Course Overview

Lab Description:

In this lab, participants will learn to provision an Azure Virtual Machine using Terraform and secure an Apache2 web server with Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates. This setup will utilize Ansible to automate the installation and configuration processes, demonstrating effective DevOps practices for system administrators and developers seeking to enhance web security effortlessly.

Business Context:

ProdxCloud Solutions is a growing tech firm specializing in secure and scalable web applications. As the company expands its services, ensuring the security of web communications becomes crucial. By integrating automation tools like Terraform and Ansible, ProdxCloud aims to streamline its infrastructure provisioning and security processes, enabling faster deployment and consistent management across its web services.

Lab Objective:

To automate the provisioning of an Azure Virtual Machine and the deployment of Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates on Apache2 servers using Terraform and Ansible. This lab will help participants develop skills in infrastructure as code (IaC) and configuration management to secure web applications effectively.

Target Audience:

This lab is intended for:

• DevOps Engineers
• System Administrators
• Web Developers with a focus on deployment and security automation

Prerequisites:

Participants should have:

• Basic knowledge of web servers and SSL/TLS concepts
• Familiarity with Terraform, Ansible, and basic command-line operations
• An Azure account with permission to create virtual machines
• Local installation of Terraform and Ansible

Lab Environment:

• Cloud Provider: Microsoft Azure
• Configuration Management: Ansible
• Infrastructure as Code: Terraform
• Web Server: Apache2 on Ubuntu