OpenTofu and Azure up and running

In this video, I get OpenTofu and Azure up and running from scratch and walk through a practical infrastructure as code workflow that can be used as the foundation for real cloud deployments. I focus on the core setup steps, the provider configuration, authentication, project structure, and the first deployment cycle so I can move from an empty environment to managed Azure resources with a repeatable and versionable process.

OpenTofu is a strong open source option for infrastructure as code, and Azure provides a huge range of services for building production systems, internal platforms, development environments, and automation pipelines. In this video, I bring those two together and show how I can define cloud resources in code, initialize the project, validate the configuration, create an execution plan, and apply the changes in Azure. I also cover the basic workflow that matters in day to day use, including how I think about state, resource organization, and keeping the configuration readable as the project grows.

A specific technical use case I cover is provisioning the foundation for a lightweight internal application environment in Azure. That includes using OpenTofu to define a resource group, networking components, and supporting cloud resources that could serve as the base layer for a small web application or internal API. This kind of setup is useful when I want a repeatable dev or test environment that can be recreated consistently across teams, subscriptions, or stages such as development, staging, and production. Instead of creating resources manually in the Azure portal, I can manage the environment declaratively, review changes before deployment, and keep the infrastructure aligned with source control.

I also spend time on the practical side of getting started, which is often the part that blocks people the most. That means making sure the local environment is ready, understanding how OpenTofu interacts with Azure, and making the first deployment smooth enough that I can build on it confidently. Once the basics are in place, it becomes much easier to expand the configuration to include compute, storage, identity integrations, security rules, and automation for more advanced scenarios.

This video is useful if I want to learn OpenTofu with Azure, understand the first steps of Azure infrastructure as code, or compare an open source workflow for provisioning cloud resources. It is also relevant if I am moving away from manual Azure setup and want a cleaner, more repeatable approach for cloud provisioning. The workflow shown here can help with reducing configuration drift, improving consistency between environments, and making infrastructure changes easier to review and maintain over time.

Topics covered in this video include:
- setting up OpenTofu for Azure
- configuring the Azure provider
- organizing infrastructure as code files
- initializing and validating the project
- planning and applying Azure resources
- understanding the deployment workflow
- building a reusable base for future Azure automation

If I am working in cloud engineering, devops, platform engineering, site reliability, or backend development, this setup can fit naturally into a modern delivery pipeline. OpenTofu can be used alongside Git-based workflows, CI/CD automation, and environment promotion strategies, making it easier to manage Azure infrastructure in a controlled and scalable way. Even for smaller projects, having infrastructure defined in code helps create a stronger foundation for collaboration, auditing, and long term maintenance.

If I am learning Azure, experimenting with OpenTofu, or building my own cloud lab, this video gives me a clear starting point for deploying and managing Azure resources with code. It is designed to be practical, direct, and focused on getting to a working result that I can extend for my own projects.

#opentofu #azure #infrastructureascode #devops #terraformalternative #cloudautomation #azurecloud

Видео OpenTofu and Azure up and running канала Mike Møller Nielsen