Infrastructure as Code: What Is It?
A contemporary method of managing and supplying computer infrastructure is called Infrastructure as Code (IaC). IT infrastructure setup used to be a difficult undertaking that required actual servers, networking equipment, and storage facilities.
Read More: Azure Infrastructure as Code
Infrastructure as Code, on the other hand, describes every facet of IT infrastructure—networks, servers, databases, and other elements—as machine-readable code. The infrastructure is then automatically managed and provisioned using this code. This method not only streamlines the procedure but also improves its dependability and effectiveness.
The potential of Infrastructure as Code to close the communication gap between development and operations teams is one of its key benefits. These teams frequently operate in silos in a typical IT organization, each with its own set of tools and procedures. On the other hand, IaC promotes cooperation by allowing both teams to share the same code base and tools.
Among the main advantages of infrastructure as code are:
Deployment simplicity: IaC reduces human error and accelerates deployment.
Consistency: IaC simplifies troubleshooting and maintains infrastructure consistency across all settings.
Scalability: Infrastructure as a service (IaC) enables fast infrastructure replication or adaptation to changing demands.
Compliance and auditability: IaC enables the tracking of modifications in source control systems such as Git, hence offering a comprehensive audit trail of modifications made to computing environments.
How Does Azure Cloud IaC Operate?
Using declarative or imperative code, Infrastructure as Code (IaC) on Azure enables developers to script and automate the provisioning and control of Azure resources. Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Terraform, Ansible, and Azure Bicep are just a few of the technologies that may be used to create Infrastructure as Code (see more about these in the section that follows).
Declarative models allow the developer to specify the ideal state of the infrastructure, and the system handles the work of implementing the modifications required to get there. Conversely, with an imperative paradigm, the developer gives the system explicit instructions to follow in order to get to the intended state. For IaC, the declarative method is typically chosen since it simplifies and improves the maintainability of the code.
The typical procedure for utilizing Azure IaC is as follows:
The code is written by the developer, specifying the ideal condition of the infrastructure. Specifications for virtual machines, databases, networks, and other cloud resources may be included in this code. High-level languages are used to write code, and these languages are often easy to read and comprehend for humans.
A version control system such as Git has the IaC code committed to it. Teams can monitor changes and work together more efficiently with this step. Additionally, it makes procedures like continuous integration and code review possible.
When the code is prepared, it may be sent to the Azure environment via a pipeline for continuous integration and delivery, or using a command line interface (CLI). In order to direct Azure to build up resources as specified in the code, the IaC tool communicates with Azure’s APIs.
Azure starts allocating the resources after confirming the request. The IaC tool will implement the required modifications if there is a discrepancy between the current infrastructure and the code-defined intended state. This might entail adding fresh materials, updating current ones, or getting rid of ones that aren’t needed.
Azure offers feedback and warnings during this process, assisting developers in keeping an eye on the infrastructure’s condition and resolving any problems that may come up.
The end product is an Azure environment that is completely provisioned and configured, precisely as specified by the IaC code. With the ability to repeat this process repeatedly and reliably, teams can manage their infrastructure more efficiently and minimize manual mistakes.