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Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tooling gives teams the platform to create rules that enable the automation of infrastructure configuration. These tools facilitate easier and more consistent infrastructure setups, reducing errors and enhancing scalability. Additionally, IaC tools streamline complex environment setup and configuration by automating infrastructure provisioning and management using code.
Implementing IaC tools can help organizations gain agility, efficiency, and control over their IT systems. It can also enhance business outcomes, providing organizations with a competitive advantage.
This article will cover the best and most popular IaC tools available, including key features, pros, cons, and more.
Best Infrastructure as Code Tools (IaC)
IaC tools are crucial for automating IT infrastructure deployment and administration. They ensure consistent, scalable, and manageable settings. Here's a quick view table comparing the best IaC tools, their key features, advantages, and disadvantages.
1. Terraform - Best for Multi-Cloud, Large-Scale Deployments
Price: Free, Paid Account Starts at $.00014/hour/resource
Key Features:
- Supports on-prem infrastructure and multiple cloud providers.
- Uses the declarative HashiCorp Configuration Language.
- Enhanced module reusability across various cloud settings.
- Infrastructure preview with the Terraform plan.
- Employs standardized tooling.
Hashicorp's Terraform is a leading open-source infrastructure-as-a-service (IaC) tool noted for its simplicity and adaptability in managing cloud and on-premises resources. Due to its declarative language, Terraform makes multi-cloud infrastructure management easier, leading to its widespread use in the IaC field.
Pros:
- Open-source
- Flexible and robust community
Cons:
- Monitoring can be challenging
- Limited support for some features
2. Azure Resource Manager - Best for Azure Environments
Price: Varies Based on AWS Service Usage
Key Features:
- Template-based resource management.
- Logical grouping makes resource management easier.
- Supports complex deployments with linked templates.
- Allows for direct template authoring integration.
By organizing resources into logical containers, Azure Resource Manager (ARM) streamlines infrastructure administration. It allows for template authoring with Visual Studio and supports integrating several templates for complex deployments.
Pros:
- Deep integration with Azure
- Native support
Cons:
- Limited to Azure
- Complicated template syntax
3. AWS CloudFormation - Best for AWS Environments
Price: Free, Only Pay for AWS Resources Used
Key Features:
- Provides support for and deep integration with various AWS services.
- Easier to manage and preview changes before deployment.
- Stack organization for easier management.
- Provides clear and concise infrastructure definitions.
AWS CloudFormation provides a unified language to provide and manage all cloud resources, simplifying AWS infrastructure administration. Since it was tailored for AWS, it ensures seamless deployment and orchestration of AWS services with up-to-date feature support.
Pros:
- Free tool
- Deep AWS integration
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- AWS-specific
4. Pulumi - Best for Developers with Coding Backgrounds
Price: Free, Paid subscription starts at $1/2000 credits
Key Features:
- Manages infrastructure from several providers.
- Securely manages infrastructure.
- Supports .NET, Python, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Go.
- Write code in general-purpose languages.
- Intelligently manages dependencies to ensure effective deployment.
Pulumi enables IaC using known programming languages like Python, Go, and JavaScript. This approach provides flexibility and ease of use for developers. Pulumi is perfect for organizations implementing IaC practices as it seamlessly integrates with existing procedures.
Pros:
- Various languages support
- Advanced cloud services
Cons:
- Less developed
- Rookie in the industry
5. Google Cloud Deployment Manager - Best for Google Cloud Environments
Price: Varies Based on Google Cloud Resource Consumption
Key Features:
- YAML-based resource definition enables modular deployments.
- Seamless resource management with Google Cloud.
- Manages resource dependencies automatically.
- Supports third-party and bespoke providers for increased flexibility.
Google Cloud Deployment Manager is a built-in Google Cloud tool for deploying complex resources inside Google Cloud. CDM enables resource management across all Google Cloud services and changes previews before committing. Additionally, it provides creative fixes for typical infrastructural issues.
Pros:
- Tight integration with Google Cloud services
- User-friendly
Cons:
- Restricted to Google Cloud
- Learning curve for new users
6. Crossplane - Best for Kubernetes
Price: Free
Key Features:
- Supports multi-cloud deployments and infrastructure.
- Builds a cloud service control plane using Kubernetes.
- Define infrastructure with multi-cloud support directly from Kubernetes.
- Transforms Kubernetes into a control plane for cloud services.
- Uses the Kubernetes API to manage external resources.
Crossplane is an open-source Kubernetes add-on that transforms your cluster into a universal control plane. Since it supports nearly all cloud providers, it is ideal for controlling infrastructure resources inside a K8s cluster.
Pros:
- Seamless integration with Kubernetes
- Multi-cloud functionality
Cons:
- Greater learning curve
- Kubernetes dependency
7. Puppet - Best for Larger Servers
Price: Free, Paid subscription starts at $140/Year
Key Features:
- Vast community of open-source developers.
- Cross-platform interoperability.
- Scalability in large infrastructures.
- Specialized management of Windows and Linux setups.
- Uses centralized control and automated infrastructure setup using Ruby DSL.
Puppet is an open-source configuration management tool that automates server software deployment and management. With a strong module ecosystem, Puppet expands capabilities and speeds up the deployment of secure infrastructure.
Pros:
- Scalable community
- Robust DSL
Cons:
- Requires agents
- High learning curve
8. Ansible - Best for Automating IT Workflows
Price: Free, $10,000/Year for 100 Nodes
Key Features:
- Operates agentless on the target nodes.
- Defines automation tasks using YAML.
- Supports reusable modules for diverse automation tasks.
- Offers extensive modules.
While not strictly an IaC tool, Ansible bridges the gap between classic IT automation and contemporary IaC. With a single toolset, this flexibility offers a unified approach to managing infrastructure and software deployments.
Pros:
- Tools integration
- Easy-to-use syntax
Cons:
- Slower than alternatives
9. Saltstack - Best for Large-Scale Management
Price: Free, $150/machine/year for enterprise
Key Features:
- Enhanced configuration management and orchestration skills.
- Remote management and execution of commands.
- Event-driven automation for responsive system reactions.
- Comprehensive system data gathering.
- Python-based tool utilized for automating server configuration.
SaltStack, sometimes referred to as Salt, is an open-source configuration management tool and remote execution engine built with Python. Through infrastructure automation, SaltStack can successfully mitigate and resolve infrastructure problems while cutting expenses and manual labor.
Pros:
- Excellent scalability
- Real-time monitoring
Cons:
- Complex setup
- High resource consumption
10. Vagrant - Best for Local Development Environments
Price: Free and Open-Source
Key Features:
- Supports AWS, Docker, VMware, VirtualBox, and more.
- Defines and configures the environment using a single Vagrant file.
- Supports various provisioners and providers.
- Offers HTTP tunneling and automated networking.
- Simplifies virtual machine creation.
HashiCorp's Vagrant is designed for small-scale computer setups. Vagrant simplifies the process of creating and managing virtual machines. This approach enables DevOps Engineers to share configurations and ensure uniform environment setups seamlessly.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Preconfigured boxes
Cons:
- Limited to virtual machine management
- Minimal cloud focus
11. Spacelift - Best for Managing Various IaC Workflows
Price: Free, Paid subscription starts at $250/month
Key Features:
- Offers identity management that complies with SAML 2.0.
- Support for multi-IaC workflow.
- Compatible with AWS, GCP, and Microsoft Azure.
- Unlimited integrations and policies.
- Stack dependencies for nested task sequencing.
Spacelift offers flexibility and robust integration for seamless end-to-end processes, allowing cloud-agnostic IaC with CI/CD. This tool enables the management of various IaC workflows, including:
- OpenTofu
- Terragrunt
- Terraform
- Ansible
- AWS CloudFormation
- Pulumi
- Kubernetes (including operators for Crossplane and K8s).
Pros:
- Highly flexible
- Strong policy administration
Cons:
- Relatively new
- Intricate initial setup
The following section will cover the key factors to consider when choosing the best IaC tools.
Factors to Consider When Choosing IaC Codes
Choosing the right IaC tool is crucial — and there are a number of facets to consider when evaluating which one to pick. The factors below ensure you choose the IaC tool that most effectively supports future scalability and customization requirements, in addition to satisfying your existing infrastructure requirements.
Here are some key factors to consider:
Factor #1: Ease of Use
Ease of use is crucial since it directly affects the tool's productivity and adoption. Your team will be able to begin managing infrastructure faster and more efficiently with a reduced learning curve.
To determine if an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool is easy to use, consider the following factors:
- User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI): Look for a neat, well-organized design that leads users through routine chores.
- Documentation and Tutorials: Search for easy-to-follow, sequential instructions that can assist new users in getting up and running quickly.
- Learning Curve: Determine whether tools like webinars, training videos, and community forums are available.
- Community and Support: Find a vibrant user base that can exchange best practices and offer peer support.
- Automation and Integration: Verify whether any extensions, plugins, or APIs are available to improve functionality.
Factor #2: Integration
When assessing IaC tools, it is crucial to distinguish between basic and advanced integrations.
Basic integrations are essential for a tool to function properly. On the other hand, advanced integrations add value and improve the flexibility and scalability of the tool.
Basic Integrations
Certain integrations are crucial to ensure that the IaC tool can operate efficiently within the existing ecosystem. These include fundamental services and procedures that are often used in most IT environments.
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Compatibility with CI/CD tools facilitates code deployment, integration, and automated testing.
- Monitoring and Logging: Integration with monitoring and logging systems provides visibility into the infrastructure's health and performance.
- Cloud Service Providers: Support for major cloud platforms ensures seamless provisioning and management of cloud resources.
- Configuration Management Tools: Integration with applications such as Ansible enables consistent configuration and state management across environments.
Advance Integrations
Advanced integrations provide extra features that can greatly improve the IaC tool's flexibility and functionality. They are useful for organizations with complex infrastructure requirements.
Here are some must-haves:
- Custom APIs: Enable integration with workflows and custom systems unique to your company.
- Third-Party Services: Integration with external services enhances containerization, orchestration, and secret management capabilities.
- Policy and Compliance Tools: Compatibility with policy-as-code frameworks ensures the infrastructure's compliance with security standards.
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Integration with IAM solutions provides robust access control and user management functionalities.
- Cooperation and Communication Tools: Workflows for incident management, alerting, and team communication are all improved by integration with collaborative tools.
- Infrastructure Cost Management: Compatibility with cost management tools helps in monitoring and optimizing infrastructure costs.
By understanding these distinctions, you can determine if a tool fits your current needs and has the potential to grow with your organization.
Factor #3: Scalability
A detailed examination of an IaC tool's features, documentation, and real-world performance is required to assess its autoscaling and dynamic orchestration capabilities. You can determine whether the product satisfies your scalability requirements by:
- Looking at how it works with various workload scenarios
- Clarify the ability to enable monitoring and provide performance metrics
- Determining how it interfaces with cloud providers
These scalability metrics ensure that your infrastructure can efficiently grow to meet workload demands, improving overall performance.
Factor #4: Community and Support
An important consideration when choosing an IaC solution is robust vendor and community support availability. This support can significantly impact effective tool implementation and maintenance.
- Live User Groups: Engaged groups exchange various optimal methodologies, assisting you in adopting the most efficient approaches to using the tool.
- Robust Vendor Support: Support from vendors ensures that you can get prompt assistance for complex problems that require expert intervention.
- Case Studies and Testimonials: Look for case studies and endorsements from other businesses that have effectively used the tools.
Factor #5: Cost
Cost is a key consideration when selecting an IaC tool. Depending on your team size, budget, and particular infrastructure requirements, a tool's price may influence your choice. Evaluate pricing plans and consider free trials and licensing costs for extra users or third-party apps to determine their viability.
The cost of various IaC tools varies, with pay-per-use, open-source, and subscription-based options. Compared to manual setups, IaC tools are more affordable.
Factor #6: Security
Prioritizing security in the IaC tool selection process is critical to protecting your infrastructure. Look for solutions that meet industry standards, provide strong data protection, and have extensive IAM features. Additionally, robust vendor support ensures that security flaws are quickly fixed, maintaining the system's reliability and integrity.
Conclusion
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools offer various options for organizations looking for automated and streamlined infrastructure management. Ansible's agentless efficiency and Terraform's declarative simplicity are only two examples of how each tool excels at tackling the complexity of modern infrastructure.
When selecting the best IaC solution, it is necessary to analyze your unique requirements thoroughly. The right tool requires careful consideration based on your organization’s needs and requirements.
FAQS on the Most Popular IaC Tool
What are IaC tools?
Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools are software products that enable infrastructure provisioning and administration automation through code.
Which IaC to use?
The IaC tool you use depends on your unique requirements.
Which of the following is an example of an IaC tool?
Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, Ansible, Puppet, and Pulumi are a few IaC tool examples.
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