INFRASTRUCTURE AUTOMATION IN CLOUD COMPUTING: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF TECHNOLOGIES, IMPLEMENTATION PATTERNS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL IMPACT

Abstract

Infrastructure automation has emerged as a fundamental paradigm shift in modern cloud computing, transforming how organizations deploy, manage, and scale their IT environments. This comprehensive article examines infrastructure automation technologies' evolution, implementation patterns, and organizational impact in contemporary cloud architectures. Through systematic analysis of current tools, methodologies, and industry practices, this article explores the intersection of Infrastructure as Code (IaC), configuration management, and automated orchestration in multi-cloud environments. The article investigates key automation frameworks, including Terraform, Ansible, and Chef, evaluating their effectiveness in addressing critical challenges such as deployment efficiency, error reduction, and operational scalability. Furthermore, it examines the implications of automation on disaster recovery, security compliance, and business agility. The findings reveal significant correlations between infrastructure automation adoption and operational efficiency while highlighting crucial considerations for successful implementation. This article contributes to the growing body of knowledge in cloud computing by providing a structured framework for understanding infrastructure automation's role in modern IT environments and offering practical insights for practitioners and researchers.