Terraform vs. CloudFormation: A Comprehensive Comparison for Migrating to AWS

DevSecOps | Automation | Provisioning | Amazon | Iac |

Infrastructure as code (IAC) is an increasingly popular approach to managing and provisioning infrastructure, and two of the most commonly used tools in this area are Terraform and CloudFormation. Both tools allow you to automate the creation and management of cloud infrastructure, but they differ in their approach, capabilities, and target audience. In this article, we will compare Terraform and CloudFormation, and discuss which tool is better when migrating an on-prem environment to AWS.

Terraform and CloudFormation compared:

Terraform is an open-source IAC tool that supports a wide range of cloud providers, including AWS. It uses a declarative syntax, known as HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL), to describe the desired state of resources. Terraform is highly extensible and can be used to manage a diverse set of infrastructure, from cloud to on-premises resources.

CloudFormation, on the other hand, is an AWS-specific tool that allows you to manage AWS resources through a JSON or YAML template. It’s tightly integrated with other AWS services, has good support for AWS resource types, and is well-suited for use within AWS environments.

Ease of use and flexibility:

The ease of use of Terraform and CloudFormation can depend on individual preferences and needs. Terraform’s declarative syntax can be easier to understand for some users compared to JSON/YAML templates. Terraform also has a wider range of supported resource types and cloud providers, making it a good choice for managing multi-cloud infrastructures.

CloudFormation uses JSON or YAML templates to define infrastructure, which can be easily read and understood by developers familiar with these formats. CloudFormation also integrates well with other AWS services, which can make it easier to manage AWS resources.

Support and community:

Both Terraform and CloudFormation have strong support from their respective communities and companies. Terraform, being an open-source tool, has a large…