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Terraform & Infrastructure as Code Guide

From HCL basics to enterprise-scale multi-cloud deployments. Master Infrastructure as Code with Terraform, OpenTofu, and modern IaC practices.

Getting Started Modules State Management Multi-Cloud Security CI/CD

What is Infrastructure as Code?

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the practice of managing and provisioning infrastructure through machine-readable configuration files rather than manual processes. This enables version control, repeatability, and automation of your entire infrastructure.

Terraform, developed by HashiCorp, has become the de facto standard for IaC. This guide covers everything from basic concepts to advanced patterns like module development, state management strategies, and multi-cloud architectures.

Popular IaC Tools

Choose the right Infrastructure as Code tool for your needs

Terraform

The most popular IaC tool for provisioning infrastructure across any cloud provider.

Terraform Consulting

OpenTofu

Open-source Terraform fork with community-driven development and full compatibility.

OpenTofu Help

Pulumi

Infrastructure as Code using familiar programming languages like Python, TypeScript, and Go.

DevOps Consulting

Getting Started with Terraform

Learn Terraform fundamentals and HCL syntax

Terraform Modules

Create reusable, composable infrastructure components

State Management

Remote backends, state locking, and workspace strategies

Multi-Cloud Infrastructure

Deploy to AWS, Azure, GCP, and beyond with Terraform

Security & Compliance

Secure your IaC with policy as code and best practices

Terraform in CI/CD Pipelines

Automate infrastructure deployments with GitOps workflows

Related Guides

Continue your learning journey with these comprehensive guides

Kubernetes Guide

Provision Kubernetes clusters with Terraform and manage workloads at scale.

Cloud Migration Guide

Use Terraform to automate cloud migration and infrastructure provisioning.

DevOps Guide

Integrate Terraform into CI/CD pipelines with GitOps workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Terraform and Infrastructure as Code

What is the difference between Terraform and OpenTofu?
OpenTofu is an open-source fork of Terraform created after HashiCorp changed Terraform's license to BSL. OpenTofu maintains compatibility with Terraform and is community-driven under the Linux Foundation. Most existing Terraform code works with OpenTofu with minimal changes.
How should I manage Terraform state in production?
Use remote state backends like S3 with DynamoDB (AWS), Azure Blob Storage, or GCS. Enable state locking to prevent concurrent modifications. Never commit state files to version control. Consider Terraform Cloud or Spacelift for team collaboration and state management.
When should I use Terraform modules?
Use modules when you have reusable infrastructure patterns across projects or environments. Start simple and extract modules when you see repetition. Don't over-modularize too early. Good candidates include VPC setups, Kubernetes clusters, database configurations, and standard application stacks.
How do I handle secrets in Terraform?
Never hardcode secrets in Terraform files. Use secret management tools like HashiCorp Vault, AWS Secrets Manager, or Azure Key Vault. Pass secrets via environment variables or secure parameter stores. Mark sensitive variables with `sensitive = true`. Consider using SOPS or git-crypt for encrypted variable files.

Need Help with Terraform?

Our IaC experts have built infrastructure for 100+ organizations across AWS, Azure, and GCP. Let us help you implement Infrastructure as Code best practices.

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