8. Automation

Question 1

Term for using code to define, deploy, configure, update, and remove infrastructure

Answer 1

Infrastructure as Code
(IaC)

Question 2

Name four benefits of IaC

Answer 2

• Speed & Safety
• Reusability
• Versioning & documentation
• Validation

Question 3

What is the AWS IaC service?

Answer 3

CloudFormation

Question 4

Where is CloudFormation IaC code stored?

Answer 4

In template files.

Those files should be stored in a repository.

Question 5

CloudFormation templates can be written in what formats?

Answer 5

JSON & YAML

Question 6

Like the CLI and Console, running a CloudFormation template does it’s work via ____________ .

Answer 6

API calls to AWS services

Question 7

Is there a cost for using CloudFormation?

Answer 7

No, only for the resources you create with it.

Question 8

How are environment-specific details configured when using CloudFormation?

Answer 8

By defining parameters in the template file.

Question 9

How can manually-created resources be added to CloudFormation control?

Answer 9

CloudFormation’s
resource import

Question 10

The three things you work with in CloudFormation:

Answer 10

• Templates
• Stacks
• Change Sets

Question 11

What is a CloudFormation stack?

Answer 11

Related resources managed as a single unit.

Question 12

Can a CloudFormation stack be partially created?

Answer 12

No. All stack resources must all be created successfully.
If a stack resource can’t be created, CloudFormation rolls the stack back and
deletes any other resources that were created.

Question 13

How do you modify an existing CloudFormation stack?

Answer 13

• Run a modified template
  and/or
• Provide new parameter values at runtime.

Question 14

What is a CloudFormation
change set ?

Answer 14

The diff CloudFormation generates when changes are submitted for an existing stack.

Question 15

How are cross-stack references created in CloudFormation?

Answer 15

Through Outputs

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AWSCloudFormation/latest/UserGuide/outputs-section-structure.html

Question 16

What is the recommended way to organize AWS resources into mulitple CloudFormation stacks?

Answer 16

By lifecycle and ownership .

This allows teams to group resources with similar lifecycles and to update them independently of other teams’ resources.

Question 17

What is AWS Solutions Library?

Answer 17

Solutions created by AWS (or AWS Partners) for various common use cases, and vetted by AWS Architects.

They include aids like reference architectures, CloudFormation templates, deployment guides and scripts.

https://aws.amazon.com/solutions/

Question 18

What is AWS Cloud
Development Kit (CDK)?

REV

Answer 18

A framework for using common programming languages to create and deploy CloudFormation templates.

Provides resources preconfigured according to best practices.

Question 19

What does AWS Systems Manager enable?

Answer 19

AWS System Manager enables:
* Creation of logical groups of AWS resources.
* Observability and investigation of resource groups.
* Change management and change automation of resource groups.

https://docs.aws.amazon.com/systems-manager/latest/userguide/what-is-systems-manager.html

Question 20

What is Elastic Beanstalk

Answer 20

• You just provide your code.
• Like Lambda for persistent applications

Question 21

What is Amazon CodeWhisperer?

Answer 21

• Analyzes your comments and code in your IDE
• Generates code suggestions, including complete functions.
• Scans code for security vulnerabilities.