Security and Operational Efficiency through tooling at a mobile gaming company
Terraform is an open-source infrastructure as code (IaC) tool that allows you to define and manage your infrastructure as code. It enables you to build, change, and version your infrastructure safely and efficiently. At Live Tech Games, we’ve recently adopted the use of Terraform to ensure that our infrastructure meets the same standards that we’ve set for our games and services.
Infrastructure-as-Code
Azure is a cloud computing platform that offers a wide range of services such as virtual machines, storage, databases, and more. With Terraform and Azure, you can easily define your infrastructure as code and provision it with a single command. Here are some benefits of using Terraform with Azure:
1. Faster Provisioning
Terraform enables you to provision your infrastructure faster than traditional methods. Instead of manually provisioning resources in the Azure portal, you can define your infrastructure as code and use Terraform to provision it. Terraform uses a declarative approach to infrastructure, which means you can specify what you want your infrastructure to look like, and Terraform will take care of the rest.
2. Cheaper Infrastructure
Using Terraform with Azure can also help you save money on your infrastructure costs. Terraform can help you avoid manual errors that can lead to expensive downtime or resources left running unnecessarily. Terraform’s plan feature allows you to see what changes will be made to your infrastructure before they are applied, giving you the ability to optimise your resources and ensure you are only paying for what you need.
3. More Repeatable
Terraform enables you to create a repeatable infrastructure that can be shared, reused, and versioned. With Terraform, you can define your infrastructure as code, store it in version control, and easily replicate it across multiple environments. This means you can create a development environment that matches your production environment, ensuring a more consistent and reliable experience for your customers.
Getting Started with Terraform and Azure
To get started with Terraform and Azure, you will need to have an Azure subscription, the Terraform CLI, and a text editor. Once you have these tools installed, you can begin defining your infrastructure as code using Terraform’s syntax.
Here is an example of how you can use Terraform to provision an Azure resource group:
1. Open your text editor and create a new file called main.tf.
2. Add the following code to your main.tf file:
“`hcl
provider “azurerm” {
features {}
}
resource “azurerm_resource_group” “example” {
name = “myResourceGroup”
location = “UK South”
}
“`
3. Save your main.tf file and open your command line.
4. Navigate to the directory where your main.tf file is located.
5. Run the following commands:
“`bash
terraform init
terraform plan
terraform apply
“`
The first command initializes your Terraform environment, the second command creates a plan of the resources that will be created, and the third command applies the changes to your Azure account. Once the apply command has finished executing, you should see a new resource group in your Azure portal.
To Conclude
Terraform and Azure are a powerful combination for defining and managing your infrastructure as code. Using Terraform with Azure can help you provision your infrastructure faster, save money on your infrastructure costs, and create a more repeatable and reliable infrastructure. If you are new to Terraform or Azure, be sure to check out the official documentation here.
