Best Practices for Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

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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.