Best Practices for Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
-
As part of the “Best Practices” series by Uplatz
Welcome to another edition of the Uplatz Best Practices series — your trusted guide to modern software and infrastructure delivery.
Today’s focus: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) — the foundation of reproducible, scalable, and automated cloud infrastructure.
🧱 What is Infrastructure as Code?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure using machine-readable definition files, rather than manual processes.
It enables:
- Version-controlled infrastructure
- Repeatable and consistent deployments
- Automation across environments
Popular IaC tools include Terraform, Pulumi, AWS CloudFormation, Azure Bicep, Ansible, and Chef.
✅ Best Practices for Infrastructure as Code
IaC empowers agility and reliability — but only when implemented with structure, discipline, and best-in-class tooling. Here’s how to get it right:
1. Use Version Control for All Infrastructure
📘 Store IaC in Git Repos – Track every change with commits and history.
🛑 Avoid Manual Changes in Consoles – Enforce GitOps principles.
🔁 Use Branches, PRs, and Reviews – Just like app code.
2. Adopt Modular, Reusable Code Structures
🧱 Create Reusable Modules for Common Resources – Networks, IAM, S3, etc.
📦 Avoid Copy-Pasting Entire Templates – DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself).
🧩 Use Variables and Parameterization – Make modules flexible and composable.
3. Enforce Consistent State Management
📂 Use Remote State Backends (e.g., S3 + DynamoDB, Terraform Cloud)
🔐 Encrypt State Files – They may contain secrets.
🔁 Lock State During Execution – Prevent concurrency issues.
4. Separate Environments Clearly
🌍 Use Different State Files for Dev, QA, Staging, and Prod
🛠 Avoid Hardcoding Environment-Specific Values – Use variable files or workspaces.
🔄 Keep Environment Configs in Sync via Templates
5. Enable Change Previews with ‘Plan’ Stages
📋 Run ‘Terraform Plan’ or Equivalent Before ‘Apply’ – Show diffs, detect surprises.
🔒 Require Approval Gates Before Applying Changes
📊 Log and Archive Plan Outputs for Audits
6. Integrate IaC with CI/CD Pipelines
🔁 Automate Format, Validate, Plan, and Apply Steps
🧪 Include Linting and Policy Checks (e.g., TFLint, Checkov, OPA)
🛑 Fail CI on Misconfigurations or Policy Violations
7. Secure Secrets and Sensitive Data
🔐 Never Hardcode Secrets in IaC Files
📤 Inject Secrets at Runtime via Secret Managers – AWS Secrets Manager, Vault, etc.
📄 Audit All Uses of Sensitive Variables or Parameters
8. Use Tags, Labels, and Metadata
🏷 Tag All Resources with Owner, Project, Environment
📦 Enable Resource Tracking and Chargeback
📈 Improve Monitoring, Cost Management, and Cleanup
9. Test Infrastructure Code Early
🧪 Use Tools Like Terratest or Kitchen for Unit/Integration Testing
🔁 Run Dry Runs and Sandbox Deployments in Lower Environments
🧱 Mock Cloud APIs Where Feasible for Fast Feedback
10. Continuously Review and Refactor
♻️ Remove Unused Resources and Legacy Patterns
🧱 Keep Up With Provider and Module Versions
📈 Measure Deployment Time and Reliability Metrics
💡 Bonus Tip by Uplatz
Your infrastructure is software. Treat it like code — versioned, reviewed, tested, and secured.
IaC isn’t just about automation — it’s about resilience, repeatability, and speed.
🔁 Follow Uplatz to get more best practices in upcoming posts:
- GitOps and Kubernetes IaC
- Cost Optimization via IaC Modules
- Compliance-as-Code
- CI/CD for Infrastructure Pipelines
- IaC for Multi-Cloud Strategy
…and 60+ more on DevOps, Cloud, Security, and AI Engineering.