7+ BEST Infrastructure as Code (IAC) Tools of 2022 [Ranked]

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the process of managing and provisioning computer data centers through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration. IaC tools allow users to define and deploy complex environments without manual intervention.

IaC allows DevOps teams to manage infrastructure in a consistent, repeatable and automated way. IaC tools can help teams to provision and manage infrastructure quickly and efficiently.

This includes infrastructure resources – such as load balancers, virtual machines, and networks – by using descriptive models and languages.

What is Infrastructure as Code? Difference of Infrastructure as Code Tools

What are the Best Infrastructure as Code Tools on the Market in 2024?

There are many IaC tools available on the market, each with its own unique features and benefits.

In this article, we will explore the best IaC tools today.

#1 Terraform

Hashicorp Terraform is a popular IaC tool that allows users to define infrastructure as code using a declarative programming language.

Terraform can be used to provision resources on any cloud platform, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Terraform is open source and has a large community of contributors.

Terraform Tutorial for Beginners

#2 Pulumi

Pulumi is an IaC tool that that differentiates itself from other code platforms by providing flexibility.

It supports many programming languages such as C#, Python, JavaScript, Go, and TypeScript.

Pulumi also offers a fine-grained IaC deployment model that lets you make infrastructure changes incrementally.

This can be very helpful when making changes to production systems.

Pulumi is available in both open source and enterprise versions.

The enterprise version includes additional features such as role-based access control, auditing, and collaboration tools.

#3 AWS CloudFormation

AWS CloudFormation is an IaC tool from Amazon Web Services (AWS).

It allows users to create templates that define the configurations for AWS resources.

These templates can be used to provision and manage AWS resources in a consistent and automated way.

CloudFormation is available at no additional cost to AWS customers.

#4 Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Google Cloud Deployment Manager is an IaC tool from Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

It uses declarative language to automate the creation, provisioning, management, and configuration of Google Cloud Platform resources.

YAML or Python scripts can be used to manage resources alone with Google Cloud.

#5 Azure Resource Manager

Azure Resource Manager is an IaC tool from Microsoft Azure.

It uses the Azure Resource Manager template (aka ARM templates) to handle infrastructure and dependencies.

Resources can be organized into groups, control access levels to resources, and so on.

Azure supports Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) natively so controlling access to resources and services is easier.

#6 Chef

Chef is a tool for IaC deployments on different cloud providers such as AWS, GCP, and Azure Cloud

It uses simple YAML files to define infrastructure as code and includes many built-in modules for provisioning resources such as VPC, IAM, and RDS.

The enterprise version includes additional features such as role-based access control, auditing, and collaboration tools.

#7 Ansible

Ansible is an IaC tool that automates configuration management, application deployment, and task execution.

It uses an agentless architecture, which means that it does not require any software to be installed on managed hosts.

Ansible is open source and has a large community of contributors.

Open source based Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools for developers

What do IaC tools do?

In general, IaC tools make it easier to provision and manage infrastructure in a consistent and automated way.

They can also help to control costs by tagging resources and auditing usage.

IaC tools can be used to manage infrastructure on any cloud platform.

When choosing an IaC tool, it is important to consider the features and benefits of each tool.

Terraform, Pulumi, AWS CloudFormation, Google Cloud Deployment Manager, Azure Resource Manager, Ansible, and Chef are all popular IaC tools on the market today.

What should you look for in an IaC tool?

When choosing an IaC tool, there are a few things to consider:

– The cloud platforms you want to use

– The programming languages you want to use

– The features and benefits that are important to you

– The cost of the tool

IaC tools can make it easier to provision and manage infrastructure in a consistent and automated way.

They can also help to control costs by tagging resources and auditing usage.

When choosing an IaC tool, be sure to consider the cloud platforms you want to use, the programming languages you want to use, and the features and benefits that are important to you.

IaC FAQ

What is IaC in DevOps?

IaC is a method of deployment that automates the provisioning and management of infrastructure using code.

IaC tools allow users to define infrastructure as code, which can then be used to provision and manage resources in a consistent and automated way.

What are the benefits of IaC?

There are many benefits of IaC, including the ability to control costs, audit usage, and manage resources in a consistent and automated way.

IaC can also help speed up deployments by allowing users to define infrastructure as code.

How do I choose an IaC tool?

When choosing an IaC tool, there are a few things to consider:

• the cloud platforms you want to use
• the programming languages you want to use
• the features and benefits that are important to you, and
• the cost of the tool

What is IaC in DevOps?

IaC is a method of deployment that automates the provisioning and management of infrastructure using code.

IaC tools allow users to define infrastructure as code, which can then be used to provision and manage resources in a consistent and automated way.

Conclusion

IaC tools can make it easier to provision and manage infrastructure in a consistent and automated way.

They can also help to control costs by tagging resources and auditing usage.

When choosing an IaC tool, be sure to consider the cloud platforms you want to use, the programming languages you want to use, and the features and benefits that are important to you. IAC tools can help you automate deployments, speed up development processes, and improve your organization’s compliance posture.

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