Curriculum Overview685 words
Secure Cloud Resource Deployment with Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
Use infrastructure as code (IaC) to deploy cloud resources consistently and securely across accounts (for example, CloudFormation stack sets, third-party IaC tools, CloudFormation Guard, cfn-lint).
Secure Cloud Resource Deployment with Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
This curriculum provides a comprehensive roadmap for mastering Infrastructure as Code (IaC) within the AWS ecosystem. The focus is on achieving consistent, secure, and automated deployments across multiple accounts and regions using AWS native and third-party tools.
Prerequisites
Before beginning this curriculum, students should possess the following foundational knowledge and access:
- AWS Core Services: Proficiency in basic AWS resource types, including VPCs, EC2, S3, and IAM.
- Configuration Languages: A solid understanding of JSON and YAML syntax, as these are the primary formats for CloudFormation templates.
- Command Line Proficiency: Familiarity with the AWS CLI for resource management and tool execution.
- Identity Management: Knowledge of IAM roles and policies, specifically how to grant the CloudFormation service permission to create resources on your behalf.
- Account Management: A high-level understanding of AWS Organizations and the concept of management vs. member accounts.
Module Breakdown
| Module | Title | Topic Focus | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CloudFormation Fundamentals | Stacks, Templates, JSON/YAML, Resource Provisioning | Beginner |
| 2 | Multi-Account Scaling | CloudFormation StackSets, Target Accounts, Organizational Units | Intermediate |
| 3 | Security & Linting | cfn-lint, Syntax Validation, Best Practice Enforcement | Intermediate |
| 4 | Policy as Code | CloudFormation Guard, Proactive Compliance, Custom Rule Writing | Advanced |
| 5 | Governance Integration | AWS Control Tower, Landing Zones, AWS Config Integration | Advanced |
Learning Objectives per Module
Module 1: CloudFormation Fundamentals
- Define the anatomy of a CloudFormation template (Resources, Parameters, Outputs).
- Deploy single-account resources using the AWS Management Console and CLI.
- Manage the resource lifecycle by updating and deleting stacks safely.
Module 2: Multi-Account Scaling
- Configure a StackSet from a central administrator account.
- Deploy resources across multiple AWS Regions and Accounts simultaneously.
- Implement automatic deployment to new accounts joining an Organizational Unit (OU).
Module 3: Security & Linting
- Validate templates using
cfn-lintto catch syntax errors and non-standard configurations before deployment. - Integrate linting into a CI/CD pipeline to ensure code quality.
Module 4: Policy as Code
- Draft compliance rules using CloudFormation Guard DSL (Domain Specific Language).
- Perform