Definition
Infrastructure as Code, or IaC, is the practice of managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools. This approach treats infrastructure like software, allowing it to be version controlled, tested, and deployed automatically. IaC enables faster, more consistent, and repeatable deployments of infrastructure, reducing manual errors and operational overhead. For instance, a team could use IaC to define and deploy a complete web server environment in minutes, complete with load balancers and databases. Unlike manual configuration, IaC ensures that infrastructure is deployed predictably and can be easily rolled back if issues arise. This concept is frequently assessed on cloud certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate and CCSP.