Dreamware / Services / Cloud & Architecture / Infrastructure as Code
Infrastructure as Code
Terraform, Pulumi, automated environments.
About this service
Infrastructure as Code is the practice of managing infrastructure through version-controlled configuration files rather than manual processes. It's the difference between infrastructure that can be recreated in minutes and infrastructure that requires institutional knowledge and careful manual steps to reproduce.
We implement IaC using Terraform for most projects — it has the widest provider support and is the most widely understood in the NZ market. For teams who want to use general-purpose programming languages for their infrastructure, we use Pulumi. We avoid vendor-specific IaC tools (like CloudFormation) that create lock-in without corresponding benefit.
The goal isn't just to codify the current state — it's to create infrastructure that can be reliably reproduced across environments, safely changed with confidence, and reviewed by the team like any other code. We set up the patterns and guardrails that make this sustainable.
How Dreamware approaches this
We assess the current infrastructure state — whether it's manual, partially coded, or using an existing IaC approach that needs improvement. We then design the module structure and state management approach before writing a line of Terraform.
We implement IaC incrementally, importing existing resources where possible rather than recreating them (which would cause downtime). We set up remote state management, locking, and the CI pipeline that runs plan on pull requests and applies on merge. We write modules at the right level of abstraction — not so generic they're hard to understand, not so specific they can't be reused.
What you get
- IaC codebase — complete Terraform or Pulumi configuration for your infrastructure
- Module library — reusable modules for common patterns in your environment
- CI/CD pipeline — automated plan and apply workflow with appropriate approval gates
- State management setup — remote state with locking and access controls
- Environment parity — dev, staging, and production environments managed from the same code
- Documentation — module documentation and operational guide for common tasks
Investment guide
IaC implementation projects typically run $12,000–$40,000 NZD. Greenfield IaC setup for a straightforward cloud environment runs $12,000–$20,000. Importing and codifying complex existing infrastructure with multiple environments and services sits higher. IaC review and improvement engagements for teams with existing but problematic IaC start at $6,000.
All pricing in NZD excluding GST. Fixed-price engagements where scope allows — we'll confirm pricing after a free scoping conversation.
Ready to get started?
Book a free conversation. We'll tell you honestly what's realistic, what it costs, and how we'd approach it.