1. Security Automation
   1. Servers are created using scripts that began from a sourced Master Image template.
   2. Benefits:
      1. Elasticity
      2. Load Balancing
         1. "Distributive Allocation"
      3. Scalability
      4. Resiliency
      5. System Configuration Validation
      6. Reduced Risk
2. Continuous Integration
   1. An approach adopted by DevOps practitioners. Developers following the DevOps and Agile strategies create multiple software releases each day.
3. Infrastructure as Code
   1. Operations teams write scripts that specify a baseline configuration image, and then customize that image to meet more specific requirements.
      1. Baselining
      2. When someone needs a new server they write a script that starts a server instance using the baseline configuration and then automatically configures it to meet the specific functional needs.
   2. Infrastructure as code separates server configuration from specific physical or virtual servers.
   3. This has some clear advantages to the organization:
      1. Scalability
      2. Reduces user error with immutable systems
         1. Immutable Systems
      3. Test Environment / Production Environment Isolation