- AWS CloudFormation is a service that helps you create and manage AWS resources, allowing you to spend less time on resource management and more time on your applications.
- It uses Infrastructure as Code (IaC) to automate provisioning, eliminating manual management.
- You create a template that describes all the AWS resources you need. The template can be written in JSON or YAML.
- AWS CloudFormation provisions and manages those resources for you based on the template.
- No upfront investment
- Lower operating costs
- Highly scalable
- Easy access
- Reduced business risks and maintenance expenses
- Infrastructure Provisioning: Provides infrastructure as code, enabling repeatable deployments across environments.
- AutoScaling Environments: Infrastructure deployed with CloudFormation includes scaling capabilities for handling load fluctuations.
- Integration with Services: Integrates with CI/CD pipelines like CodePipeline and Jenkins for automated deployments.
- Deployment in Multiple Regions: Enables deployment in multiple regions for disaster recovery and high availability.
- Automation: Automates resource creation, configuration, and management for faster, more reliable deployments.
- Consistency and Standardization: Creates standard templates for consistent infrastructure deployments and easier maintenance.
- Cost Savings: Enables reuse of infrastructure templates across multiple environments, reducing design and deployment costs.
- Security: Enforces security policies and rules during resource provisioning.
- Scalability: Allows quick and easy resource scaling based on demand.
- Templates are written in JSON or YAML, describing AWS resources in a structured format.
- A JSON template includes sections like Format Version, Description, Metadata, Parameters, Mappings, Conditions, Transform, Resources, and Output.
- Template: A JSON or YAML file defining AWS resources to be created and configured.
- Stacks: A collection of resources defined in a CloudFormation template, deployed as a single unit.
- Formatting: Templates use either JSON or YAML, with YAML being more concise and readable.
- Change Sets: Allows you to preview changes to deployed resources before an update operation, ensuring safe modifications.
- Functions: Built-in functions like
Fn::Sub and Fn::Join enable dynamic configuration and property adjustments during deployment.
- Parameters: Provide a way to customize templates during stack deployment, allowing for flexibility and reusability.
- Conditions: Define rules for resource creation based on specific conditions, allowing for conditional deployments.
- Terraform: Open-source IaC tool supporting multi-cloud deployments.
- Pulumi: IaC tool that uses familiar programming languages for infrastructure management.
- AWS Management Console: User-friendly interface for template deployment.
- CloudFormation Designer: Visual drag-and-drop interface for building and modifying templates.
- AWS CLI: Command-line tool for deploying templates, suitable for automation and CI/CD integration.
- Hooks help maintain compliance by proactively checking resource configuration before provisioning.
- They can block non-compliant deployments or issue warnings.
- Automatic Compliance Checking: Ensures resources meet organizational standards.
- Personalized Checks: Allows creating custom checks for specific compliance needs.
- Managing Resource Life cycles: Tracks resources from creation to deletion, enforcing compliance throughout.
- Cost Optimization: Enforces cost-saving guidelines and limits resource usage.
- Enhanced Security: Enforces strict security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
- Use a Pre-built Template: Choose an existing template or a sample template provided by AWS and customize it.
- Start Building Your Own From Scratch: Create a template from scratch using JSON or YAML, or use Application Composer for a visual approach.