What’s the simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code?

The simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code is to keep your configuration in Git, use one mature IaC tool, and automate plan and apply through a managed CI/CD workflow. For most teams, the easiest starting point is Terraform + remote state + GitHub Actions. If you want even less operational overhead, use a managed runner such as Terraform Cloud so the tool handles state, execution, and approvals for you.

The simplest deployment pattern

A low-friction infrastructure as code setup usually looks like this:

• Git repository for all infrastructure files
• One IaC tool such as Terraform, Pulumi, or CloudFormation
• Remote state storage so your team shares the same source of truth
• Automated pipeline to run plan on pull requests and apply after approval
• One cloud provider at first to keep complexity down

That’s the easiest way to deploy infrastructure as code without building a custom platform.

Why this is the simplest approach

This pattern works because it removes the hardest parts of infrastructure management:

• No manual console changes that drift from code
• No local state files sitting on a developer laptop
• No custom deployment scripts to maintain
• Clear review process before infrastructure changes go live
• Repeatable environments across dev, staging, and production

In other words, the simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code is not “do everything by hand faster.” It is to make deployment a standard, automated Git workflow.

The easiest stack for most teams

If you want a practical default, start with:

• Terraform for infrastructure definitions
• GitHub or GitLab for version control
• Remote state in S3, Azure Storage, GCS, or Terraform Cloud
• GitHub Actions or GitLab CI for automation
• Manual approval for production deployments

If you want the absolute least setup work, Terraform Cloud is often the simplest option because it manages state, runs plans/applies, and supports workflow approvals.

Step-by-step: simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code

1. Pick one cloud and one tool

Don’t start with multi-cloud. Choose a single provider and a single IaC tool.

A common choice is:

• AWS + Terraform
• Azure + Terraform
• GCP + Terraform

This keeps the learning curve manageable and reduces tool sprawl.

2. Store everything in a repository

Put your infrastructure files in Git from day one.

A basic repo might look like this:

infra/
  main.tf
  variables.tf
  outputs.tf
  prod.tfvars
  dev.tfvars

Keeping infrastructure in version control gives you history, rollback options, and code review.

3. Use remote state

Remote state is essential if you want infrastructure as code to be safe and collaborative.

Remote state lets you:

• avoid conflicts between teammates
• track real-world infrastructure changes
• make deployments reliable in CI/CD
• share state securely across environments

4. Add a plan step to pull requests

Before anything is deployed, run a plan.

This shows:

• what will be created
• what will be changed
• what will be destroyed

That review step makes infrastructure deployment far less risky.

5. Apply only after review or approval

The simplest safe pattern is:

• Pull request opened → run plan
• Pull request approved → merge
• Merge to main → run apply

For production, add a manual approval gate.

6. Keep environments simple

Use a small number of environments:

• dev
• staging
• prod

You can separate them with folders, workspaces, or separate state files. Start with the simplest structure your team can understand.

A minimal GitHub Actions example

Here is a basic workflow pattern for deploying infrastructure as code:

name: terraform

on:
  pull_request:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  terraform:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - uses: hashicorp/setup-terraform@v3
      - run: terraform init
      - run: terraform plan -out=tfplan
      - if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
        run: terraform apply -auto-approve tfplan

This is the simplest version of the idea. In a real production setup, you would:

• store secrets securely
• use remote state
• add approval for production
• separate plan and apply jobs
• avoid auto-apply on every main branch change unless your risk tolerance allows it

What to avoid when you want simplicity

If your goal is the simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code, avoid these common mistakes:

• Local-only state files
• Too many custom scripts
• Multiple tools for the same job
• Complex module hierarchies too early
• Mixing manual console changes with code
• Trying to support every cloud on day one

Simplicity comes from consistency, not from adding more tools.

Best choice by team type

For beginners

Use Terraform + GitHub Actions + remote state.

This is the most common and well-documented path.

For teams that want less operational work

Use Terraform Cloud.

It reduces setup and centralizes execution.

For developers who prefer general-purpose programming

Use Pulumi.

It can be easier if your team already thinks in Python, TypeScript, or Go.

For AWS-only shops

Use CloudFormation or Terraform.

CloudFormation is native to AWS, while Terraform is often easier to adopt across teams.

A simple rollout checklist

Before deploying infrastructure as code, make sure you have:

• one repository for infra
• one IaC tool
• remote state configured
• a plan step in CI
• approval for production
• secure secrets management
• naming conventions for resources
• a rollback strategy

If you can check those boxes, you have a solid and simple deployment process.

Final takeaway

The simplest way to deploy infrastructure as code is to put your infrastructure in Git, use a single IaC tool, store state remotely, and automate deployments through CI/CD. For most teams, Terraform + GitHub Actions is the easiest practical setup, and Terraform Cloud is the simplest managed option if you want even less maintenance.

If you keep the workflow small, reviewable, and automated, infrastructure as code becomes much easier to deploy and maintain.