Once upon a time, cloud computing could not automatically scale up or down. The only option you had was to manually go into the terminal to add things or take them away. Imagine, if you could draw up a blueprint that automatically built you a house or apartment. You could clone the specification of the house or build an entire apartment complex as long as you have all the specifications written out. 

With Infrastructure as Code tools or IaC tools, you can do just that. You simply write the code once, like creating a blueprint of the desired state of your infrastructure. And then the code does the rest. It uses that blueprint to know when to scale or not. This is how it makes sure to maintain the desired state. There are also many pros of IaC tools. 

In this article, we will learn about the Infrastructure as Code tools, their benefits, and much more! So, let’s dive into it!

What is Infrastructure as Code tools? 

The practice of operating and providing computer data centers through code is known as infrastructure as code (IaC). This allows for version control, automation, and easier reproducibility of infrastructure. It enables the automation of infrastructure deployment, configuration, and management. 

IaC tools allow engineers and administrators to define and manage their infrastructure as code. They do so through the system, testing, and automation. This eliminates manual and repetitive tasks, improves reliability and consistency, and enables more efficient scaling and deployment. Common IaC tools include Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, Puppet, and Chef. The use of IaC helps organizations to achieve infrastructure agility, scalability, and efficiency while reducing costs and risks associated with manual processes.

Why should we use IaC tools? 

There are several reasons why organizations need Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools:

• Reproducibility: IaC tools allow for the creation of infrastructure that can be easily reproduced and scaled, reducing the risk of errors and inconsistencies.

• Automation: IaC tools automate repetitive and manual tasks, freeing up time for administrators and engineers to focus on more critical tasks.

• Version Control: IaC code can be versioned and stored in a version control system such as Git, enabling teams to track changes and collaborate more effectively.

• Speed and Efficiency: IaC enables faster deployment and scaling of infrastructure, as well as reduces downtime during infrastructure updates.

• Cost Savings: By reducing the need for manual processes, IaC can help organizations reduce costs and improve their bottom line.

• Disaster Recovery: IaC tools allow organizations to quickly recover from disasters by providing a way to automatically recreate infrastructure in a short amount of time.

• Scaling & Consistency: IaC supports infrastructure scalability and growth by enabling the automation of infrastructure deployment and management. Its consistency in infrastructure deployment and configuration reduces the risk of human error.

Overall, IaC tools provide organizations with a more efficient, reliable, and cost-effective way to manage and deploy infrastructure.

Best IaC tools in modern times

There are many IaC tools in modern times. But the below tools are the best and most used tools now. Let’s take a look at some popular IaC tools in modern times. They are 

Terraform – An open-source tool for provisioning and managing infrastructure across multiple cloud providers.

Ansible – Open source tool for automating configuration management and deployment.

Puppet – Commercial tool for automating IT configurations and managing infrastructure.

Chef – Commercial tool for automating infrastructure and configuration management, with a focus on automation.

CloudFormation – Amazon tools for creating, deploying, and managing infrastructure as code.

Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates – Microsoft Azure tool for building, deploying, and controlling infrastructure as code.

These tools have different strengths and weaknesses, and the best one for a particular use case depends on various factors such as the scale and complexity of the infrastructure, the type of environment being managed, and the preferences and experience of the users.

Best Practices of IaC Tools

Here are some best practices for using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools:

• Version control: Store IaC code in a version control system such as Git to track changes, collaborate with others, and revert to previous versions if needed.

• Automated testing: Use automated testing techniques, such as unit tests and integration tests, to ensure that changes to the infrastructure do not break existing functionality.

• Modular design: Design IaC code in a modular fashion to allow for easier maintenance and reuse of code.

• Document your code: Include comprehensive documentation in the IaC code to make it easier for others to understand and maintain.

• Use reusable modules: Reuse existing code and modules whenever possible to reduce the amount of work needed to create and maintain infrastructure.

• Continuously integrate and deploy: Automate the process of integrating code changes and deploying changes to production environments to reduce the risk of human error and increase efficiency.

• Access control: Implement proper access control mechanisms. For example, role-based access control ensures that only authorized users have access to sensitive infrastructure components.

• Use infrastructure as code templates: Make use of IaC templates to standardize infrastructure components and reduce complexity.

By following these best practices, organizations can ensure that their IaC processes are reliable, efficient, and secure, and can help to minimize the risk of human error and unplanned downtime.

Conclusion

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools are an essential component of modern IT infrastructure management. It provides organizations with the ability to automate and manage infrastructure in a programmatic and reproducible manner. With it, organizations can reduce the risk of human error, increase efficiency, and improve collaboration and version control. 

Moreover, it is also necessary to follow best practices, such as modular design, automated testing, and proper access control. This can ensure that IaC processes stay reliable, secure, and efficient. The continued development of IaC tools and the growing need for infrastructure automation make IaC an important area for organizations. So, it has made its place to invest in and utilize to achieve its infrastructure management goals to a greater level.