service_start_command | default('sudo -n /etc/init.d/'+aem_service_name+' start') }}"
+_aem_service_stop_command: "{{ aem_service_stop_command | default('sudo -n /etc/init.d/'+aem_service_name+' stop') }}"
+_aem_service_status_command: "{{ aem_service_status_command | default('sudo -n /etc/init.d/'+aem_service_name+' status') }}"
+_aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes: "{{ aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes | default([4]) }}"
+_aem_service_status_started_status_codes: "{{ aem_service_status_started_status_codes | default([0]) }}"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/vars/service_mgr_systemd.yml b/vars/service_mgr_systemd.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3df3a89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vars/service_mgr_systemd.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+_aem_service_start_command: "{{ aem_service_start_command | default('sudo -n /bin/systemctl start '+aem_service_name ) }} && echo $?"
+_aem_service_stop_command: "{{ aem_service_stop_command | default('sudo -n /bin/systemctl stop '+aem_service_name ) }} && echo $?"
+_aem_service_status_command: "{{ aem_service_status_command | default('sudo -n /bin/systemctl is-active '+aem_service_name) }}"
+_aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes: "{{ aem_service_status_stopped_status_codes | default([3]) }}"
+_aem_service_status_started_status_codes: "{{ aem_service_status_started_status_codes | default([0]) }}"
\ No newline at end of file