Which file manages IaC in a serverless framework?

In a Serverless Framework project, the configuration for your Infrastructure as Code (IAC) is typically managed in a file named serverless.yml. This YAML file serves as the main configuration file for your serverless application and defines the AWS Lambda functions, API Gateway endpoints, event triggers, and other AWS resources that your application requires. You can specify various settings and properties for each function and resource within this file.

Here’s a basic example of what a serverless.yml file might look like:

service: my-serverless-app
provider:
  name: aws
  runtime: nodejs14.x
  stage: dev
  region: us-east-1

functions:
  hello:
    handler: handler.hello
    events:
      - http:
          path: hello
          method: get

In this example, the serverless.yml file defines a service named "my-serverless-app" that uses AWS Lambda with Node.js 14.x runtime. It also specifies a single Lambda function named "hello" that is triggered by an HTTP GET request on the "/hello" endpoint.

You can use the Serverless Framework CLI to deploy and manage your serverless application based on the configuration defined in the serverless.yml file.

Infrastructure as Code (IAC) frameworks are tools and systems used for managing and provisioning infrastructure and cloud resources using code or declarative configurations. These frameworks enable developers and operations teams to automate the deployment and management of infrastructure, making it more predictable, efficient, and scalable.

Best Practices for IAC

Code Hygiene and Organization

• Modularity: Break down your infrastructure code into reusable modules for different components or services, promoting code reusability and maintainability.
• Comments and Documentation: Include clear comments and documentation to explain the purpose and usage of resources and configurations within your IAC code.
• Consistent Naming: Adopt a consistent naming convention for resources, making it easier to manage and identify them.
• Version Control: Use a version control system (e.g., Git) to track changes to your IAC code, enabling collaboration and rollbacks when needed.

Testing and Validation

• Unit Testing: Write unit tests for your IAC code to ensure that individual resource configurations are correct.
• Integration Testing: Conduct integration tests to verify that your entire infrastructure deployment works as expected.
• Linting and Static Analysis: Use linters and static analysis tools specific to your IAC framework to catch syntax errors and potential issues early in the development process.
• Continuous Testing: Incorporate automated testing into your CI/CD pipeline to catch issues before deploying to production.

Secrets Management

• Avoid Hardcoding Secrets: Never hardcode sensitive information such as API keys or passwords in your IAC code.
• Use Secrets Managers: Utilize secrets management tools and services (e.g., AWS Secrets Manager, HashiCorp Vault) to securely store and retrieve sensitive data.
• Environment Variables: Store secrets as environment variables or use parameterized values that can be injected during deployment.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Integration

• Automated Builds: Set up automated builds triggered by code changes in your version control system.
• Pipeline Orchestration: Create CI/CD pipelines that include stages for building, testing, and deploying your IAC code.
• Immutable Infrastructure: Promote the practice of creating and deploying immutable infrastructure, where each change results in a new, versioned deployment.

Infrastructure Drift Detection and Remediation

• Configuration Management: Implement configuration management tools and practices to maintain the desired state of your infrastructure.
• Monitoring and Alerts: Set up monitoring and alerting systems to detect changes or deviations from the desired state.
• Automated Remediation: Develop automated scripts or processes to correct infrastructure drift when it occurs.
• Periodic Audits: Conduct periodic audits to ensure that your infrastructure remains consistent with your IAC code.

These best practices help ensure that your IAC deployments are well-organized, secure, reliable, and maintainable throughout their lifecycle. They also contribute to a smoother and more efficient development and operations process.

Source: https://gartsolutions.com/infrastructure-as-code-tools/