Handling cloud infrastructure can be challenging, especially for companies with complex and evolving needs. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools become essential in this situation. They enable you to automate the establishment and administration of your cloud assets. Two popular IaC solutions are ARM Templates and Terraform. This blog will delve into ARM Templates vs Terraform and help you determine which one best suits your business needs.

What are ARM Templates?

ARM Templates provide the infrastructure and setup of your Azure assets. These templates enable you to define the resources you wish to set up. ARM Templates are native Azure solutions developed and supported by Microsoft.

What is Terraform?

Terraform employs its domain-specific language (DSL) to create and handle infrastructure assets across many cloud providers. It lets you declaratively describe your desired infrastructure state and automatically provision and manage the necessary resources.

Key Differences: ARM Templates vs Terraform

After understanding the general overview of both, let's now delve into the key differences of ARM Templates vs Terraform.

Cloud Provider Support

ARM Templates are explicitly designed for Azure and can only manage resources within the Azure ecosystem.

Terraform is cloud-agnostic and works with a variety of cloud providers. It enables you to handle infrastructure on many platforms.

Language and Syntax

ARM Templates use JSON syntax, which can be more verbose and less readable than Terraform's DSL.

Terraform's DSL is designed to be more human-readable and easier to write and maintain.

State Management

ARM Templates do not have a built-in state management system, making it more challenging to track and manage changes to your infrastructure over time.

Terraform keeps a state file that monitors your infrastructure's current state. It will make it simpler to plan and implement changes.

Community and Ecosystem

ARM Templates have a strong community within the Azure ecosystem, with extensive documentation and support from Microsoft.

Terraform has a large and active open-source community with many community-contributed modules and providers.

Learning Curve

ARM Templates can have a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to Azure and JSON syntax.

Terraform's DSL is generally considered more intuitive and easier to learn, especially for those with experience in other programming languages.

Choosing the Right Solution for Your Business

When deciding between Azure Resource Manager Templates and Terraform, consider the following factors of ARM Templates vs Terraform:

Cloud Provider Strategy

If your business solely relies on Azure, ARM Templates may be a suitable choice, as they are native to the Azure ecosystem and potentially offer tighter integration with Azure services.

If you have a multi-cloud strategy or plan to diversify your cloud infrastructure in the future, Terraform's cross-platform support can be advantageous. It enables you to manage resources across several cloud providers using a consistent toolkit.

Team Skills and Experience

If your team has extensive experience with Azure and JSON syntax, ARM Templates may be a natural fit and require less upfront training.

Terraform's DSL may be easier to adopt and maintain if your team is more comfortable with programming languages and general-purpose configuration languages.

Infrastructure Complexity

For simpler infrastructure deployments within Azure, ARM Templates can be a straightforward solution.

As your infrastructure grows in complexity, spanning multiple cloud providers or requiring advanced features like state management, Terraform may provide a more scalable and flexible approach.

Community Support and Ecosystem

ARM Templates may be the preferred choice if your business heavily relies on Azure services and requires extensive support and documentation from Microsoft.

Terraform's ecosystem may better suit your needs if you value an active open-source community, third-party integrations, and a wide range of community-contributed modules and providers.

Conclusion

Navigating the world of cloud infrastructure management can be a complex journey, and the decision between ARM Templates and Terraform should be driven by your company's unique requirements, capabilities, and strategic vision. While ARM Templates offer a streamlined path for Azure-centric deployments, Terraform's cross-platform flexibility and vibrant ecosystem may prove invaluable as your business scales and embraces the multi-cloud future. Partnering with experienced Azure consulting services can provide invaluable guidance in evaluating your needs and implementing the most suitable solution from ARM Templates vs Terraform.

Arm Templates vs Terraform: Which Iac Tool Is Right for You