Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure (servers, databases, networks, containers) using code instead of manual processes. It enables automation, consistency, and repeatability in infrastructure management.
How IaC Fits into CI/CD Pipelines?
In CI/CD, IaC is used to :
- Automate infrastructure provisioning (set up servers, databases, and networks).
- Ensure consistency across environments (development, testing, production).
- Eliminate manual errors in infrastructure configuration.
- Enable version control for infrastructure changes (just like application code).
- Reduce deployment time by using predefined templates.
Example Workflow of IaC in CI/CD :
- Developer commits code & infrastructure changes (Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation).
- CI/CD pipeline validates the infrastructure code (syntax checks, security scans).
- Automated testing ensures infrastructure is correct before deployment.
- IaC applies changes (provisions or updates resources automatically).
- Application is deployed on the newly configured infrastructure.
Benefits of IaC in CI/CD :
* Automation – No manual configuration needed.
* Consistency – Prevents "works on my machine" issues.
* Scalability – Easily replicate infrastructure across multiple environments.
* Version Control – Track infrastructure changes just like application code.
* Security – Apply security best practices automatically.
