cloud automation

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Categories: Cloud

Cloud automation is a broad term that refers to the processes and tools an organization uses to reduce the manual efforts associated with provisioning and managing cloud computing workloads. When implemented properly, cloud automation decreases human error and can save an information technology team time and money.

One of the most common use cases for cloud automation is to deploy Infrastructure as Code (IAC). This approach to deploying applications allows developers or operations teams to automatically manage and provision the technology stack for an app through software, rather than using a manual process to configure discrete hardware devices and operating systems. When the infrastructure is composable, it also negates the need for IT administrators to be concerned with the physical location of infrastructure components for distributed apps.

In addition to helping with deployments, cloud automation can be used to help administrators manage workload. For example, an automated tool might be configured to monitor a deployed workload’s performance and scale resources up and down as needed.

To implement cloud automation, an information technology (IT) team needs to use orchestration and automation tools that run on top of their virtualized environment. Orchestration involves codifying the various steps and processes involved workload deployment and management, while automation involves invoking those steps without human intervention.

Examples of common cloud automation tools include Puppet Enterprise from Puppet Labs, Chef Automate from Chef, the Automic platform from CA Technologies and the Pure-play Application Orchestration platform from Cloudify. Automation services from public cloud providers include Microsoft Azure Automation and the Automation feature in AWS’ Elastic Compute Cloud Systems Manager.