Training Info
This training focuses on the transition from manual, error-prone deployments to repeatable, version-controlled Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and automated workflows. The curriculum addresses the architectural decisions behind modular code design, idempotent scripting, and the integration of security guardrails directly into CI/CD pipelines. The focus remains on building production-ready automation that reduces technical debt and eliminates configuration drift.
Delivery & Duration
Two primary formats are available to align with team expertise and automation goals. Both are delivered online (live) or in-person.
- The 1-Day Fast-Track: Optimized for senior engineers and leads. Focus is placed on automation strategy, tool selection (Bicep/Terraform), and the architectural principles of declarative infrastructure.
- The Multi-Day Implementation Intensive: Includes end-to-end hands-on labs, building multi-stage pipelines, and solving complex scenarios involving state management, drift detection, and automated validation.
- Modular Delivery: Options exist to split sessions into 4-hour blocks to allow teams to apply concepts to their own repositories between sessions.
Program Curriculum
Module 1: Automation Strategy & IaC Fundamentals
- The transition from Imperative scripting to Declarative infrastructure models.
- Idempotency and Immutability: Why “Repeatability” is the primary goal.
- Tooling landscape: Deep dive into Bicep, ARM, and the role of Azure CLI/PowerShell.
- Git-first workflows: Version control as the “Single Source of Truth” for infrastructure.
- Understanding the lifecycle of a resource: From initial deploy to Day-2 updates.
Module 2: Modular IaC Design & State Management
- Modular template design: Building reusable, parameter-driven infrastructure units.
- Handling environment-specific configurations (Dev/Test/Prod) without code duplication.
- State and Drift Detection: Managing the gap between code and reality.
- Secure handling of parameters and secrets using Azure Key Vault integration.
- Workload Identity & OIDC: Modern, secret-less authentication for automation tasks.
Module 3: Operational Scripting & Task Automation
- Advanced PowerShell and Azure CLI: When to script vs. when to use IaC.
- Error handling, logging, and robust authentication patterns for long-running tasks.
- Combining imperative logic with declarative deployments for complex migrations.
- Cross-platform automation: Managing resources across Windows, Linux, and Cloud Shell.
- Building idempotent scripts that safely handle pre-existing resource states.
Module 4: CI/CD Pipelines & DevOps Integration
- Integrating IaC into GitHub Actions and Azure DevOps pipelines.
- Multi-stage deployment workflows: Validation, Linting, and Preview (What-If).
- Policy-as-Code: Integrating Azure Policy and compliance checks into the pipeline.
- Automation triggers: Webhooks, Runbooks, and Logic App integration.
- Pipeline governance: Protecting production environments through branch policies and approvals.
Key Takeaways
Participants will be equipped to:
- Eliminate Manual Tasks: Replace “Click-Ops” with version-controlled, automated deployments.
- Build Reusable Code: Design modular IaC libraries that can be shared across the entire organization.
- Implement Secure Pipelines: Deploy infrastructure using secret-less authentication and automated security validation.
- Manage Configuration Drift: Use automation to detect and remediate unauthorized changes to production environments.
Next Steps
Technical leads are available to adjust the depth of these modules based on current automation maturity and preferred tooling (e.g., Bicep vs. Terraform).
Both options go directly to tech personnel; no sales funnel, no account managers.