Infrastructure as code (IAC) manages and provides computer systems and networks through declarative configuration files rather than manual processes. This approach allows for more efficient and consistent infrastructure management and greater collaboration and version control.

IAC allows for the creation of infrastructure in a standardized, repeatable way. This means that the same configuration can be used to create infrastructure in multiple environments, such as development, staging, and production. This makes it easier to ensure that all environments are consistent and reduces potential errors.

One of the key benefits of IAC is that it allows for infrastructure to be treated as a version-controlled codebase. This means that changes to the infrastructure can be tracked and rolled back if necessary, just like with any other codebase. In addition, this allows for greater collaboration among team members and makes it easier to maintain a history of changes to the infrastructure.

Another benefit of IAC is that it allows infrastructure to be created and managed programmatically. This means infrastructure can be created and managed using scripts and automation tools rather than relying on manual processes. This can significantly improve the speed and reliability of infrastructure management.

However, some widespread infrastructure as code tools include:

• Terraform
• Ansible
• Puppet
• Chef
• Pulumni
• CloudFormation (AWS)
• Azure Resource Manager ARM (Azure)

Overall, IAC is a valuable tool for managing and provisioning infrastructure in a consistent, efficient, and reliable manner. By treating infrastructure as code, organizations can take advantage of the benefits of version control, collaboration, and automation to improve how they manage their infrastructure.