Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has moved beyond buzzword status to become a fundamental practice for modern network operations. After implementing IaC practices across multiple enterprises, I’ve developed strong opinions on what works and what doesn’t.

The Real Value Proposition

The true value of IaC isn’t just automation – it’s bringing software engineering discipline to infrastructure management:

1. Version control provides audit history and rollback capabilities
2. Peer review improves quality and knowledge sharing
3. Testing catches issues before they reach production
4. Modularity enables reuse and standardization

Common Implementation Mistakes

Organizations often stumble when adopting IaC by:

• Automating without standardizing
• Failing to invest in testing frameworks
• Not establishing clear governance models
• Overlooking the human/process transformation needed

Pragmatic Adoption Strategy

For network teams considering IaC adoption:

1. Start with simple, high-value use cases
2. Build a foundation of basic tooling and skills
3. Document everything (but in code when possible)
4. Implement continuous testing early
5. Create modular, reusable components

Remember that successful IaC adoption is as much about culture change as it is about technology. Teams that recognize and address both aspects will achieve significantly better results than those focused purely on tools.