* [Topics](/en/topics "Topics") * [Automation and management](/en/topics/automation "Automation and management") * What is cloud automation? What is cloud automation? ========================= Published July 25, 2022•*3*-minute read Copy URL Jump to section --------------- What is cloud automation?Why automate clouds?What can be automated?Companies that haveWhy Red Hat? What is cloud automation? ------------------------- Cloud automation uses software to configure, deploy, provision, and manage cloud computing resources and infrastructure. The purpose of cloud automation is to reduce the need for human intervention in these processes, so they’re faster, more efficient, and less error prone. ### Cloud computing [Cloud computing](/en/topics/cloud-computing) is the act of running workloads within clouds—which are IT environments that abstract, pool, and share scalable resources across a [network](/en/topics/hyperconverged-infrastructure/what-is-software-defined-networking). Neither cloud computing nor clouds are technologies unto themselves. * Cloud computing is an act—the function of running a workload in a cloud. * Clouds are environments—places where applications run. * Technologies are things—software and hardware used to build and use clouds. [Learn more about cloud computing](/en/topics/cloud-computing) ### IT automation [IT automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-automation) is the use of software to perform repetitive system tasks and processes with reduced human assistance. It focuses on managing and controlling IT resources, from servers and networks to applications and security. By replacing manual tasks with IT automation, teams can accelerate processes, scale environments, and build [continuous integration, continuous delivery, and continuous deployment (CI/CD) workflows](/en/topics/devops/what-is-ci-cd). [Learn more about IT automation](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-automation) Why automate clouds? -------------------- [Hybrid](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-hybrid-cloud) and [multicloud](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-multicloud) environments add an additional layer of complexity to [infrastructure](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-it-infrastructure), network, application, and user administration. IT teams need to manage both on-site and cloud-based environments, often using specialized management tools for each. As a result, it can be nearly impossible to effectively maintain, track, scale, and secure resources and applications by hand. Automation can unite hybrid and multicloud management under a single set of processes and policies to improve consistency, scalability, and speed. [Learn more about hybrid cloud automation](https://www.ansible.com/use-cases/hybrid-cloud "Ansible.com | Use case | Hybrid cloud automation") Red Hat resources ----------------- [Keep reading](/en/resources "Keep reading") What cloud management processes can be automated? ------------------------------------------------- ### Scale multiclouds Multicloud is a cloud approach made up of more than 1 cloud service, from more than 1 cloud vendor—[public](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-public-cloud) or [private](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-private-cloud). Each [cloud provider](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-are-cloud-providers) offers specific tools for operating and managing their own cloud resources. These tools rarely interoperate directly with each other, requiring IT teams to [provision](/en/topics/automation/what-is-provisioning), administer, and maintain each cloud differently. Automation can help you manage multicloud environments more consistently. You can create automation assets that codify resources across all of your clouds and offer a single [application programming interface (API)](/en/topics/api) for a given operation, regardless of the cloud involved. [Learn more about multiclouds](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-multicloud) ### Integrate hybrid clouds Hybrid cloud is an IT architecture that incorporates some degree of workload portability, [orchestration](/en/topics/automation/what-is-orchestration), and management across 2 or more environments. This variety can make it difficult for IT teams to integrate and consistently support both cloud infrastructures. A flexible automation platform lets you apply the same automation code to existing on-site systems, current cloud resources, and future assets—ensuring consistency and providing a layer of operational [integration](/en/topics/integration). [Learn more about hybrid clouds](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-hybrid-cloud) ### Govern efficiently Cloud governance is the process of defining, implementing, and monitoring a framework of policies that facilitate consistent performance of cloud services and systems. As cloud environments can quickly scale beyond manual control capabilities, automation makes efficient governance possible. With a unified automation platform, IT teams can optimize infrastructure and resource usage, maintain business continuity, and enforce compliance across an organization. [Learn more about cloud governance](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-governance) ### Orchestrate automated tasks Cloud orchestration is the process of organizing the automation of cloud management tasks into higher-order workflows. By condensing disparate automation tasks—across teams and domains—into more efficient end-to-end workflows, organizations can eliminate provisioning errors, ensure consistent communication between applications and infrastructure, and enforce governance policies across their hybrid cloud. [Learn more about cloud orchestration](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloud-orchestration) [Learn how to automate cloud operations](/en/topics/automation/what-is-cloudops) Which companies have automated their clouds? -------------------------------------------- ### Asian Development Bank Asian Development Bank cuts hundreds of work hours annually, modernizes disaster recovery, and frees IT teams to focus on innovative services supporting Asia-Pacific development. [Check out the case study](/en/success-stories/asian-development-bank) ### Ascend Money Ascend Money built an automated central application development and deployment platform. This simplified operations across geographies, increased consistency and scale, and reduced the time it takes to perform tasks by 57%. [Read the success story](/en/success-stories/ascend-money) Why Red Hat? ------------ Because no matter what type of cloud you deploy your workloads on, those workloads should be deployed with open source technology. A Red Hat® Ansible® Automation Platform subscription provides open source innovation—hardened for the enterprise—with all the tools, services, training, and support you need to automate your enterprise at hybrid cloud scale. And your cloud deployments will be highly compatible across the most popular infrastructure vendors and cloud providers. With that kind of interoperability, you can use the same automation platform, playbook, or [module](/en/topics/automation/what-is-an-ansible-module) across every cloud platform you use. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform can help you extend automation to private clouds, on-premise data centers, edge locations, and other public clouds—wherever you do business. This video can't play due to privacy settings To change your settings, select the "Cookie Preferences" link in the footer and opt in to "Advertising Cookies or try disabling adblockers." See how Ansible Automation Platform simplifies the automation of cloud deployments. Video duration: 2:33 [Learn more about deployment options](/en/technologies/management/ansible/ansible-deployment-options "Page | Which Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform deployment option is right for you?") Recommended for you E-book Automate intelligent IT operations ---------------------------------- Red Hat and Dynatrace help you boost efficiency, accuracy, and consistency across your IT environment with advanced auto-remediation workflows. [Read the e-book](https://www.redhat.com/en/resources/automate-intelligent-it-operations-partner-ebook?percmp=RHCTG0250000455234) All Red Hat product trials -------------------------- Our no-cost product trials help you gain hands-on experience, prepare for a certification, or assess if a product is right for your organization. [Keep reading](/en/products/trials "All Red Hat product trials") Keep reading ------------ ### What is IT service management (ITSM)? IT service management (ITSM) refers to the activities IT teams perform to ensure that IT services meet customer needs and contribute to business goals. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm "article | what is IT service management (ITSM)?") ### What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)? Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is the managing and provisioning of infrastructure through code instead of through manual processes. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac "article | What is Infrastructure as Code?") ### What is a configuration management database (CMDB)? A configuration management database (CMDB) is used to manage information about IT components, including their attributes and relationships between them. [Read the article](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb "article | what is a configuration management database (CMDB)?") Automation and management resources ----------------------------------- ### Related content * Blog post [NetApp’s certified OpenShift operator for Trident](/en/blog/seamless-hybrid-cloud-storage-netapps-certified-openshift-operator-trident) * Blog post [Establishing a sustainable automation community of practice](/en/blog/establishing-sustainable-automation-community-practice) * Overview [Unlock IT agility: Automate Cisco infrastructure with Red Hat](/en/resources/automate-cisco-infrastructure-overview) * Case study [Synchronizing automation and reskilling through modernization](/en/resources/acom-co-customer-case-study) ### Related articles * [What is DevOps automation?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-devops-automation) * [What is IT service management (ITSM)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-it-service-management-itsm) * [What is Infrastructure as Code (IaC)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-infrastructure-as-code-iac) * [Ansible vs. Kubernetes: how they work together](/en/topics/automation/Ansible-vs-Kubernetes) * [What is a configuration management database (CMDB)?](/en/topics/automation/what-is-a-configuration-management-database-cmdb) * [What is cloud migration? 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storage?](/en/topics/data-storage/what-is-cloud-storage) * [What is cloud security](/en/topics/security/cloud-security) * [What is cloud management?](/en/topics/cloud-computing/what-is-cloud-management) * [What's business automation?](/en/topics/automation/whats-business-automation) [More about this topic](/en/topics/automation "More about this topic")