Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Infrastructure as Code and Terraform
- IaC concepts and their advantages for on-premises and hybrid environments.
- Terraform overview: providers, resources, state management, and lifecycle.
- Installation of Terraform, Azure CLI, and other necessary tools.
- First practical exercise: creating and applying a basic local Terraform configuration.
Module 2: HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and Configuration Basics
- HCL syntax, resource definitions, attributes, and expressions.
- Variables, outputs, local values, and type constraints.
- Utilizing the Terraform CLI: init, plan, apply, destroy, and fmt commands.
- Practical lab: developing a parameterized configuration for both an on-prem resource and an Azure resource.
Module 3: Providers, Resources, and Azure Provider Fundamentals
- Understanding providers and configuring them (specifically the AzureRM provider).
- Mapping infrastructure components to Terraform resources (networking, compute, and storage).
- Managing Azure authentication and service principals for automation.
- Practical exercise: provisioning an Azure virtual network and a basic VM via Terraform.
Module 4: State Management, Backends, and Collaboration
- Terraform state: its purpose, format, and lifecycle implications.
- Using remote backends with Azure Storage Accounts and implementing state locking strategies.
- Workspaces, environments, and collaborative patterns for teams.
- Lab: configuring remote state in Azure Storage and executing a multi-user workflow.
Module 5: Modularization, Reusability, and Best Practices
- Creating and utilizing Terraform modules.
- Module inputs/outputs, versioning, and registry patterns.
- Directory layout, naming conventions, and maintaining a structured repository.
- Practical exercise: building a reusable module for an Azure VM with disk and network, then testing it across different environments.
Module 6: Managing Azure Virtual Devices and On-Prem Integration
- Managing Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Desktop components, and device lifecycles via Terraform.
- Strategies for hybrid device management: linking on-prem resources with Azure-managed devices.
- Integrating storage or device management systems through data sources and external providers.
- Lab: deploying an Azure VM fleet representing operator units, and configuring inventory tagging and basic monitoring.
Module 7: CI/CD, Automation, and Deployment Pipelines
- Integrating Terraform with CI/CD systems (GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps pipelines).
- Automating plan/apply processes using secured secrets and service principals.
- Basics of Policy as Code (Sentinel or Open Policy Agent patterns) and pre-deployment checks.
- Practical exercise: creating a GitHub Actions workflow to plan and apply Terraform against a sandbox subscription.
Module 8: Security, Secrets, and Operational Practices
- Secrets management: Azure Key Vault integration and preventing sensitive data from appearing in state files.
- Access control, RBAC, and applying least privilege for automation accounts.
- Drift detection, state reconciliation, and basic remediation practices.
- Checklist: backup, auditing, and governance for Terraform-managed infrastructure.
Module 9: Testing, Debugging, and Troubleshooting
- Debugging Terraform configurations and interpreting plan diffs effectively.
- Approaches for unit and integration testing (terraform validate, tflint, kitchen-terraform).
- Common error patterns and strategies for resolution.
- Lab: running validation and linting tools to identify and fix issues.
Module 10: Capstone Project — Hybrid Deployment Scenario
- Design exercise: planning an on-prem and Azure device deployment using acquired patterns.
- Implementing core components using modules, remote state, and CI/CD pipeline snippets.
- Presenting the solution, discussing trade-offs, and reviewing the operational runbook.
Summary and Next Steps
Requirements
- A foundational grasp of basic networking and virtualization concepts.
- Experience using Windows or Linux command-line interfaces.
- Basic awareness of cloud or on-premises infrastructure principles.
Target Audience
- System administrators and platform engineers.
- DevOps practitioners starting their journey with Infrastructure as Code.
- IT teams responsible for managing hybrid (on-prem and Azure) infrastructure.
Testimonials (3)
pacing for the most part was fantastic. Michal was very good at ensuring the audience were engaged and ensured everyone was following along for the most part
Asif Shaikh - Carpmaels & Ransford
Course - Terraform on Microsoft Azure
Checking all the details in practice - by writing real code
Michal Pipala - EY
Course - Advanced Terraform: Efficient Infrastructure as Code
the instructor was very well prepared
