InfrastrukturStacks

InfrastrukturStacks is a framework used to design and operate complex information technology infrastructure by composing standardized, reusable stacks. It aims to provide repeatable, auditable configurations that can be deployed across different environments, such as public clouds, private clouds, and on-premises data centers. The concept is commonly associated with platform engineering and multi-cloud strategies in German-speaking IT communities.

A typical InfrastrukturStack comprises multiple layers with defined interfaces: the infrastructure layer handles compute, storage, networking, and identity; the platform layer provides services such as databases, message buses, caching, and runtime platforms; the application layer hosts services and APIs; and an operational layer covers monitoring, logging, incident response, and cost management. A security and governance layer enforces policy, access control, compliance, and risk management. Interfaces and contracts between layers enable plug-and-play components and reduce coupling.

Practices central to InfrastrukturStacks include Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for provisioning, GitOps for deployment, and policy-as-code for governance. Immutability, automatic testing, blue/green or canary deployments, and standardized runbooks are common patterns. Tools frequently involved include IaC engines, configuration management, container orchestration, and observability stacks.

Benefits include faster and safer delivery, consistent security baselines, improved collaboration between developers and operators, and easier cost control. Challenges involve managing complexity, maintaining multiple versions of modules, preventing drift, and cultivating the required skills across teams.

See also: Infrastructure as Code, GitOps, platform engineering, cloud governance.