Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a modern term for managing IT environments, such as servers, networks, and services. IaC allows for automation of your infrastructure, making it easier to deploy applications and to scale. The most commonly used tools for IaC are Terraform, Ansible, Chef and Puppet.
Best Practices for Infrastructure as Code
- Plan Ahead: Before writing any code it is important to properly plan the project. This will involve taking the time to create an infrastructure strategy. The strategy should include a description of the desired end state, which servers, databases, and services will be included, and what will be the workflows for deployment and scaling.
- Version Control: All Infrastructure as Code should be stored in a version control system so that changes from various members of the team can be tracked and monitored. This also allows developers to revert back to previous versions if needed.
- Keep Coding Standards: It is essential to maintain coding standards across all Infrastructure as Code. This involves ensuring that the code is consistent and easy to read. This can be achieved by using a style guide and having a review system in place.
- Continuous Integration: In order to ensure that the Infrastructure as Code works as intended, it is important to use a continuous integration system to test the code before it is released. This will help to catch any errors early on, reducing the time to fix potential problems.
- Automate Testing: Automated tests should be used to verify the Infrastructure as Code. This is so that any issues can be caught quickly, avoiding any disruptions to services or applications later.
- Automate Deployment: By automating the deployment process, you can ensure that the Infrastructure as Code is running in a consistent way. This also reduces the time required to deploy applications or services.
- Document: Writing documentation for Infrastructure as Code is essential. This allows other members of the team to understand how the Infrastructure as Code works and understand any potential risks or pitfalls associated with it.
By following these best practices for Infrastructure as Code, you can ensure that your environment is running smoothly and efficiently. This will help to reduce risks associated with manual deployments, resulting in faster deployment times, better scalability, and fewer errors.
