# Day 51: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and CloudFormation

Infrastructure as code (IaC) is a process that allows developers and operations teams to manage and provision infrastructure through code rather than manual processes. With IaC, infrastructure resources can be managed using configuration files and automation tools, resulting in faster, more consistent, and more reliable infrastructure deployments.

One of the most popular IaC tools is AWS CloudFormation, it allows operations, devops, & developers to define infrastructure resources using templates in YAML or JSON format. These templates can be version-controlled and shared across teams, allowing for easy collaboration and reducing the likelihood of configuration drift.

![](images/day51-1.png)  

CloudFormation offers a number of benefits for those looking to implement IaC. One key advantage is the ability to automate infrastructure deployment and management, which saves time and reduces the risk of human error. By using CloudFormation, developers and operations teams can define infrastructure resources such as virtual machines, databases, and networking configurations, and then deploy them in a repeatable and consistent way.

Another benefit of using CloudFormation is the ability to track changes to infrastructure resources. When a change is made to a CloudFormation template, the service can automatically update the resources to reflect the new configuration. This ensures that all resources are kept in sync and reduces the likelihood of configuration errors.

CloudFormation also provides the ability to manage dependencies between resources. This means that resources can be provisioned in the correct order and with the correct configuration, reducing the likelihood of errors and making the deployment process more efficient.

In addition to these benefits, CloudFormation also offers a range of other features, such as the ability to roll back changes and the ability to create templates that can be used to deploy entire applications. These features make it easier to manage infrastructure resources and ensure that deployments are consistent and reliable.

## Resources:

[What is AWS CloudFormation? Pros & Cons?](https://youtu.be/0Sh9OySCyb4)

[CloudFormation Tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/live/gJjHK28b0cM)

[AWS CloudFormation User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/Welcome.html)

[AWS CloudFormation Getting Started step-by-step guides](https://aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/getting-started/) 

See you in [Day 52](day52.md).