Course Outline
Module 1: Introduction to Infrastructure as Code and Terraform
- IaC concepts and their benefits for on-premises and hybrid environments.
- Overview of Terraform: providers, resources, state, and lifecycle.
- Installing Terraform, Azure CLI, and other required tools.
- First hands-on exercise: writing a simple Terraform configuration and applying it locally.
Module 2: HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL) and Configuration Basics
- HCL syntax, resources, attributes, and expressions.
- Variables, outputs, locals, and type constraints.
- Using the Terraform CLI: init, plan, apply, destroy, and fmt.
- Hands-on lab: building a parameterized configuration for 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 to Terraform resources (networking, compute, and storage).
- Managing Azure authentication and service principals for automation.
- Hands-on: provisioning an Azure virtual network and a simple VM via Terraform.
Module 4: State Management, Backends, and Collaboration
- Terraform state: its purpose, format, and lifecycle considerations.
- Configuring remote backends with Azure Storage Account and implementing state locking strategies.
- Managing workspaces, environments, and establishing collaboration patterns for teams.
- Lab: configuring remote state in Azure Storage and performing a multi-user workflow.
Module 5: Modularization, Reusability, and Best Practices
- Authoring and consuming Terraform modules.
- Managing module inputs/outputs, versioning, and registry patterns.
- Establishing folder layouts, naming conventions, and a maintainable repository structure.
- Hands-on: creating a reusable module for an Azure VM, disk, and network, and testing it across environments.
Module 6: Managing Azure Virtual Devices and On-Prem Integration
- Managing Azure Virtual Machines, Virtual Desktop components, and device lifecycle via Terraform.
- Patterns for hybrid device management: connecting on-prem resources with Azure-managed devices.
- Integrating volumetric or device management systems through data sources and external providers.
- Lab: deploying an Azure VM fleet representing operator units, configuring inventory tagging, and setting up basic monitoring.
Module 7: CI/CD, Automation, and Deployment Pipelines
- Integrating Terraform with CI/CD tools (such as GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps pipelines).
- Automating plan/apply processes with secured secrets and service principals.
- Basics of Policy as Code (using Sentinel or Open Policy Agent patterns) and pre-deployment checks.
- Hands-on: creating a simple GitHub Actions workflow to plan and apply Terraform against a sandbox subscription.
Module 8: Security, Secrets, and Operational Practices
- Managing secrets: integrating Azure Key Vault and avoiding sensitive data in state files.
- Implementing access control, RBAC, and least privilege principles 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.
- Unit and integration testing approaches (using terraform validate, tflint, and kitchen-terraform).
- Common error patterns and effective resolution strategies.
- Lab: running validation and linting tools and fixing any discovered issues.
Module 10: Capstone Project: Hybrid Deployment Scenario
- Design exercise: planning an on-prem and Azure device deployment using the patterns learned.
- Implementing core components using modules, remote state, and CI/CD pipeline snippets.
- Presenting the solution, discussing trade-offs, and reviewing the operations runbook.
Summary and Next Steps
Requirements
- A solid understanding of basic networking and virtualization concepts.
- Familiarity with Windows or Linux command-line interfaces.
- Basic knowledge of cloud or on-premises infrastructure principles.
Audience
- System administrators and platform engineers.
- DevOps practitioners beginning their journey with Infrastructure as Code.
- IT teams responsible for managing hybrid (on-prem and Azure) infrastructure.
Custom Corporate Training
Training solutions designed exclusively for businesses.
- Customised Content: We adapt the syllabus and practical exercises to the real goals and needs of your project.
- Flexible Schedule: Dates and times adapted to your team's agenda.
- Format: Online (live), In-company (at your offices), or Hybrid.
Price per private group, online live training, starting from £6400 + VAT*
Contact us for an exact quote and to hear our latest promotions
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
