Infrastructure as Code FAQ: Top Questions

Terraform Cloud and Terraform CLI both enable Infrastructure as Code, but they serve different use cases. The CLI is a local, manual option ideal for solo developers, while Terraform Cloud provides a collaborative, managed service for teams.

🗺️ Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Use Terraform CLI for local testing, quick experiments, and solo projects.
2. Use Terraform Cloud when you need collaboration, state management, role-based access, audit logs, and policy enforcement.
3. To migrate to Terraform Cloud, set up a workspace and configure a backend using the remote backend.

📥 Example Input:

# backend.tf
terraform {
  backend "remote" {
    organization = "your-org"

    workspaces {
      name = "prod-env"
    }
  }
}

🏆 Expected Output:

Terraform stores state remotely and runs apply securely in Terraform Cloud with team collaboration tools.

📘 Detailed Comparison:

• Terraform CLI:
  • Runs on your local machine
  • Good for small or solo projects
  • Requires you to manage state, security, and access control
• Terraform Cloud:
  • Provides remote state management and locking
  • Built-in VCS integration and UI
  • RBAC, team management, private module registry, and Sentinel policies
  • Free and paid plans available

🛠️ Use Cases:

• Solo developer: CLI for quick provisioning and testing
• DevOps teams: Cloud for collaboration, access control, automation
• Regulated environments: Cloud for auditability and policy enforcement
• Remote teams: Cloud to centralize operations and workflows